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Jacking and Jack Stands

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777jag

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I plan to put my BJ8 on jack stands. I will do the back first and than the front. The wheels will go back onto the rear axle before the front is jacked up. Where are the best jack points and where should the jack stands be places. I had planned to use a 1x4 about 2 or 3 feet long at the cross rail just behind the mufflers. Where should I place the jack stands and is the front done the same way?

Thanks to All /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hammer.gif
 
Depending on why you are raising the car, you may want to consider a ramp for the front and then jacking the rear. I like the hand break set to prevent rolling when the when I use jack stand of the front. If you aren't working on the rear axle, it is a good place for the rear stands other wise the cross members of the frame. On the front I jack the front using a 1/4"thick x 12"long piece of steel on the front cross member of the frame and support the long part of the frame. Caution, the box design alows denting easily if your aren't careful and there may be some internal rust you aren't aware of.
 
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Hi 777Jag, This ain't no Jag. Place the jackstands under the rear axel and under the front spring pans.---Keoke
 
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Thanks. When I figure out what the front spring pans are I will do the deed

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The spring pans are the plates bolted to the lower "A" arms and fit directly under the bottom of the springs.---Keoke
 
Thanks Keoke, for those who want to see some very good BJ8 pictures and pictures of spring pans you can go to harwoodenterprises.com. They have 2 Healeys with great pictures of the car including the underside.
 
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Place the jackstands under the rear axel and under the front spring pans.

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Hi Keoke,

Couple questions .. When jacking up the front of the car using a service jack on the crossbrace (for example), the front suspension hangs down which I would think makes placing the jackstands difficult. Do you recommend putting a 2" block between the shock arm and shock mounting plate prior to lifting to keep the suspension neutral and the spring plate closer to horizontal? Do you put a piece of hardwood between the jack stand and spring pan (and rear axle) to reduce the chance of slipping and protect the paint?

Cheers,
John
 
No John, but those are good Ideas. I have a racing type Jack which includes a Thick rubber pad like those on commercial lifts. This lets me set a couple of cheapie jacks under the out side edge of each spring pan and then lift the car high enogh to set the jackstands. Lifting the rear is done under the pumpkin and the stand tops are covered with shop rags. No I do not use the 2" spacer since the suspension does not droop very much---Keoke
 
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.. a couple of cheapie jacks under the out side edge of each spring pan and then lift the car high enogh to set the jackstands.

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Could you clarify what you mean by "a couple of cheapie jacks"? Can't you use the racing type floor jack to get the front end high enough for the jack stands? Do you really use three jacks to lift the front end? I think I'm missing something. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Cheers,
John
 
Hi John, I do not like jacking the car up using the front crossmember.Additionally, there is the risk of the car walking off the jack and damaging the radiator unless you have the proper fitting. Consequently, I use a couple of those $20:00 Jacks [Cheapies] from PepBoys under the spring pans to raise the car up enough to set the jackstands. The racing jack is just used to provide the initial clearance required to set the Cheapie jacks inplace. You can always use spare small jacks when working on these cars; Clutch jobs rear springs,Motor MTS ETC and these smaller jacks are easier to handle and do not get in your way.---Keoke
 
Hi Keoke .. o.k. I've got it now. I'll give that a try next time. It is a lot of weight on the front crossmember so your method sounds much better.

Cheers,
John
 
Yes John, most of the cars will show significant abuse and in some cases actual failure where they have been jacked repeatedly using the front crossmember.-- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif--Keoke
 
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HI 777Jag /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif The pumpkin is the removable section of the differential whch contains the ring gear and pinion.---Keoke-AZ- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cowboy.gif
 
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Yes John, most of the cars will show significant abuse and in some cases actual failure where they have been jacked repeatedly using the front crossmember.-- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif--Keoke

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I've one of those:
crossmembersplitfs.jpg


Fixed it and numerous other chassis faults by getting a replacement for it....
 
Hi Keoke, in the front where do you use the racing jack to gain thr initial clearance for the cheepie jacks. Additionally, sorry for the ignorance -- is the pumpkin located after the rear cross member as you look from the rear cross member to the front of the car. It goes across to the rear wheels and is round in the middle(like a closed bell housing), housing the differential and the axel(I think?). I am laughining as I write this - I know so little - I just don't want to be dangerous.
T /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hammer.gifhanks again Keoke
 
Hi 777Jag,
Don’t feel bad, asking questions is how we learn. The pumpkin is the big round part at the center of the rear axle.
190619-pumkin.jpg
 
Some axles have a removable pumpkin (center section) as shown. Some only have a rear cover with the guts only accessible through the back cover. Not easy to quickly change gear ratios. How many pumpkins does it take to make a "pumpkin patch"?
D
 
When I was 17 working on my Mustang, it took 3 pumpkins to make a patch. Didn’t know that mixing a 3.0 ring gear with a 3.2 pinion was bad. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazyeyes.gif
 
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