Lifting the body
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 394
Likes: 0
From: Jackson, MS USA
Lifting the body
This issue has been hashed about a bit, but I have not seen or heard of trying this???? My interior is completely out. I have new paint that I am trying to baby. I have to take the body off to put some new metal in the rocker channel.
Instead of going over the outside of the door. How would it work to take the lifting straps, and hook them to the underside of rocker as many have done. However, I was thinking of taking the straps and running them under the door (ie closing the door on the strap). It would seem that it would prevent putting stress on the door skins. Any thoughts?
Instead of going over the outside of the door. How would it work to take the lifting straps, and hook them to the underside of rocker as many have done. However, I was thinking of taking the straps and running them under the door (ie closing the door on the strap). It would seem that it would prevent putting stress on the door skins. Any thoughts?
Former Vendor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,092
Likes: 2
From: walpole ma
I would think at that point you will be putting stress from inside the door pushing outward. It might work but I have never done it that way. If you heavily pad the area with soft cloth you shouldnt have any problems.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 5
From: South of London, Engerland
Wash the bodywork and put soft rags between the straps and the outsides of the body to protect the paint. That's how I lifted the freshly-painted body off my '76 and no harm done. 
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,265
Likes: 786
From: Redondo Beach, California
Don't want to damage the paint?
On my 68, I jacked it up, added a lot of support to the body, and then dropped the frame about 10 inches in the back. I dropped it only a couple of inches up where the radiator support panel attaches to the frame (the radiator support attaches to the front crossmember on 69 and up cars). I could have dropped the frame more. This allowed me to clean and paint my entire frame and add new SS gas lines. I did the frame drop and re-install all by myself.
So rather than taking the body off the frame, another option is to drop the frame from the body.
On my 68, I jacked it up, added a lot of support to the body, and then dropped the frame about 10 inches in the back. I dropped it only a couple of inches up where the radiator support panel attaches to the frame (the radiator support attaches to the front crossmember on 69 and up cars). I could have dropped the frame more. This allowed me to clean and paint my entire frame and add new SS gas lines. I did the frame drop and re-install all by myself.
So rather than taking the body off the frame, another option is to drop the frame from the body.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 5
From: South of London, Engerland
I started this way...
With this method it would be difficult to align the body with the chassis again as you raise the chassis at the end of the job though. At least if the body is hanging on straps you can swing it into position.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,265
Likes: 786
From: Redondo Beach, California
Aha...That's why when I dropped my 68 frame, I placed some 4" (?) bolts between the attach points for the radiator frame (which is a part of the body) and the corresponding attach points on the frame. (With a 69 and up the bolts would go between the attach points for the radiator frame and the corresponding attach points on the front removable crossmember). This way as I jacked the front of the frame up, it was forced to mate up exactly with the radiator frame (i.e. the body). At this point, I was supporting the rear of the car with a floor jack positioned up under the diff. This would allow me to move the frame sideways, if necessary, to mate up against the body (aiming for the frame and #4 body mount) As it was I didn't have to make any adjustments with the rear of the frame, it went up and mated exactly. Maybe I was lucky, but I realized that frame reinstallation could result in alignment problems even before I began. That's why I used the radiator bolts to begin with and was careful to let the frame drop straight down.
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