Body Lifting Question
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Body Lifting Question
Hello everyone! Brand new subscriber to this site.
I have a 1977. Engine, front suspension, dash, and interior is out. I want to lift the body high enough to replace the body mounts (I have found many procedures for this.). Can the body be lifted high enough (6-8 inches all the way around) to first allow for easier brake line, fuel line, and frame painting work? It's not practical for me raise and relocate the body. It's a driveway restoration so everything needs to stay in place under one tarp.
Has this been discussed and documented on this site. I am going through search results now. But, as you know, this type of search returns LOTS of threads to sift through.
Thanks in advance,
divots
I have a 1977. Engine, front suspension, dash, and interior is out. I want to lift the body high enough to replace the body mounts (I have found many procedures for this.). Can the body be lifted high enough (6-8 inches all the way around) to first allow for easier brake line, fuel line, and frame painting work? It's not practical for me raise and relocate the body. It's a driveway restoration so everything needs to stay in place under one tarp.
Has this been discussed and documented on this site. I am going through search results now. But, as you know, this type of search returns LOTS of threads to sift through.
Thanks in advance,
divots
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 1,096
Likes: 213
From: The Buckle of the Bible Belt. Joplin Mo
Hi Divots,
If your bird cage is in good shape, you can get away with it. Mine was in decent shape, so I only lifted enough to restore the frame and suspension. About four feet up. If you're interested I have pictures on my members page. You will need some sort of gantry to lift from if you're doing this outside. Good luck man.
If your bird cage is in good shape, you can get away with it. Mine was in decent shape, so I only lifted enough to restore the frame and suspension. About four feet up. If you're interested I have pictures on my members page. You will need some sort of gantry to lift from if you're doing this outside. Good luck man.
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,594
Likes: 7,042
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
I didn't have room to do a complete body lift, either.
Below is a general outline of how I raised my 1968 body 6" to 8":
Once you have all the mounting bolts, E-brake, bumper mounts, rag joint, ground cables, electrical harness that could be too short to leave connected, etc. unbolted, you can lift the body in 2" increments to keep from flexing the fiberglass panels too much. Once you have lifted the body about 8" use solid wooden 4" by 4" by 8" long blocks between the frame and the bottom of the birdcage (do not use stacks of short wooden blocks as they can shift and cause the body to FALL). Also be sure to support the front end and rear end of the body as you raise it and keep both ends supported the entire time it is lifted (you can fabricate simple 2" by 4" uprights to support the underside of the front/nose and the rear area.
Click on the link below for pics of lifting my car body………………
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1591645717
Below is a general outline of how I raised my 1968 body 6" to 8":
Once you have all the mounting bolts, E-brake, bumper mounts, rag joint, ground cables, electrical harness that could be too short to leave connected, etc. unbolted, you can lift the body in 2" increments to keep from flexing the fiberglass panels too much. Once you have lifted the body about 8" use solid wooden 4" by 4" by 8" long blocks between the frame and the bottom of the birdcage (do not use stacks of short wooden blocks as they can shift and cause the body to FALL). Also be sure to support the front end and rear end of the body as you raise it and keep both ends supported the entire time it is lifted (you can fabricate simple 2" by 4" uprights to support the underside of the front/nose and the rear area.
Click on the link below for pics of lifting my car body………………
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...post1591645717
Last edited by doorgunner; Jul 6, 2018 at 04:26 PM.
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Quick Update:
Thanks for the replies and updates. I have been able to remove the No 2, 3, and 4 body mount bolts from both sides normally! Cages and nuts are still intact and functional. I feel really lucky. I'll tackle the No 1's this week; then on to freeing the body and raising it up around 8 - 10 inches.
divots
Thanks for the replies and updates. I have been able to remove the No 2, 3, and 4 body mount bolts from both sides normally! Cages and nuts are still intact and functional. I feel really lucky. I'll tackle the No 1's this week; then on to freeing the body and raising it up around 8 - 10 inches.
divots
Pro
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 572
Likes: 61
I lifted mine about a foot and suspended the body on some threaded rod with large washers at the body mount points while I replaced the fuel/brake lines and painted the frame. I also didn't have anywhere to store the body and would have preferred to do it that way. Here is a link to my mount replacement among other things.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...placement.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...placement.html
Last edited by teamo; Jul 9, 2018 at 08:21 PM.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Honolulu, Hi
Hello everyone! Brand new subscriber to this site.
I have a 1977. Engine, front suspension, dash, and interior is out. I want to lift the body high enough to replace the body mounts (I have found many procedures for this.). Can the body be lifted high enough (6-8 inches all the way around) to first allow for easier brake line, fuel line, and frame painting work? It's not practical for me raise and relocate the body. It's a driveway restoration so everything needs to stay in place under one tarp.
Has this been discussed and documented on this site. I am going through search results now. But, as you know, this type of search returns LOTS of threads to sift through.
Thanks in advance,
divots
I have a 1977. Engine, front suspension, dash, and interior is out. I want to lift the body high enough to replace the body mounts (I have found many procedures for this.). Can the body be lifted high enough (6-8 inches all the way around) to first allow for easier brake line, fuel line, and frame painting work? It's not practical for me raise and relocate the body. It's a driveway restoration so everything needs to stay in place under one tarp.
Has this been discussed and documented on this site. I am going through search results now. But, as you know, this type of search returns LOTS of threads to sift through.
Thanks in advance,
divots
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski