Body lifting
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 782
Likes: 0
From: Elizabeth New Jersey
Body lifting
#1 How hard is this? I really wanna do this, because I wanna start from chasis to do all the saftey upgrades and fuel lines.
#2 Besides taking out all the interior, headlights, bumpers, etc
How hard is it?
#2 Besides taking out all the interior, headlights, bumpers, etc
How hard is it?
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 16,978
Likes: 7
From: In Dreams There Is Truth Ohio
All you need is 8 guys.....4 per side...I just took out only the seats, lifted the body off the frame...rolled the frame out, put the body on a body dolly....nothin to it...walk in the park.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 488
Likes: 0
From: Fremont,CA
Originally Posted by Corvus
#1 How hard is this? I really wanna do this, because I wanna start from chasis to do all the saftey upgrades and fuel lines.
#2 Besides taking out all the interior, headlights, bumpers, etc
How hard is it?
#2 Besides taking out all the interior, headlights, bumpers, etc
How hard is it?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 782
Likes: 0
From: Elizabeth New Jersey
Alright cool, hopefully I can start the work in a week. My father always said the key to a masterpiece is Prep, prep and more prep.
Gotta prepare space. By the way any good books that list the body mounts that hold theb ody to the frame?
Gotta prepare space. By the way any good books that list the body mounts that hold theb ody to the frame?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,128
Likes: 21
From: North Alabama
I did all the disconnectiog myself. Had a buddy standby to help watch for left over wires or hoses. Pretty much cut and dry but not a simple task...
Main thing is to "take your time" and have fun while doing it!
Main thing is to "take your time" and have fun while doing it!
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
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,435
Likes: 0
From: largo florida
I lifted my body the same way Jclgodale3 did. 4 straps that I bought from harbor freight for 2.50 each. 2 get connected under the car to make them long enough, then you tie them up top. I just followed redwingvettes list and everything almost went smoothly. I did forget to unbolt 2 body mounts so the whole car would pick up off the ground. After removing the last 2, everything worked out. Be careful with the dolly. It must be able to support the nose, otherwise the fenders will crack. As for the body mounts, there are 8. You should easily be able to locate 6, the other 2 are hidden in the rear wheel fender, behind a little access plate.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 782
Likes: 0
From: Elizabeth New Jersey
Originally Posted by lostpatrolman
I lifted my body the same way Jclgodale3 did. 4 straps that I bought from harbor freight for 2.50 each. 2 get connected under the car to make them long enough, then you tie them up top. I just followed redwingvettes list and everything almost went smoothly. I did forget to unbolt 2 body mounts so the whole car would pick up off the ground. After removing the last 2, everything worked out. Be careful with the dolly. It must be able to support the nose, otherwise the fenders will crack. As for the body mounts, there are 8. You should easily be able to locate 6, the other 2 are hidden in the rear wheel fender, behind a little access plate.
Thanks! Someone should make a guild for this, if my job goes smoothly I'll try to make a guide as I go.
Another question, what holds the nose to the birdcage? Wouldn't be easier to seperate them?
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,284
Likes: 933
From: Indiana
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
Corvus
This is a checklist for a C2, but it will be close to what you are doing.
http://www.corvetterepair.com/tech_tips.htm
I used an engine hoist to lift my daughter's 72 LT-1 convertible body. That required less ceiling height than an overhead lift.
Good luck
Ol Blue
This is a checklist for a C2, but it will be close to what you are doing.
http://www.corvetterepair.com/tech_tips.htm
I used an engine hoist to lift my daughter's 72 LT-1 convertible body. That required less ceiling height than an overhead lift.
Good luck
Ol Blue
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,050
Likes: 124
From: Wichita KS
Originally Posted by Corvus
Thanks! Someone should make a guild for this, if my job goes smoothly I'll try to make a guide as I go.....
There is a comprehensive checklist for removing the body. The book has instructions for building the body dolly and also has a place for you to record the number of body shims removed from each mount.
Available from most all Corvette parts houses and the NCM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 782
Likes: 0
From: Elizabeth New Jersey
Originally Posted by mapman
Someone has made a guide for this (and a video). The Nolan Adams Body Lift book and Video is very useful.
There is a comprehensive checklist for removing the body. The book has instructions for building the body dolly and also has a place for you to record the number of body shims removed from each mount.
Available from most all Corvette parts houses and the NCM.
There is a comprehensive checklist for removing the body. The book has instructions for building the body dolly and also has a place for you to record the number of body shims removed from each mount.
Available from most all Corvette parts houses and the NCM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,131
Likes: 4
From: May help you? You can sure as hell try!
Originally Posted by Corvus
Gotta prepare space.
Just saw a post by one of the Forum members doing a body off in his one car garage. He keeps the body stored a few feet above the chassis. This gives him room to access both. Don't remember who it was. Maybe he'll chime in.
