Lift Points

CDsDontBurn

CDsDontBurn

5th Gear Poster
Joined
Sep 24, 2023
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430
Location
USA
Vehicle Details
97 Thunderbird Sport
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Does anyone have a higher resolution / updated jack points picture? It's hard to see where the points that aren't the subframe bolts are at, and it's been a while for me to remember.

FB_IMG_1739829312607.jpg
 
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And where is it supported if you remove the subframe? On the rear, I imagine it's the 3rd pic?

Also, the pinch welds on this platform I know can't hold the weight of the car. See pic 1 and pic 2 as examples (it's been like that since before I got the car).

PXL_20250217_234015960.jpg

PXL_20250217_234044442.jpg

PXL_20250217_234117623.jpg
 
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CDsDontBurn said:
My next "stupid question" then.....

What is the frame rail? I've seen this used over and over again, but I don't know what this is!



Thank you!
Click to expand...


The frame rails are the box structures on the underside of the trunk floor that run from the rocker panels all the way to the rear bumper.

In front the frame rails are what the K member bolts to, running from roughly the center of the floor pan to the front bumper, and linked to the rocker panels via torque boxes.(another strong box structure formed by enclosing the rails, rockers and firewall with sheetmetal).
 
I need a visual of this. I can grasp what these are, but without a visual, it's not fully "clicking".

In my images above, are there any of these frames rail boxes shown? From your description, I want to say "yes" where that "arm" attaches to from the rear subframe to the body of the car....?
 
It's the part where the transmission crossmember bolts to.
 
CDsDontBurn said:
I need a visual of this. I can grasp what these are, but without a visual, it's not fully "clicking".

In my images above, are there any of these frames rail boxes shown? From your description, I want to say "yes" where that "arm" attaches to from the rear subframe to the body of the car....?
Click to expand...

Yes, the very last picture shows the end of the frame rails where they attach to the rockers. The “body” the rear subframe attaches to are in fact the frame rails.

Think of it like this, body on frame(BOF) cars like Crown Vic’s and many old classics from Ford and GM in the 60s and 70s used separate perimeter frames that the body sits on top of. Unibodies don’t use a separate frame BUT all of the components that make up a frame are there in a unibody, the only difference is the “frame” is essentially open C channels and the floor pan and rockers they’re welded to complete the box structure.

This is a schematic of the perimeter frame for a 1965 Ford Galaxie. You won’t see this physically under a MN12, but the structural components are all there: front frame rails that extend to the transmission crossmember, front frame rails linked to side rails(rocker panels) with perpendicular structure(torque boxes), side rails linked to rear frame rails. All carrying the load of the springs/suspension.

IMG_6379.jpeg

There are underbody pics of MN12s out there, and I know I have taken quite a few(albeit few on this phone for me to quickly find) but when you’re underneath yours and you have the above image in mind I am confident you’ll be able to identify frame structure, it’s very obvious when you look at it
 
XR7-4.6 said:
Yes, the very last picture shows the end of the frame rails where they attach to the rockers. The “body” the rear subframe attaches to are in fact the frame rails.

Think of it like this, body on frame(BOF) cars like Crown Vic’s and many old classics from Ford and GM in the 60s and 70s used separate perimeter frames that the body sits on top of. Unibodies don’t use a separate frame BUT all of the components that make up a frame are there in a unibody, the only difference is the “frame” is essentially open C channels and the floor pan and rockers they’re welded to complete the box structure.

This is a schematic of the perimeter frame for a 1965 Ford Galaxie. You won’t see this physically under a MN12, but the structural components are all there: front frame rails that extend to the transmission crossmember, front frame rails linked to side rails(rocker panels) with perpendicular structure(torque boxes), side rails linked to rear frame rails. All carrying the load of the springs/suspension.

View attachment 10472

There are underbody pics of MN12s out there, and I know I have taken quite a few(albeit few on this phone for me to quickly find) but when you’re underneath yours and you have the above image in mind I am confident you’ll be able to identify frame structure, it’s very obvious when you look at it
Click to expand...

Yes, I know of BOF vehicles, but the unibody I didn't know what frame rails really are. So I imagine that all unibody vehicles all have frame rails then?

Vicinity said:
Bout 4 years ago. Is it the rectangle piece before the exhaust Y converges to to single?



View attachment 10474
Click to expand...

Thank you for this picture!

Happen to have a picture of the rear end for the frame rails?
 
CDsDontBurn said:
Yes, I know of BOF vehicles, but the unibody I didn't know what frame rails really are. So I imagine that all unibody vehicles all have frame rails then?



Thank you for this picture!

Happen to have a picture of the rear end for the frame rails?
Click to expand...

Hopes this helps

1739945123309.png
 
CDsDontBurn said:
Yes, I know of BOF vehicles, but the unibody I didn't know what frame rails really are. So I imagine that all unibody vehicles all have frame rails then?



Thank you for this picture!

Happen to have a picture of the rear end for the frame rails?
Click to expand...


Yes all unibodies have them, as much has changed in cars to make them tighter and safer through the decades they all use the same core structural members they did 50 years ago.

Here’s the clearest picture I could find handily in my files, it’s the rear of DLF(RIP)’s Mark VIII, but it’s the same as MN12s other than a few bits. The frame rails run right along the sides of the spare tire well, you can’t miss them.

lscex5.jpeg
 
This is all very helpful stuff guys. Thanks for getting me noggin filled with more useful stuff!
 
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