One of the little tabs under the hood that holds the long rod that operates the jack broke on my truck. (It's one of two little tabs that connects at the top of body of the truck near the radiator.) They are held on with 2 rivets. Well, one had broken last year and I replaced it with one from another truck. Now the other one broke and the other spare I have is already cracked. The metal has some springness to it so it's not really something I could refabricate to the same specs with regular sheetmetal. I've been trying to think of some solutions other than visiting a junkyard and getting another temp answer. Anyone have this issue and if so how did you fix it?

 

If it was me, I'd just set the jack and the rod that goes with it up under the seat if they'll both fit.

I personally had one of those little bottle jacks that came on the truck as well as a lug wrench. The lug wrench was on the drivers side and the bottle jack was on the passenger side fender under the hood. I undid the 28 years of rust and grime on those wing nuts and put them both in my toolbox, that way if I needed them I wouldn't have to screw around trying to get them out.

Eventually, I think I'm going to just get me a floor jack to put in the toolbox on my bed. Those bottle jacks aren't worth the money that's used to make them in my opinion, plus a floor jack is so much nicer.

Unless you're worried about keeping those tabs and the rod up under there, I'd just let nature take its course.

 

That's exactly what I did.

 

Problem is I have so much stuff behind the seat as it is. I don't really want to add another thing back there. If there's a reasonable solution that allows me to keep it in the same spot I'd prefer it.

 

E3TZ-17091-C (replaced E0TZ-17091-C) .. Retaining Clip-Jack Crank Handle to Radiator Support / Obsolete

Applications: 1980/89 F100/350 & Bronco except F250/350's with diesel engines.

KINSEL L/M in Beaumont TX has 8 = 800-816-2894.

GREEN SALES CO. in Cincinnati OH has 21 = 800-543-4959.

PARTS INTERNATIONAL in Farmers Branch TX has 32 = 800-543-4959.
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Tired of messin' with that loong jack crank handle, and/or the clips that can snap off the second you remove the puppy?

Get one a the following, stick it under or behind the seat, cuz it has a hinge, so it can be folded in half.

82Y-17081-B .. Jack Crank Handle / Available from Ford.

MSRP: $26.45 // FTE sponsor PARTSGUYED.COM (Horizon Ford in Seattle) price: $19.04.

These handles will be found in many 1975 thru today Econolines, some Ford trucks since 1938.