Me? I got a 3 car garage and my body off took up two bays and half the basement. I would have probably taken up 3 bays (did for a while with all my new parts before the chassis went back together) but the wife doesn't like scraping windows in the winter and so insists on having one bay as hers.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,128
Likes: 21
From: North Alabama
Corvus...I sprayed the frame down with a heavy duty degreaser and let it sit for about 20 minutes. I then used a 2300 psi pressure washer to blast away all the crap. It even exposed the original frame stamp from assembly on the passenger side of the frame rail. I then coated the frame with Rustoleum Semi Black paint. I live in the South though, no real rust issues. If I was located up North I would have used the Por 15. Hope this helps...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
Originally Posted by lostpatrolman
I lifted my body the same way Jclgodale3 did. 4 straps that I bought from harbor freight for 2.50 each. 2 get connected under the car to make them long enough, then you tie them up top. I just followed redwingvettes list and everything almost went smoothly. I did forget to unbolt 2 body mounts so the whole car would pick up off the ground. After removing the last 2, everything worked out. Be careful with the dolly. It must be able to support the nose, otherwise the fenders will crack. As for the body mounts, there are 8. You should easily be able to locate 6, the other 2 are hidden in the rear wheel fender, behind a little access plate.
was rotted. If the rocker channels in the birdcage are gone, you will
run into some issues rega
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
Originally Posted by lostpatrolman
I lifted my body the same way Jclgodale3 did. 4 straps that I bought from harbor freight for 2.50 each. 2 get connected under the car to make them long enough, then you tie them up top. I just followed redwingvettes list and everything almost went smoothly. I did forget to unbolt 2 body mounts so the whole car would pick up off the ground. After removing the last 2, everything worked out. Be careful with the dolly. It must be able to support the nose, otherwise the fenders will crack. As for the body mounts, there are 8. You should easily be able to locate 6, the other 2 are hidden in the rear wheel fender, behind a little access plate.
was rotted. If the rocker channels in the birdcage are gone, you will
run into some issues regarding the strength of the body.
When I initially lifted mine, I had forgotten the cable that ties the
seatbelt anchors to the frame, just infront of the differential.
Note: That cable (and the seatbelt bolts) are strong enough to lift a
rolling chassis. DOH !!!
Oh yeah - the nose is glued and rivetted to the birdcage/body.
You DON'T want to break that apart unless you HAVE to.
With the bumper and headlights out, you only need a small ratcheting
tie-down that goes from the headlights/hood opening to the Ttop
center bar. You only need to lift enough to take some weight off
and keep it from drooping.
Plan on buying new bumpers .... among lots of other things.
Have fun and be careful
Don't mind the mess:
Last edited by NHvette; Feb 22, 2005 at 03:06 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,004
Likes: 16
From: Gainesville, Florida
I lifted the body by myself with the entire interior intact plus the hood. If you take your time, it's really not bad at all. I used two 2 ton straps under the body (above the frame rails) & a chain hoist.
Toughest thing is if your mount bolts & cages are rusted or should I say "fused". I real pain to remove. Here's a link to some photos of my frame off:
http://www.gearheadzgarage.com/corvette/corvette_bo.htm
Have fun & beware of what you'll find ..... among other things I found a large square hole had been cut out of the body floor above the differential sometime in the past .... apparently to get to the top two cover bolts ....
So far I've replaced both frame rails (& #2 & #3 mounts), both #4 body mount reinforcements & nut cages, entire rear susp plus offset T-arms & everything restored from tranny tailshaft back ....
I'm in the process of replacing my rocker channels now ....
Mark
Toughest thing is if your mount bolts & cages are rusted or should I say "fused". I real pain to remove. Here's a link to some photos of my frame off:
http://www.gearheadzgarage.com/corvette/corvette_bo.htm
Have fun & beware of what you'll find ..... among other things I found a large square hole had been cut out of the body floor above the differential sometime in the past .... apparently to get to the top two cover bolts ....
So far I've replaced both frame rails (& #2 & #3 mounts), both #4 body mount reinforcements & nut cages, entire rear susp plus offset T-arms & everything restored from tranny tailshaft back ....
I'm in the process of replacing my rocker channels now ....
Mark
Last edited by gearheadz; Feb 23, 2005 at 12:16 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,435
Likes: 0
From: largo florida
Here are the pics I used to make my body dolly, some of the forum members sent me these. I dont remember who though. Anyways, I followed the first diagram and it turned out great. The measurements are pretty precise, and on the snug size. Make sure not to go over when you are making your dolly, otherwise you will have fitment issues. Oh yeah, I left my headlights in. Didnt see any reason to take them out. Same thing with the interior.
Last edited by lostpatrolman; Feb 23, 2005 at 12:34 AM.