I suspect that the "don't jack under the pumpkin" notion is not actually a strength issue, but a liability one. If you don't have the proper jack, or the jack properly under there, you will drop the car. If you are stupid enough to be under it with no other means of support, you will maim or kill yourself.
I have an old 4x4 piece of wood that is worn down in the center that I use to lift up the differential housings when doing repairs at the shop. Jack stands are a must! One on each corner at equal heights and wheel chocks if your only lifting up one end. The horror stories I've seen and heard of because no jack stand was used. Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
It's really the frequency and pressure of the stroke, right? Wait a minute, too many of you might think, uhh, aww ferget it... I pick up 33-4 Packards by the center of the front axle and you should see what happens. Nothing. Picked up a Duesenberg the same way. Talk about heavy, that "roadster" weighs 5600#! So yeah I never worry about picking up anything by the center of either axle. Raised my GMC dually like that too and nothing adverse happened or ever will. Now, I will add this. I raised the front of a 31 Ruxton, one of America's 1st front wheel drive cars. Yes, it had a beam axle but I won't go off on a toot about that. 1st car in all my years that exhibited some camber change. Not surprising considering the engineering found in the rest of the car, but again I won't digress. Use your head and it'll be ok. Oh shit, there's another one that some of you will...
The problem with Fords ( at least the 9" variety)is that they are a sheet metal rear end. And they are not real heavy sheet metal. I have never had one fold up or tweak but I am sure that someone has. One of the things I do to one personally when I am changing the width and I am not in a hurry or being lazy is replace the axle tubes with 1/8x3 mechanical tubing. it stiffens the devil out of them. OK rabbit trail. LOL The problem with switching from my bunged up right hand to my left has nothing to do with dexterity. just that it made my steady girl friend jealous.
The Jalopy Journal
