I have everything out of the car aleady
-no drivetrain
-engine out, radiator out, radiator support still in.
-steering box out
-a-arms, trailing arms off
-fuel lines off
-gas tank out
-interior out except dash & steering wheel column
-ground straps are already off

What else do I have to disconnect to pull the body?
rear tail light harness?
rear bumper brackets to frame
body mount bolts
front frame where frame bolts to nose support system (near radiator lower support)

There is a strap that connects the inner most seatbelt bracket underneath the car around a lip on the frame right under where the driveshaft u-joint meets the differential. Looks like I might sheer those bolts off, how difficult is it to replace? might just bend that lip up to avoid breaking the bolts/bracket.

How heavy is the body without hood, but with doors, vert top and headlights still in tach?? how many guys will it take to lift and move?
where should we position ourselves to lift evenly and safely? using 6 guys
If my frame is already on jack stands, is it too risky to pull the body and the frame fall off the jackstands? especially when putting back on?

Anyone have a body dolly in the jersey area I can borrow for two weeks or so?? Not cost effective to build one up for such a short time.

Just want to finish painting the frame and install new brake lines and I'm this far already. Then I can say i did a Body Off
Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
-B

 

Looks like you got most of it, except emergency brake cable, brake lines, Antenna ground, and fuel gauge sending unit (you may have them disconnected, just not mentioned). Four really big strong guys can probably lift it, but it would be handy to have a few more. If your frame appears stable on the jackstands, there should be no issue there. Do you have a plan for what to do with the body? Are you planning to walk it out (forward or backward) over the frame to the dolly? Side to side is not really a good option if you are not using a hoist. Good luck.

PS, unbolt the seatbelt cable at one end only and pull away from the lip,

 

All of the above are off except the seat belt cable. I'm pretty sure i will break the bolt if I try to get even one side off. Not sure what to do.
I don't have a dolly, looking for one to borrow for a bit.
Any other options of laying the body ontop of something to temporarily support it?

 

Just toss it over on the driveway, it'll be alright...

Just kidding... Having never done it before, I'm pulling this out of the air, but I'm visualizing some sort of frame made of 2x4s with padding in the appropriate spots. Looking at the body lift slings in the catalogs (4 lift points?), it doesn't seem like it'd be that critical to have something fancy, just make sure it's fairly level to not tweak the body. Maybe throw some casters on it so's you can wheel it around if needed.

Good luck, I'd love to be brave enough for a body-off someday.


Dan

 

Danno,
Give it time, it starts as replacing the body bushings and next thing you know its a frame off with new everything and more hp you know what to do with.
I was hoping I could borrow someones body dolly for two weeks since all I'm doing is replacing the brake lines and painting the very top of the frame. But if anyone can send me the plans on building a body dolly for a C3 I would really appreciate it. I've seen the one for the C2's but I would prefer some front supports.
I have nowhere to store it here, actually the dolly will be occuping my driveway parking space as I have been doing all this work in my driveway since last december.
I've seen a few pics of some nice ones. Any got the build plans to build one out of wood? and aprox cost?
thanks

 

here i am - two days on the forum - findig info on those darn spindels.
i went from spindels to considering a "body off" in two days.

thanks -- and i mean it - for the first time i'm having *goals*.

 

maybe $100 total for wood and casters. you would need to support the rear on your 'vert. This dolly does work on c-3's

 

This is what the frame looks like done. I had to cut the dimensions of the front portion 6 inches shorter in length because I left the radiator support in. Be careful. The front of the car has a lot of flex. And it is true. Once you start you won't believe how much you get yourself into because you'll never see some of these areas of the car again.

Good luck.

 

Lifting it by hand can be done but it is risky. It's not the weight its the mass and how you have to move it. I did mine and just made up some wooden horses supported under the body. I would strongly suggest that you use a sling to raise the body. It's not worth someone getting hurt over or causing damage to the body. The seat belt renforcement that the cable is attached to is probably rusted out. mine was. take the belts out and the bracket is riveted to the body just drill or cut the rivets out. Disconnect the driveshaft it should drop down. See if that will help.

 

yep it is the frame off sickness , there is no cure once the body is off you will not be able to stop yourself

 

2 bolts, soak them with PB BLaster/WD40 and unscrew slowly till it tightens up, then screw back in a little, then back out...if they twist off doing that they prob need replaced anyway. Be a lot more work bending that lip back and forth.

I'd guess 900-1200lbs. Depends how strong those 6 guys are, i'd recommend 8 if you can, or at least 6 lifting and 1 spotting. Only need 1 in front to stabalize nose, it will droop bad when lifted. I'd put the tires back on and get it off the jackstands...that is disaster waiting to happen trying to do it on jackstands. If anything lower it down far as you can, then put support under it like 2x4's etc. And if you don't plan on a dolly, just get some old tires and place under body for cushion/support.

Also, remember to take off rear valance (big panel below bumper/liscense plate)

 

Tires huh? I have plenty of those.
Stinkray, thanks for the build plans.
Whiplash, any chance your in Jersey and put the body back on already??
Start playing the lottery, this is when you get the itch to upgrade EVERYTHING!!!

 

I did mine the cheap way, actually free. I had the jack stands and 4x4's in the shop already. so I put them to use. it worked really well for cleaning and detailing the underneath of the body. I bet you will not put that body back on a dirty frame without cleaning and painting it at least. good luck

 

I hear that! The stingray I'm doing (my friend's car) started off as brakes, wheels, tires, paint, carpet, and seat covers(last two came with the car when he bought it). Right now, the body is on a dolly, the engine on a stand, and the frame just came off of my rotisserie from it's repaint and is starting to get re-assembled (new brake lines, u-joints, bushings, fuel lines, bearings, steering components, ball joints,etc.) Every time his wife sees me, well I don't think I can repeat what she says.

 

I guesstimated my T-top body to be around 800lbs, too heavy for only 4 guys.

The body dolly I made was just some 4x4's with casters. I had to provide additional support for the nose, I noticed it was flexing even without the headlight buckets installed.

 

I built this gantry and horses for about $300 with the chain hoist. I'll let you borrow it in about 10 years when the body is back on the frame.

I'm near Freehold if you want to come take a look at it.

 

Thats some setup you got there. Very nice.
I'm only looking to pull the body for a week so no need to go that indepth into a body dolly, but if I was doing it long term your setup would be nice.
Thanks for the pics. Good luck.

 

I have done it a few times, don,t try to lift it by hand, as is bulky and awkward and someone will get hurt.

I built a frame over the car in my shed, lifted it with four chain lifters slowly, by myself, and left it there while I did the frame up

You must support the front clip as it moves around otherwise and could loosen or get damaged.

Sorry dont know how to post photos, but the timber only cost a few bucks.