Body lift
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Floyds Knobs indiana
Body lift
lifted body off frame by myself. have A FRAME that i used dearing racing days. had to read a lot of post here before i did the lift. slow doing with no help but didn't break anything so far. the one wire that i stretched went to the brake valve noticed the left front was lower looked in engine bay saw wire was taunt pulled loose than finished lift. also built a modified body dolly have to replace floor pans and made the height that i could do the body work also
dolly
dolly
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,283
Likes: 4,373
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi smd,
Looks good. I did my lift by myself too! Takes some planning but can certainly be done.
I missed one wire too. The engine harness ground wire that attaches to one of the starter mounting bolts. Didn't see it in time. It made the cutest little 'ping' when it broke at the connector.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
Looks good. I did my lift by myself too! Takes some planning but can certainly be done.
I missed one wire too. The engine harness ground wire that attaches to one of the starter mounting bolts. Didn't see it in time. It made the cutest little 'ping' when it broke at the connector.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Floyds Knobs indiana
i wonder if i need to support the front of car don't remember there being a support or did the bumper support front. car is going to be on dolly for sometime. want to do the frame and suspension first. both #4 body mounts frame brackets the hole for the bolt is in bad shape thought i would plasma cut just the top area out and weld in new plate and drill new hole i guess i should look at my AIM for correct location for hole. alan thanks for your reply. 
long way to go with car. going through one of my storage cabinets i found the owners manual and maintenance schedule in it's plastic bag go figure
long way to go with car. going through one of my storage cabinets i found the owners manual and maintenance schedule in it's plastic bag go figure
Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,753
Likes: 721
From: Lafayette Louisiana
question please
I need to pull the body off my 76 to paint the frame and replace body mounts.
Question please:
I see the front clip off but what is the front strap attached to on the car for the lift?
(I assume that when you pull the body off, you need to support the front end somehow?)
Thanks.
Question please:
I see the front clip off but what is the front strap attached to on the car for the lift?
(I assume that when you pull the body off, you need to support the front end somehow?)
Thanks.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Floyds Knobs indiana
i put the extra strap on the radiator support frame work just i case i had a balance problem which i did on lowering the body on the dolly could have been ugly one strap slipped the extra did it's job
don't want to know what a concrete floor does to fiberglass
hope you have a safe body lift
don't want to know what a concrete floor does to fiberglass hope you have a safe body lift
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,283
Likes: 4,373
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi SMD,
When I built my dolly I did make it long enough to be able to put 2 up-rigts from the dolly to the area of the core support. I'm not sure just how necessary that was. Better safe than sorry?
Regards,
Alan
When I built my dolly I did make it long enough to be able to put 2 up-rigts from the dolly to the area of the core support. I'm not sure just how necessary that was. Better safe than sorry?
Regards,
Alan
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,236
Likes: 898
From: Myrtle Beach SC
lifted body off frame by myself. have A FRAME that i used dearing racing days. had to read a lot of post here before i did the lift. slow doing with no help but didn't break anything so far. the one wire that i stretched went to the brake valve noticed the left front was lower looked in engine bay saw wire was taunt pulled loose than finished lift. also built a modified body dolly have to replace floor pans and made the height that i could do the body work also
Here's one of my limitations: a two car garage and both sides have a 78 vette in them...only one will get restored. So, I feel once the body is off, I still need another bay. I'm thinking of buying (used) an enclosed trailer for storage and move body/frame to paint and blaster, etc.
How have others dealt with this?
Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,753
Likes: 721
From: Lafayette Louisiana
Thanks!
i put the extra strap on the radiator support frame work just i case i had a balance problem which i did on lowering the body on the dolly could have been ugly one strap slipped the extra did it's job don't want to know what a concrete floor does to fiberglass hope you have a safe body lift
don't want to know what a concrete floor does to fiberglass hope you have a safe body lift
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,283
Likes: 4,373
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi h4ca,
I had a 14 foot wide garage to work in.
I built a cart with wheels to put the body on while I restored the chassis. I was able to move the body forward and backward on the frame to give me room to work on various parts of the chassis. I also moved the chassis around to get access as I needed it.
There was a big change of course when the body finally left for paint, but by then the chassis was almost complete.
You can see me working around it in these pictures.
The trailer sounds like a good idea but something like that would have broken my budget.
Regards,
Alan
I had a 14 foot wide garage to work in.
I built a cart with wheels to put the body on while I restored the chassis. I was able to move the body forward and backward on the frame to give me room to work on various parts of the chassis. I also moved the chassis around to get access as I needed it.
There was a big change of course when the body finally left for paint, but by then the chassis was almost complete.
You can see me working around it in these pictures.
The trailer sounds like a good idea but something like that would have broken my budget.
Regards,
Alan
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
From: ashland ky
Just last weekend I finished remodeling an old building on my property into a garage. Its 18' x 20' so it'll be just big enough to get the job done. I need to spend a couple weekends before winter sets in too hard here digging a trench and burying electric and water. After that I just need to run the building with outlets and lights and I'll be set.
I have another car to finish and get rid of first, so hopefully I'll have the body off by mid summer.
I have another car to finish and get rid of first, so hopefully I'll have the body off by mid summer.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,236
Likes: 898
From: Myrtle Beach SC
Hi h4ca,
I had a 14 foot wide garage to work in.
I built a cart with wheels to put the body on while I restored the chassis. I was able to move the body forward and backward on the frame to give me room to work on various parts of the chassis. I also moved the chassis around to get access as I needed it.
There was a big change of course when the body finally left for paint, but by then the chassis was almost complete.
I had a 14 foot wide garage to work in.
I built a cart with wheels to put the body on while I restored the chassis. I was able to move the body forward and backward on the frame to give me room to work on various parts of the chassis. I also moved the chassis around to get access as I needed it.
There was a big change of course when the body finally left for paint, but by then the chassis was almost complete.
So where did you store "parts" removed while doing the resto work? Looks pretty clean. So you did the lift yourself in a one car garage? Have you looked at the MaxxJaxx? I keep taking a look due to its portability and limitations to my garage ceiling height.
I've got 12 feet on one side and than 11 feet on the other with a cinder block wall dividing my garage nearly in half. Can't take the wall down without putting an i-beam up there to hold up the roof...way too much work. There is a break in the wall toward the back so can bet around from side to side...probably six, seven feet. Just looking at the cost of an enclosed...it's not really a budgeted item but I'm working to get workable plan. I've been collecting and restoring "parts" for the last couple of years and this weekend, cataloged everything by section(like seatbelt cleaning). Its stored in a sun room...lots of inside space there.
Do you go to the Florida Regional in January?
Last edited by hunt4cleanair; Nov 29, 2010 at 04:51 AM.
