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Using an Electric Hoist to Lift the Body - INPUT REQUESTED
Has anyone here successfully mounted and used an overhead electric hoist to lift the body? If so, what was the lift capacity / rating of your unit?
The last one I did (a '73) I used an engine hoist. On that car, the doors were off and the interior stripped, so lifting was a snap. Now, I have no intention of removing the doors from my '74, and all things considered, it just seems that I won't be able to get the body lifted high enough using the engine puller. I have to believe that an overhead electric hoist would make this job exponentially easier.
I'm also considering using a 2 ton chain hoist from HF.
easy, just use a 2x12 to straddle across rafters up in the attic,
you can buy a hoist at Harbor freight for like $200 dirt cheap.
way better than asking your wife come and help lift something in the garage !
I like that "hangman" extension cord in the 3rd pic
What # lift rating is yours? (They have several to choose from) I will be lifting the body with doors and front clip installed...so I'm thinking the beefiest one they have, but I don't need too much overkill
mine hoist is the smaller version rated 1100lb.
never had any lifting issues, for body with frame, and even a small block engine.
the only thing I don't like about it, the gear box eventually started a slow oil drip.
I just tie a sock around it now, oil on fiberglass is bad !
I made a 2" square tubing runner to enable sliding side to side the winch placement with no weight on it. and never hearing your wife complain "its to heavy" ...Priceless !
body weight depends upon how much is attached, a complete body with interior, and doors
maybe 1600lbs. ? a stripped shell maybe 600-800 lbs. no front clip my best questimates.
engine maybe 800 lbs, rolling chassis about 1000. minus engine.
Looks like that one is rated at lifting 550# on a single line and 1100# on a double. With doors, all glass, and HVAC stuff in and rest of interior removed, that might be getting close but it should still be within what I need pulling on a double.
I use the Harbor Freight gantry crane and 1 ton chain fall. Works great. I have lifted six bodies this was now by myself. No issues.
Best regards,
David Howard
AllC34Me
I would do the "Overkill Thing" if I bought a Harbor Freight winch (which I have done to lift my hardtop).
You might want to do "Overkill" in the attic also by adding a 2nd 2" x 12" crossbeam support.......(I have a nice little crack in the garage ceiling )
Just curious, strictly from a safety standpoint.....
Is that a free standing garage, or attached to the house. If attached to the house, is there a room, with furniture in it, above the rafters you've attached that lift to?
Just curious, strictly from a safety standpoint.....
Is that a free standing garage, or attached to the house. If attached to the house, is there a room, with furniture in it, above the rafters you've attached that lift to?
Understand where I'm going with this?
The electric hoist can raise 5 tons ( for example)...but if what you are attaching it to cannot handle it...you may find you have a problem.
And yes..I understand that in the photo 69vett posted...the car is basically stripped down and rather light.
in my application I used a 2"x12"x16 feet long cross-brace on top of the rafters in the attic.
basically my cross brace extends the width of the garage. spanning 8-10 rafters.
with a 2" square steel beam on the bottom side. and yes you would have structural weight limits,
I keep the heavy stuff hanging for min. amount of time.
I frequently lift 400 lb. equipment with no issues. ... be safe and good luck !
I did extensive reinforcing in the attic before I did the '73 body hoist. There are 2 straps holding the body. They go from one side, up-n-over, then come back down on the other side. The shell (with doghouse) hung from the ceiling for about 9 months with no issues, so that piece of the puzzle I have nailed down.
Here's a couple of pics of photos of that one...
I'm just looking for a better way to do the hoist. I've read the reviews on the Harbor Freight electric hoists, and when it comes to heavy loads there have been some complaints about them choking, the brake not holding, etc... BUT, it seems the good old fashioned, purely mechanical chainfalls have had no gripes when it came to lifting...except the issue of keeping the chains out of the way. I can deal with that.
in my application I used a 2"x12"x16 feet long cross-brace on top of the rafters in the attic.
basically my cross brace extends the width of the garage. spanning 8-10 rafters.
with a 2" square steel beam on the bottom side. and yes you would have structural weight limits,
I keep the heavy stuff hanging for min. amount of time.
I frequently lift 400 lb. equipment with no issues. ... be safe and good luck !
But as you may know...some people look at something and say: "I can do that" and not know what you did that is not shown in the photo.
Giving this type of information is important so those people who do not have a clue and hopefully understand WHY they can not just nail it to the sheet rock and lift their car. Because there are still people who will jack up their car and slide under it and NOT use safety stands.
I use the Harbor Freight gantry crane and 1 ton chain fall. Works great. I have lifted six bodies this was now by myself. No issues.
Best regards,
David Howard
AllC34Me
I'm considering a Gantry Crane from HF/could you let me know which one you own.
Thanks
Only issue with a chain-fall is the length of the actual length of the fall. If you have a low ceiling, there might not be enough lifting height available to lift the body clear of the frame. If there is an open space above the garage, it might be a good time to add a "access hatch" in the ceiling-just coincidentally where the chain fall is located.
08-23-2016, 09:03 AM
Using an Electric Hoist to Lift the Body - INPUT REQUESTED
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