The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts 1955 chevy 6400 jacking areas

It's time for tires and brakes so my question is, where should I Jack up on the front axle. I also need to replace a couple shackle bolts so I have to raise the axle and I don't want to harm the axle. There aren't any flat area's that are obvious jacking points. I'm using a bottle jack that I fabricated a curved cradle to keep the jack from slipping off the axle. On the rear axle is it ok to jack on the axle tube

Build up some heavy wood blocks under the frame rail, put the jack on the blocks and raise the frame until you have no weight on the tire. With a second jack you can raise the axle away from the spring after removing the shackle hardware. I would use some heavy jack stands or block the frame with 6x6, 4x4, whatever lumber you have to build a crib under the frame.

You won't hurt the truck by jacking if from any location where you can safely put the jack so it won't slide/kick out.

As 78buckshot said, make sure you have it properly supported before you get under it. Make sure you use truck size jack stands, the one's for cars might have the ton rating, but the tend to have a smaller footprint and are not as stable. Also, make sure you're on firm level ground.

Mike B

I have a railroad tie that I can cut up for cribbing which I need to get the jack up high enough to lift the truck and some old very big jack stands. I'm going to weld a piece of plate steel on the bottom of my bottle jack to give it a wider base and make it more stable.

FYI. My truck is a 6409 I looked it up on the GM Heritage site. Curb weight is front-2720 rear- 3135 total- 5855 and that weight doesn't include the dump mechanism.

Just for a quick reference, Mine is a 1957 5700, 162 in. wheelbase, 15- 16 ft. wood grain box-non hoist. Box is cab high. Empty truck on a certified scale is 7220 lbs.

I'll add that my 1958 6400 with all steel 8x13' steel dump flatbed weighs right about 9,000 going across the scales at the dump and also weigh station on I-5 so, depending on how your truck is outfitted, it can weigh a lot more than a car or big pickup!!

Now I'm curious what my truck weights with the dump bed

Chevys til Id you wont hurt it,they are tuff ! Just be sure you block it, jack stand it try to shake it off of there...much better than being crushed by it !!! My 48 with a tank-steel gravel bed empty -weighs 7000. side note had a young guy changing tranny fluid on ramps,got 4 bolts out of pan think he knocked it into neutral she found him at 1 a.m. crushed to death. So watch it !

Years ago I was driving my pickup onto ramps on concrete and somehow one of the ramps shot forward and put a large hole in my garage door. I haven't used ramps since that happened.

If you've never cut a railroad tie before, be careful as they tend to have small bits of gravel, concrete, nails, etc embedded in them. Don't use your best blade on the chain saw ... Just sharing hard learned experience ...
Sometimes you get lucky and get a clean one. Last one I cut ruined a blade.

I will definitely use a old chain. Thanks for the tip. This is one of the things I like about this site, the wisdom of so many people. Big bolts are kind of a obscure hobby and I've never been the type that thinks I know everything. Learning from other people's triumphs and failures is invaluable knowledge and I appreciate it greatly.