etownster Posted September 16, 2021 Share Posted September 16, 2021 Recently acquired a 1939 Buick Special. The car has a spare but no jack. I've read the original jack with the two "ears" was not the the safest. Can someone familiar with this model suggest an appropriate jack as well as the best placement spots for both front and rear? Dan 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil morse Posted September 16, 2021 Share Posted September 16, 2021 Beautiful car! If you mean what kind of jack to use in the shop, I would suggest that you get a good floor jack and a pair of jack stands. They are not expensive from places like Harbor Freight. The placement is really anywhere on the frame. Under the differential is good for the rear. Never on the bumper or the body, obviously. As far as a replacement for a portable jack to carry in the car, I can't help you there. I just carry a AAA membership, and hope I don't get a flat! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
etownster Posted September 16, 2021 Author Share Posted September 16, 2021 To clarify I was looking for suggestions for a portable jack in case of a flat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFranklin Posted September 16, 2021 Share Posted September 16, 2021 I would use a small hydraulic jack. Easy to cary and use. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
etownster Posted September 16, 2021 Author Share Posted September 16, 2021 Short of finding an original jack, a small hydraulic was my thought also. The manual says to jack under the spring seats. Would an hydraulic jack stay in place? Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1939_Buick Posted September 16, 2021 Share Posted September 16, 2021 Even if you find an original jack never never use it! Are only for show. Hydraulic jacks can be OK. But floor jack is far safter 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kgreen Posted September 16, 2021 Share Posted September 16, 2021 Bottle jack is a great idea, but also bring a block of wood that is wider than tall to place under the jack for those soft jacking locations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian_Heil Posted September 16, 2021 Share Posted September 16, 2021 Late 1980s Buick like the Le Sabre had a jack in a stowage box in the trunk. I have purchased several of them for just the same purpose. Couple of bucks at the bone yard. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
etownster Posted September 17, 2021 Author Share Posted September 17, 2021 Greatly appreciate the replies. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted September 17, 2021 Share Posted September 17, 2021 I saved the scissor jack from my 1989 Silverado when I junked it. It's a good size and I have used it in the garage on a few occasions. Alternatively, a modern hydraulic bottle jack would seem applicable. When traveling I always bring a few short 2x4 and 4x4 blocks. These can be used as wheel chocks and to provide firm foundation for a jack. I try to use blocking to reduce the amount that I need the jack to extend in order to raise a wheel. Once on the jack NEVER get under the car without a secondary jack stand or cribbing! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Shaw Posted September 17, 2021 Share Posted September 17, 2021 I just bought one of these scissor jacks for my 15 Buick Speedster. You can find others for less, but this one includes the preferred ratchet handle that fits the metric hex operator. I use it in the shop with an adapter for my cordless drill to speed up the process. On the road the ratchet works well when it is close to the ground and limits the arc of operation. These jacks are much smaller and lighter than bottle jacks and will never leak hydraulic oil. I will probably buy one or two more for my other Buicks. Amiva 1.5 Ton Scissor Jack | eBay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted September 17, 2021 Share Posted September 17, 2021 6 minutes ago, Mark Shaw said: I just bought one of these scissor jacks for my 15 Buick Speedster. Except for the hex interface, that could be a clone for the Silverado jack I mentioned above. If going the junkyard route, just be sure to also grab the associated jack handle/linkage/extensions. My Silverado jack has a hook interface at the jack, but the handle extension pieces convert it to a hex with a similar ratchet handle. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted September 18, 2021 Share Posted September 18, 2021 This is what I have purchased. You might want to add a perch to the top of the jack depending on your vehicle. Good advice above to take a piece of wood with you. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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