pondering body removal...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
From: Toronto
pondering body removal...
before i take off the body on my 77 vette, i wanted to know if taking the doors off first would be a smart idea, or do i leave the doors on the body for stability when removing the body?
thanks
-steve
thanks
-steve
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by pushin_400
before i take off the body on my 77 vette, i wanted to know if taking the doors off first would be a smart idea, or do i leave the doors on the body for stability when removing the body?
thanks
-steve
thanks
-steve
The doors weigh a lot, so you must consider how the lifting will be done. The car should be fine structurally with no doors, but can make it heavier if you and some friends are doing the lifting. If you're using straps and some kind of lifting device then leaving them on would be okay too.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
You want to remove as much weight as practically possible.
Doors, tops, hood, seats, both bumper covers and front bumper assembly,
headlight assemblies, and don't forget the steel cable that holds the
center seatbelt reinforcement to the frame.
Doors, tops, hood, seats, both bumper covers and front bumper assembly,
headlight assemblies, and don't forget the steel cable that holds the
center seatbelt reinforcement to the frame.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by NHvette
You want to remove as much weight as practically possible.
Doors, tops, hood, seats, both bumper covers and front bumper assembly,
headlight assemblies, and don't forget the steel cable that holds the
center seatbelt reinforcement to the frame.
Doors, tops, hood, seats, both bumper covers and front bumper assembly,
headlight assemblies, and don't forget the steel cable that holds the
center seatbelt reinforcement to the frame.
Wow I didn't even know there was one of those...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 915
Likes: 2
From: Lima, OH -- 69 L71 427/435hp
Left my doors on, just opened them and ran straps on inside of doors. I just removed hood and t-tops, however I did forgot to take the rear valence off when I pulled mine, didn't think about clearing frame when lifting...but caught it soon as I lifted body, so no harm no foul.
Also it's a good idea to run a strap to nose of body for support, if not the front end is gonna droop pretty bad or have someone hold/support it while removing.
What are you going to set the body down on?
Also it's a good idea to run a strap to nose of body for support, if not the front end is gonna droop pretty bad or have someone hold/support it while removing.
What are you going to set the body down on?
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Originally Posted by pushin_400
before i take off the body on my 77 vette, i wanted to know if taking the doors off first would be a smart idea, or do i leave the doors on the body for stability when removing the body?
thanks
-steve
thanks
-steve
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1502224
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 482
Likes: 1
From: Brandon Manitoba
All the body removal manuals describe the 8 body mounts that need to be removed but they always seem to forget about the bolt holding the body at the nose of the car. At least htere is one on my 80. Good luck, hope to do mine sometime in the future.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 915
Likes: 2
From: Lima, OH -- 69 L71 427/435hp
Originally Posted by bams12
All the body removal manuals describe the 8 body mounts that need to be removed but they always seem to forget about the bolt holding the body at the nose of the car. At least htere is one on my 80. Good luck, hope to do mine sometime in the future.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,359
Likes: 428
From: Seattle Area WA
I just removed my sons last weekend with the doors off and that darn front bumper assembly off too, that front end weighs a ton and you risk cracking something if you don't strip down the front. Leave the core support in for strength.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,266
Likes: 156
From: Galloway Twp. NJ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Originally Posted by 1ARACE
I must have that same manual, it didn't tell me it would take 4 hours to dremel off the #3 & 4 body mount bolts.
I didn't have that problem at all!
my mounts were rotted enough to just pull the body without cutting the bolts off!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,173
Likes: 5
From: Paducah Ky
As was said before, remove all the wieght you can. If your doing a complete resto you are going to find that there is no good stopping point and you will have the car completely dissassembled anyway. Leave the rad support to help tie the front fenders together and it gives you a place to support the nose when the body is off. The nose of the car is very heavy and needs supported. I lifted mine from the seat belt anchors behind the seat and slots in the birdcage behind the kickpanels. I also ran a strap to the rad support to carry some of the front end weight. This lift method will only work with the windshield removeda but you will probably have it out doing rust prevention anyway. Here is a pic showing you how I lifted a 77 and the balance point.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 763
Likes: 42
From: Detroit MI
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
I left my doors on.
Leave your radiator core support in and make sure you provide lift for the front end. It has a ton of flex and can easily damage your paint.