Safe rear jacking points?

[hjl]

The summer is over and fall only lasts a week around here, so winter should arrive in a couple of days. I'm not going to drive my blazer in the winter, I don't have a roof yet so that's not a hard decision. I figure now would be a good time to work on it.

Anyway, I've decided to try and swap the gas tank myself -- I'm not good or experienced at fixing cars -- but I've got a friend who has swapped a tank in a similar vintage C10 who can help.

I've got most of the parts I need, but I realized I don't know safe places to place the jack or the jack stands in the rear. I found this thread:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...hlight=jacking

So, help a newbie out, where are safe jacking points on a 2WD 71 Blazer?

[71swb4x4]

I slide the floor jack under the rear diff, jack it up, and put my jackstands on the axle tubes. I lower the jack and set the axle tubes onto the floor jack. Then I raise the floor jack until it is putting a slight amount of pressure back onto the diff, that way if a jackstand fails I have the jack as a safety. If the jack is in the way I slide it under the diff from the side or front and again put a little pressure on the diff housing.
When I had my 2wd Jimmy I had to drive up on a couple 2x4 blocks to get the jack under the diff.

[truckster]

I do the same. Use the differential as a jacking point, and place jack stands as wide as possible under the axle tube. Alternately you can use the frame. I would never use the bumper or any sheet metal.

[cleszkie]

Axle tube and/or frame. Nowhere else, period.

[71swb4x4]

Originally Posted by 71swb4x4

I slide the floor jack under the rear diff, jack it up, and put my jackstands on the axle tubes. I lower the jack and set the axle tubes onto the JACK STANDS. Then I raise the floor jack until it is putting a slight amount of pressure back onto the diff, that way if a jackstand fails I have the jack as a safety. If the jack is in the way I slide it under the diff from the side or front and again put a little pressure on the diff housing.
When I had my 2wd Jimmy I had to drive up on a couple 2x4 blocks to get the jack under the diff.

I messed this up. It should say jack stands, not floor jack.

[hjl]

@71swb4x4: Understood, thanks.

@cleszkie: Are you saying you don't use/trust the rear differential as a safe place for the jack? I've found differing opinions on this.

[jaros44sr]

Can you back it up on ramps, back half of the truck shouldnt be real heavy....just sayin

[rsavage]

I am sure I am not going to tell you anything that you don't already know, but do this job in a very well ventilated area. No furnace, no pilots, etc. Overhead door wide open. Rear of truck supported on jack stands. Easier to get at things if the left rear tire is removed. Spray your strap nuts a few times with PB blast a couple of days before you are doing the tank pull.I get nearly all of the gas out of the tank and into gas cans before dropping the tank. I use a hand bellows type plastic siphon pump and insert it in the rubber fill hose that I disconnect from the metal fill tube at the bottom. (NO drill type pump due to sparks). I add a length of hose to it to reach the bottom of the tank. Use your floor jack with a piece of 2X8 or plywood on it to support the tank and ease it down. You will need to lower it a few inches first to unhook gas and vent lines, ground and sending unit wires. If you are using a replacement tank, the fill tube on it won't work. You can use your old one off the old tank by cutting it off, after you have completely emptied the tank and have it filled with water as sparks from cutting it off can ignite the vapors in the empty tank. You can use a piece of gas hose to clamp/mate it with the new tank's fill nipple. Double clamp it (use 4 clamps).

[cleszkie]

hjl - Didn't mean to leave out that part of the axle. I've jacked my Blazer up by the axle center section, no problems there. But I sure would try to put a jack stand there.