lifting body off frame
Racer
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 492
Likes: 0
From: Birmingham AL
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 363
Likes: 0
From: Winston-Salem NC
Yeah, you'll need twice as much room as you think, twice as much time as you think, and about 10 times as much money as you think (ask me how I know)!
Seriously, just take your time, label everything that you take off, take lots of pictures, and plan on LOTS of "while I'm at it's". If you farm out anything, like motor work, use that time to be cleaning and detailing everything else. Start soaking all of the body mount, bumper, frame extension bolts NOW with a good rust penetrant. And before you actually lift it, make one more trip around and under the car to make sure you got all of those pesky little ground straps loose. And make sure you have an assembly manual, available from all of the vendors.
No sweat! You're going to get to know your car REAL WELL over the next few months!!!
Jeff
Seriously, just take your time, label everything that you take off, take lots of pictures, and plan on LOTS of "while I'm at it's". If you farm out anything, like motor work, use that time to be cleaning and detailing everything else. Start soaking all of the body mount, bumper, frame extension bolts NOW with a good rust penetrant. And before you actually lift it, make one more trip around and under the car to make sure you got all of those pesky little ground straps loose. And make sure you have an assembly manual, available from all of the vendors.
No sweat! You're going to get to know your car REAL WELL over the next few months!!!
Jeff
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 344
Likes: 0
From: Delano Mn
i have another frame completly redone sitting next to it now, all interior and necceassary hardware have been removed just need to see if there are good locations to lift from, corvette central told me not to use their body lift harness on a convert, so i am ready to move to new frame just dont want to cause any damage and looking for advice. thanks
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 763
Likes: 42
From: Detroit MI
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
Today, I finally pulled the body off the frame on my 1970 Coupe. I started working on it on weekends last Novemeber, and finally got the body off today.
The process is not for the meek, espeically if you are planning to keep your current paint.
I am fortunate to have a 4-post lift so I was able to strap the body to the reinforced ceiling in my garage and lower the chassis.
I'm sitting typing this message with a beer in my hand after spending 8 hours in the garage. If you have any questions, you can e-mail me.
Tom
The process is not for the meek, espeically if you are planning to keep your current paint.
I am fortunate to have a 4-post lift so I was able to strap the body to the reinforced ceiling in my garage and lower the chassis.
I'm sitting typing this message with a beer in my hand after spending 8 hours in the garage. If you have any questions, you can e-mail me.
Tom
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Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
You have to be more careful lifting the body on a convertible. The structure on the coupes is fragile enough, and the convertibles are even more fragile. If your birdcage is at all rusty, especially in the rocker channel area you will have to be very careful while lifting the body.
Rick B.
Rick B.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,690
Likes: 203
From: Waterford Mi
I cut a 2x4 about 3inches longer then the distance across the doors and put it between the straps so they didn't pull in on the door skins. The front straps did fine coming across the fenders. Make sure the rocker channels are in good enough shape that they will hold the strap hooks if you use them. If not then you will need to wrap the straps all the way under the body. Body-off
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,050
Likes: 124
From: Wichita KS
Originally Posted by borris
any suggestions, hints, or experience at taking the body off the frame on a 75 convert???
Available from most vendors, NCM, etc.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 16,978
Likes: 7
From: In Dreams There Is Truth Ohio
As others said, time consuming...it took me 22 months to do my frame off....lot of work, many times I hit the proverbial brick wall and had to force myself to go and do something, anything, even if it was for an hour....
lifting the body is not a bid deal...I took the radiator out, left the core support in for front end stability, took the seats out, everything else remained in place...unbolted everything, the steering coupler, the harnesses, had 8 of my buds...we lifted the body up, another rolled the chassis forward, put the body on a dolly...when all was said and done, same guys put the body back on....not a big job lifting, if you have enough buds, and brewskies and brats for everyone
lifting the body is not a bid deal...I took the radiator out, left the core support in for front end stability, took the seats out, everything else remained in place...unbolted everything, the steering coupler, the harnesses, had 8 of my buds...we lifted the body up, another rolled the chassis forward, put the body on a dolly...when all was said and done, same guys put the body back on....not a big job lifting, if you have enough buds, and brewskies and brats for everyone
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 282
Likes: 0
From: chicago south burbs IL
wish I lived closer to ya so I could help you and see how its done cause I have the same plan for my 75 vert also do a new frame then just lift the body on to the new frame please let me know how it goes
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,692
Likes: 209
From: Loveland, CO
I was hesitant to leave doors on for my body reinstall, for two reasons, weight and possible body damage. The door gaps can be very close and it doesn't take too much to crunch the door edge to the body. Also, depends on if you have everything finish painted or not. I made simple door supports out of 3/4" elec. conduit flattened on each end and bolted in instead of the door. Was very rigid. See one of the recent posts by Blkblt of pictures of the operation. 
