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Old Aug 29, 2015 | 05:58 PM
  #1  
Cutlass71s's Avatar
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Best Jack

Hey, my car doesn't have a tire jack, what do you recommend for a 71 cutlass?

Thanks,

Pete
Old Aug 29, 2015 | 06:18 PM
  #2  
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I won't use a bumper jack, I carry a small hyd. floor jack in the trunk.
Old Aug 29, 2015 | 06:24 PM
  #3  
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Originally Posted by oldcutlass
i won't use a bumper jack, i carry a small hyd. Floor jack in the trunk.
x2
Old Aug 29, 2015 | 06:34 PM
  #4  
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Good question. I'd like to know the answer as well.
Old Aug 29, 2015 | 06:37 PM
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Well, we have an answer. I was thinking I might get a small one. 2 ton?
Old Aug 29, 2015 | 06:43 PM
  #6  
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I carry a cheap 2 ton.
Old Aug 29, 2015 | 07:41 PM
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I carry a cheap 1 1/2 ton. You can get some with nice carry case which makes it handy for storage in the trunk.
Old Aug 29, 2015 | 07:45 PM
  #8  
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I just carry a small bottle jack. The bumper jack is just for looks.
Old Aug 29, 2015 | 11:56 PM
  #9  
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I carry a scissor jack from Sears.
Old Aug 30, 2015 | 03:06 AM
  #10  
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Like redoldsman said. My bumper jack is for looks only.

Frank
Old Aug 30, 2015 | 07:36 AM
  #11  
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I use a Camero, Firebird the little BUMP fits into a hole in the front and rear of the frame rail, almost like it was designed for it. I have at least 2 extras if anyone is interested.

Johnny
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jack 001.JPG (1.25 MB, 76 views)
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jack 002.JPG (1.44 MB, 42 views)
Old Aug 30, 2015 | 07:40 AM
  #12  
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[QUOTE=toymobile;852841]I use a Camero, Firebird the little BUMP fits into a hole in the front and rear of the frame rail, almost like it was designed for it. I have at least 2 extras if anyone is interested.

Johnny[/QUOTE


What years of Camaro/Firebird?
Old Aug 30, 2015 | 07:53 AM
  #13  
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PM sent Johnny.
Old Aug 30, 2015 | 08:26 AM
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[QUOTE=RROLDSX;852848]
Originally Posted by toymobile
I use a Camero, Firebird the little BUMP fits into a hole in the front and rear of the frame rail, almost like it was designed for it. I have at least 2 extras if anyone is interested.

Johnny[/QUOTE


What years of Camaro/Firebird?
1982 to??

Last edited by toymobile; Aug 31, 2015 at 03:58 AM.
Old Aug 30, 2015 | 08:28 AM
  #15  
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I had one like this from an 86 S-15 that worked well.
Pay-pal sent Johnny. Thanks again, Adam.
Old Aug 30, 2015 | 06:39 PM
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Originally Posted by toymobile
I use a Camero, Firebird the little BUMP fits into a hole in the front and rear of the frame rail, almost like it was designed for it. I have at least 2 extras if anyone is interested.

Johnny
These also look like the 81-88 G-body jacks, which would work great also.

Originally Posted by Fun71
I carry a scissor jack from Sears.
I carry a small scissor jack also. Takes little room and no chance on me really needing it and not work (The seals can leak in a hydraulic jack at any time but usually only when you need it most.)
Old Aug 30, 2015 | 09:21 PM
  #17  
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I neglected to say that I started carrying the scissor jack after I had a flat front tire and the bottle jack I was carrying at the time wouldn't fit under the control arm. I tried under the frame and at max lift the tire was still not off the ground. I was on the side of a 2 lane highway in BFE and had to walk 1/4 mile down the road until I found a cement block, then had to carry that block 1/4 mile back to the car. I was able to jack up the frame, insert the block in its place, then finally I could fit the bottle jack under the control arm and lift it enough to remove the flat tire. That was the LONGEST tire change I ever experienced, and it prompted me to get a jack that would actually fit under the car when the tire was completely deflated and had sufficient lift travel to lift the tire off the ground.

Last edited by Fun71; Aug 30, 2015 at 10:19 PM.
Old Aug 31, 2015 | 05:05 AM
  #18  
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Hey Pete

