Jacking my truck

[zipwit]

I'm new to this site. Also I don't pretend to be any kind of mechanic. I'm here because I have a problem with my '78 C20 3/4-ton Scottsdale. I'm trying to remove a tire at home. The old screw jack that came with the truck is jammed and I currently am soaking it in a tub of motor oil to hopefully loosen it up. WD-40 did nothing. I tried two old bottle jacks but they won't reach even with wood blocks. It doesn't matter which of the four tires I take off. I'm just trying to match up the lug holes of a spare rim I acquired before I have a tire put on it. Two questions I have. Can you recommend a good (cheap, please) jack? Bottle or scissor or whatever. And what are the good jacking points? I prefer not to get a floor jack at this point. I have 16" wheels. Any help would be truly appreciated.

 

[Grit dog]

Welcome!
Well you don’t need to remove a wheel to check lug pattern. You have 8x6.5.
Measure lug width 180degrees apart. Center to center of holes needs to be 6.5” to fit.
Jacks?
Bottle jack under rear axle with maybe a couple short blocks will jack up the back axle easily.
Front, shortest height is under the a arm.
And if you are doing much work at all, may as well get a floor jack.

 

[zipwit]

GD: Thanks for your advice. I'm going to hit the hay now. I will try what you say tomorrow and get back to ya.

 

[Corvette Ed]

Check Out Harbor Freight.

 

[cstew47]

Why don't you just make a paper template? That way you don't need to remove anything.

 

[CalSgt]

Drive it to the shop that is going to install the tire and ask them to test fit the wheel or throw the dog bones (lug pattern measuring device) on it before they mount the tire.

ETA: You should get a decent jack anyway, what's the point of having a spare if you cant mount it on the side of the highway...

 

[zipwit]

Thanks for your help, guys. Grit dog: Wheel's not off yet. One jack leaks. The other...well... Took your advice, though. From hole center to hole center at 180 degrees is 6.5". The old bottle jack I put under the axle is too big. Next week I'll get a floor jack and a 4 ton bottle jack for the road. funny thing about the wheel, though. It has a small Chrysler logo stamped on it.

 

[zipwit]

Corvette Ed: Yeah, Harbor Freight. 4 ton bottle jack is less than $25.00.

 

[zipwit]

csteW47: Yeah, did the template thing, too. It worked. Thanks

 

[zipwit]

CalSgt: I understand about having the tire shop test fit the wheel. But the spare is going to go in another vehicle, not the truck. So there will be nothing for them to match it with. That is the center of the problem: the truck won't be there. And yeah, I know I need a road jack. I've changed flats at least twice. Once on a pull-off off a state highway. And once in a gravel parking lot. And I think once in the yard here. 16" steel wheel. Loads of fun. Used the old screw jack that came with the truck. It is doable. This jack is all jammed up now.

 

[1973c10]

Welcome

 

[zipwit]

Thanks

 

[75gmck25]

I have been told that for the old 8 bolt 16” wheels they used the same bolt pattern for GM, Ford and Chrysler, so you might have a Mopar wheel on your Chevy. And they are lug centric, not hub centric. However, I assume there may have been differences in wheel width and/or offset from one manufacturer to the other. I would have the tire shop check to make sure the one Mopar wheel is identical to your other wheels.

 

[zipwit]

75gmck25: Thanks for the update. I was kinda thinking the same thing, that the wheel manufacturer was making wheels for everybody. A bit worrisome though. Using my testing system, from another poster, I'm pretty sure the lug holes will match the lugs. Wheel width, not too sure. I understand lug centric, just not to sure about what you mean about hub centric. Here's the weird thing. The tire and wheel are going to a tire place tomorrow --- on the way to the dentist. The pickup is staying home and the wheel/tire are going in another vehicle. So I'm not going to be able to have the tire place compare spare wheel with what's on the truck and I still have not been able to fix my jack and get a replacement. And now that I think about it more, tomorrow when I get up I may bail (not the dentist, hah!, the tire place) until I get a jack and at least see if this wheel fits the truck. Big mole hill, this.