Jacking rail advice

[barron64]

My first car as a teenager was a 66 Thunderbird. That thing was a TANK and heavy. And it had a bumper jack. No thank you

My 1st car was a 68 T-Bird...the hinges on those looong doors, were like 1" steel!

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[skinnyb]

My 1st car was a 68 T-Bird...the hinges on those looong doors, were like 1" steel!

I loved the suicide door era. The 66 was the last year of the slightly smaller version, and the last year of the convertible for quite a while. Mine wasn't a convertible but it was a beast nonetheless. I had the 390 version, but I always wanted one with the 428. Good times, my parents were glad I had a "heavy" car to learn in to keep me safe. If they only knew

 

[barron64]

I loved the suicide door era. The 66 was the last year of the slightly smaller version, and the last year of the convertible for quite a while. Mine wasn't a convertible but it was a beast nonetheless. I had the 390 version, but I always wanted one with the 428. Good times, my parents were glad I had a "heavy" car to learn in to keep me safe. If they only knew

My 68 had the first year of the 429, 4 barrel...probably not the wisest choice for a 16yr old, but it was awesome!

 

[Paul McWhiskey]

Have you been able to test yours with the factory jack Paul? Do you have?

No, I have not used the factory jack. I have only used my floor jack.

 

[Brisvegas]

I have the Steeda full length. Love them, especially when it comes time to swap wheels/tires. Jack up one side of the car at a time.

I too have the spare tire kit, not really concerned about it. I will say, the Steeda powder coat could be better. After 5 winters, they’re rusting. Probably going to have to take them off this spring, get all the rust off and either get them re-coated or paint them myself.

I actually made my own jacking rails today , only because of the outrageous price we have to pay in Australia , Not much change out of $500 aud delivered here . Made mine from 50 x 25 x 3mm Galvinized Rectangle tubing ( will never rust ) , Drill 16 holes , clean up and with cold galv on ends and around holes , used original bolts . I doubt i spent $70

 

[WD Pro]

I actually made my own jacking rails today , only because of the outrageous price we have to pay in Australia , Not much change out of $500 aud delivered here . Made mine from 50 x 25 x 3mm Galvinized Rectangle tubing ( will never rust ) , Drill 16 holes , clean up and with cold galv on ends and around holes , used original bolts . I doubt i spent $70

I took a similar route and for the same reasons, but I used stainless :

WD

 

[Brisvegas]

I took a similar route and for the same reasons, but I used stainless :

WD

They look great and I got a price on stainless but it was 4 times the price and the only advantage is cosmetic so i passed on that idea given no-one ever will see it bar a tech and myself

 

[WD Pro]

They look great and I got a price on stainless but it was 4 times the price and the only advantage is cosmetic so i passed on that idea given no-one ever will see it bar a tech and myself

Yes the cost was more, but I made those for £116 'all in', including the caps & plugs (including spares), laser cutting etc, and the cost of the hole cutter.

That was still 'much' cheaper than buying one of the big name suppliers products over here

There is someone on here who has also made an aluminium set

WD

 

[Brisvegas]

Yes the cost was more, but I made those for £116 'all in', including the caps & plugs (including spares), laser cutting etc, and the cost of the hole cutter.

That was still 'much' cheaper than buying one of the big name suppliers products over here

There is someone on here who has also made an aluminium set

WD

I actually got a price on Aluminium bar as well and it was about the same price as the stainless . Also aluminum a bit trickier on the fab as well with counter sunk holes etc . Also aluminium a lot gripper so not as good sliding over speed humps and the like . Sounds like you did yours a while ago , price of metals skyrocketed last 3 years .

 

[ZeroTX]

I have the Steedas, but have never actually tried to use the factory jack, so I dunno!!! Has anyone used the factory scissor jack with the Steeda jacking rails in place (can you still get it in there?). That's a concern for side of the road tire changes. Yes I have factory spare.

 

[jloshotz]

I ended up going with the short length BMR CJR760H in Hammertone…..i won’t be putting them in until the weather breaks here in the N.East, but they should be here Saturday. When i get them in, i’ll test that scissor jack and try to report back here with my findings on this

 

[ice445]

I ended up going with the short length BMR CJR760H in Hammertone…..i won’t be putting them in until the weather breaks here in the N.East, but they should be here Saturday. When i get them in, i’ll test that scissor jack and try to report back here with my findings on this

Pretty sure those were the ones I had. The factory jack kinda grabs around the pinch weld which will be blocked on one side with the rail. So you'll only be able to use it on the back after the rail stops. Otherwise it's probably a balancing act lol

 

[jloshotz]

Pretty sure those were the ones I had. The factory jack kinda grabs around the pinch weld which will be blocked on one side with the rail. So you'll only be able to use it on the back after the rail stops. Otherwise it's probably a balancing act lol

Yeah that factory spare kit will hopefully be something that will be more of a $300 insurance policy in never using it lol. I don’t DD the car anymore, so my odds at that are getting better

 

[Bullitt0819]

Up in arms about what set to choose for my ‘16 non vert….what are the pros/cons of each? Shouldn’t be this hard for me to decide, but hell. FWIW, i DO have the factory spare kit. Any and all advice wrkcome, thanks all!

I have the Steeda jacking rails; in hindsight, I wouldn't have put them on. On my Bullitt, at least, the rails actually sit a bit above the pinch weld edges so don't protect the edges of the rails anyway. I recently came home from a trip, and found my RR wheel was flat in the airport garage; I used my 12V motorized scissor jack--highly recommended--whose platform fit perfectly in the jacking notch in front of the wheel, and I don't know if the rails came into play at all. It's possible the jacks have saved me some damage at the tire shop, but that is unknown.

 

[cerbomark]

In my experience the pinch welds will never bend unless you put a force pulling or pushing it sideways and not up. I ve never bent a pinch weld (in decades) even with no rubber blocks. For example: if you are jacking on a floor jack and the jack can t roll then as the arm extends it is bending the weld area. A sizer jack pushes straight up so that s not an issue if placed properly. All that being said I use jailing rails in conjunction with other areas for versatility. They give you room to place a jack stand while leaving the jack too. Doesn t matter if the jack goes over the rail and the pinch weld if the jack is used correctly. I just had to get this out as I ve seen years and years of people bending pinch welds because of operator error. Not calling anyone out at all.

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