I always put a floor jack under the main cross piece its pretty sturdy. Then I put jackstands under that cross beam on each side, and let the jack down just far enough that the stands are holding the weight and the the jack is still snug some. The problem is usually trying to get the car back up high enough later to get the stands out because after I take them out and let the jack down, the car still sits on the jack some. I have lifted up the front enough to pull it out myself, but its a contortion trying to pull it out while Im lifting, and Im getting kind of old. I probably need a better jack.
But, to change my oil, all I do is slide a drain pain under the drain plug , take the bolt out, go up on top and remove the filter and let it drain that way. Then put the new filter in, slide out the drain pain put the bolt back in and add t he oil,
Is that a not so good way of doing it? I had my 1978 wagon for 27 years and ALWAYS do my own oil changes. Noone puts anything in that motor but me. My first Pinto had some issues right after I took it to some cheapo quicky oil change place that had all kids working at it. Never again.