Register now to get rid of these ads!

Technical Safe Hydraulic Jacking Points for a '51 Ford Victoria

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by OldManBritton95, May 27, 2023.

  1. OldManBritton95
    Joined: May 26, 2023
    Posts: 10

    OldManBritton95
    Member

    I decided I don't want to go bending anything prematurely putting a jack in the wrong place. That being said, what would be the best points for jacking up a '51 Ford Victoria, especially the rear? The rear differential is too far underneath the car for my hydraulic jack to reach. I was wondering about the rear crossmember and distributing weight with a 2 x 4 of sufficient length. Please stop me before I break something if that's a no-go!
     
  2. 41 GMC K-18
    Joined: Jun 27, 2019
    Posts: 4,902

    41 GMC K-18
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Hey @OldManBritton95 .
    Just for the hell of it, can you post up a picture of the type of jack that you have, that supposedly wont reach the differential housing, and when you post the picture, hit the button that says full image. I am curious, just to see what kind of jack you are trying to use.
    Thanks from Dennis.
     
  3. alchemy
    Joined: Sep 27, 2002
    Posts: 22,262

    alchemy
    Member

    Jack the frame, not the body.
     
  4. OldManBritton95
    Joined: May 26, 2023
    Posts: 10

    OldManBritton95
    Member

    20230527_091541[1].jpg

    Here is the jack I am using. The image is a little too large since my phone takes those nice, high resolution pictures by default. Sorry about that.
    I should have mentioned, for context, that the car has been lowered in the back a few inches by a previous owner. That's the biggest part shutting me down I think, but if the frame crossmember in the rear is stout enough, I wanted to try and lift both rear wheels to keep from twisting the frame too much.
     

    Attached Files:

  5. In 1950s if I was working on that car, and most others, and wanted both wheels off the ground, the hydraulic bumper jack was my friend. Never bent a bumper or anything.

    Ben
     
  6. OldManBritton95
    Joined: May 26, 2023
    Posts: 10

    OldManBritton95
    Member

    Alright, I appreciate all the suggestions. Gives me a few better ideas on how to go about it.
     
  7. nochop
    Joined: Nov 13, 2005
    Posts: 4,483

    nochop
    Member
    from norcal

    I always lifted on the pumpkin and front cross member
     
  8. What I've been doing lately just for safety let's use the floor jack to go up just far enough so that you feel you're putting stress on the rear crossmember and then use two bottle jacks on the corners and Jack them alternately to get it up where you want and then stick jack stands next to the bottle jacks and let it down.. I usually leave the bottle Jack's in place

    Please pardon the voice recognition.. it ain't perfect but it's pretty dang good..
     
    OldManBritton95 likes this.
  9. If you can't get that under the pumpkin you better just step away and get some help. Just sayin....
     
  10. 19Fordy
    Joined: May 17, 2003
    Posts: 8,306

    19Fordy
    Member

    If your car is really low you will need 2 jacks. One to raise the frame, the other to lift the rear.
     
    OldManBritton95 likes this.
  11. s55mercury66
    Joined: Jul 6, 2009
    Posts: 4,367

    s55mercury66
    Member
    from SW Wyoming

    Not sure what your jack handle looks like, but I stick a bar in the end of mine if it won't clear the bumper. Works really well on pickup trucks.
     
    OldManBritton95 likes this.
  12. If the rear (bumper, etc.) is too low to get enough swing on the jack handle to get even a fraction of an inch of raise, these are a couple of 'tricks' you can try. The first one is a pair of 2 x 6 hunks about a foot long-ish. Lay those on the shop floor right in front of the rear tires and drive up on them. That usually gives you just enough swing to get 'er started up. The second thing that has worked for me is to roll the car with the tail end out of the shop/garage door with the tires not quite off the slab but close. The driveway is usually an inch or more lower than the slab. (In my case, the driveway has a slight slope so I have even more jack-handle clearance.)
    A third 'trick' is to jack up the bumper about 2 more inches and wedge enough blocks of 2 x 4 to just hold the bumper in the slightly raised position. Then reposition the floor jack under the diff. Again, you should have enough swing with the jack handle.
    Approach the task as "I can't raise the car so what can I raise so I can raise the car".
     
  13. egads
    Joined: Aug 23, 2011
    Posts: 1,430

    egads
    Member

  14. OldManBritton95
    Joined: May 26, 2023
    Posts: 10

    OldManBritton95
    Member

    These are all awesome ideas, guys. I figure I could pick this doggone thing up any which way now if I wanted to with everything I've been recommended. I'm going to have a buddy come over and help me out too when I get to working on it. Having a spotter and just another hand is invaluable. Thanks again!
     
    41 GMC K-18 likes this.
  15. 41 GMC K-18
    Joined: Jun 27, 2019
    Posts: 4,902

    41 GMC K-18
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Hey @OldManBritton95
    Just a heads up for you to remember.

    When you are out on the road, always be prepared for when the inevitable flat tire happens!

    Be smart and have a few pieces of 2"x6" pieces of wood and a couple of pieces of 4" x4", trust me on this, you won't regret having the pieces of wood, along with 2 small bottle jacks, in your trunk!

    Flat tires always happen in the strangest places, and depending on where it happens, you don't always have the option of a smooth, flat, dry, hard concrete surface to deal with it!

    There is no shame in possessing a current, up to date AAA
    RV PLUS membership card in your wallet as well!

    Probably the most important element to be aware of is this.

    Metal on metal slides, so having a few small cut pieces of 1/4" plywood, about 4" square, enough to cover the top of the bottle jack, where it contacts the jacking point on the frame, gives the ram in the jack, something to bite into as the wood pressed against the frame does the same thing!
    Ask me how I know!
    Now go out there and enjoy that 51 Ford Victoria!
    You're welcome from Dennis.
     
  16. With my back injury, I usually drive the car up on ramps and then use a floor jack to raise it more. The rear is a bit easier, but the tip to nail some 2 x 6 lumber together is smart. Taper one end like a ramp and that'll work.
     

Share This Page

Register now to get rid of these ads!

Archive

Copyright © 1995-2021 The Jalopy Journal: Steal our stuff, we'll kick your teeth in. Terms of Service. Privacy Policy.

Atomic Industry
Forum software by XenForo™ ©2010-2014 XenForo Ltd.