I'm in mass too. I have a complete original type jack set up for your car. Like if your interested. As the other posts say tho for any real work there are better alternatives.
Old Aug 31, 2015 | 06:05 AM
  #19  
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Thanks for all the responses. I think for the size and cost a simple scissor jack may be best for me. Any recommendations on where to get one and what type?
Old Sep 1, 2015 | 09:13 AM
  #20  
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These are the kittys meow. Out of Ford F series trucks. Readily available at your local pick n pull bone yards. Compact and slides right under everything. Sure way to dimple your bumper is to use the factory jack.
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Old Sep 1, 2015 | 12:36 PM
  #21  
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Originally Posted by Cutlass71s
Thanks for all the responses. I think for the size and cost a simple scissor jack may be best for me. Any recommendations on where to get one and what type?
I bought my scissor jack at Walmart. It was right around $25.
Old Sep 2, 2015 | 06:40 AM
  #22  
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Originally Posted by 72cutlassconv
I bought my scissor jack at Walmart. It was right around $25.
The Ford unit is not Chineasium, the Wally Word unit is... guaranteed, as is everything else in Wall World even the Wallmartians...I wouldn't want to jack up a 4K lb car with chineasium junk....just sayin...
Old Sep 2, 2015 | 06:52 AM
  #23  
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The Ford unit is probably made in Mexico. Maybe that is better. I don't know. It probably is better than a WalMart jack since Ford supplied it but that doesn't mean the Wally World jack won't be ok.
Old Sep 2, 2015 | 06:54 AM
  #24  
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I carried two on the Great Race; one screw jack like the Ford unit above, and a compact scissor jack. It's a good thing too. One night, several days into the race, my son and I had to manually adjust the brakes on our '37 L-37. We had to lift both rear tires to do it properly. We ran the race without a support crew.
Old Sep 2, 2015 | 07:33 AM
  #25  
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Redoldsman have you tries to remove a rear tire on your 54 with a jack that lifts off the frame? On my 55 I tries that and found I needed to lift the suspension (with the bumper Jack) to get enough space to drop the tire to clear the wheel well. You might try it before you head out into the wild blue yonder...Tedd
Old Sep 2, 2015 | 07:50 AM
  #26  
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Originally Posted by droldsmorland
The Ford unit is not Chineasium, the Wally Word unit is... guaranteed, as is everything else in Wall World even the Wallmartians...I wouldn't want to jack up a 4K lb car with chineasium junk....just sayin...
it's only for changing a flat tire, if need be. besides, it's only gonna be lifting one corner of the car.
Old Sep 2, 2015 | 08:48 AM
  #27  
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Dont want to start anything just a friendly spew point of view...Its the chineasaium thing I'm trying to get everyone to listen to. Yes even resto parts for our American Muscle. We need to stop buying the glut of chineasium junk the retail market is puking out on us everywhere. We can force the market if we stop buying it. Its inferior, cheap, not built to good engineering practices, doesnt last, and is packed with tons of non RoHS compliant materials(poisons) etc...All I'm saying is I want the choice to buy better quality stuff. If we keep on the path were going we wont have what little choice we have now and our kids will be fluent in chinese. Try to find a dam halogen or incandescent bulb that last more than a week. Buy it once a year or every friggin month...which is cheaper...I do my best to buy USA, Canada, mexico(3rd choice) if givin the choice.
Old Sep 2, 2015 | 10:43 AM
  #28  
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Originally Posted by Tedd Thompson
Redoldsman have you tries to remove a rear tire on your 54 with a jack that lifts off the frame? On my 55 I tries that and found I needed to lift the suspension (with the bumper Jack) to get enough space to drop the tire to clear the wheel well. You might try it before you head out into the wild blue yonder...Tedd
Thanks Tedd:

I had not thought of that and am sure you are exactly correct. I am going to try putting some 4x4 wooden blocks under the bottle jack to see how high and can get the car with the jack under the frame. No way I want to use a bumper jack. As pointed out earlier, with the tire flat, everything is closer to the ground. The driveway is the place to figure this out and not on the side of the highway when it is hot with cars going by.
Old Sep 2, 2015 | 11:40 AM
  #29  
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I will agree that an OEM jack is likely way better than a new $25 scissor jack. I like the look of those F-series jacks.

I will say, the factory jack in my '98 Wrangler is pretty good.

It is very short so it can fit under a fairly low part of the vehicle, but can extend high enough to lift even a tall off-road tire off the ground.


Last edited by Fun71; Sep 2, 2015 at 11:46 AM.
Old Sep 4, 2015 | 03:46 PM
  #30  
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my preference would be the Russell... "Jack" Russell... sorry could not resist..

My little girl:
Old Sep 4, 2015 | 03:59 PM
  #31  
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I prefer Jack Daniels myself...
Old Sep 4, 2015 | 04:03 PM
  #32  
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The 80's cars and some of the late 70's as well had a jack made from similar stuff to a bumper jack but laid down and scissor jacked up into the frame holes where the body mounts are at the front and back of the outer frame areas just behind and in front of the back tires. This works well and is in many wrecking yards.
Old Sep 4, 2015 | 09:30 PM
  #33  
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You mean like the ones pictured in posts 11 and 20 above?
Old Sep 7, 2015 | 05:04 AM
  #34  
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Yes the one toymobile posted in his pics. Those work great store easily in the trunk and are durable. If you are in a wrecking yard look for those and there is also a few little wedges to block the car tires with as well
Old Sep 7, 2015 | 10:39 PM
  #35  
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Wow, they actually provided wheel chocks? I was unaware of that. Very good to know.
Old Sep 8, 2015 | 07:29 AM
  #36  
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So sorry [but glad someone else started iit]

My long departed Jack Black [as a pup] with sum Jack Black
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Old Sep 8, 2015 | 07:44 AM
  #37  
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Ok Jamesbo, you have the best of both worlds.
Old Sep 8, 2015 | 07:52 AM
  #38  
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I guess I'm the odd one out. My OEM Jack works just fine to lift or change a tire if I want to. It spends its time in the trunk unused however, ready for use and car shows. Around the garage I do use my 3 ton Michelin trolley quick throw because it's way faster and convenient. Oh, I did use the OEM Jack to pull some fence posts. Worked perfectly.
Old Sep 8, 2015 | 08:50 AM
  #39  
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just noticed this thread and my 2 cents is what is is wrong with a a factory bumper jack to change a flat...that is what i would use...its easy no bending down, safe and does not damage anything
Old Sep 8, 2015 | 09:18 AM
  #40  
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I gotta admit, I clicked on this thread thinking we were gonna be talking Tennessee Whiskey.



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