Body on frame restorations
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,016
Likes: 31
From: Little Egg Harbor N.J.
Body on frame restorations
I know many people take the body off of the frame when doing a restoration; what I am wondering is what kind of results can you accomplish if you leave the body on the frame?
I hope to restore my car but I don't have the resources to do a frame off job, hell I'm having enough trouble getting my stupid turn signal to work but, I hope to restore my car a little at a time and that means leaving the body on the frame.
Any feedback would be appreciated; photos of some completed cars would be cool too.
I hope to restore my car but I don't have the resources to do a frame off job, hell I'm having enough trouble getting my stupid turn signal to work but, I hope to restore my car a little at a time and that means leaving the body on the frame.
Any feedback would be appreciated; photos of some completed cars would be cool too.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,428
Likes: 5
From: Japan
I went the body-on route with mine; basically for the same reasons as you- my garage was already full. First I did the rearend, later on the brakes and front end, then the motor. While the motor was out I painted the car, and most recently I swapped out the TH400 for a Muncie. If you have the resources to do a proper body-off that would obviously be the better way to go but you can still make a pretty decent driver without removing the body if your frame is in serviceable condition. Gimme your email if you want some pics....
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,016
Likes: 31
From: Little Egg Harbor N.J.
Originally Posted by birdsmith
I went the body-on route with mine; basically for the same reasons as you- my garage was already full. First I did the rearend, later on the brakes and front end, then the motor. While the motor was out I painted the car, and most recently I swapped out the TH400 for a Muncie. If you have the resources to do a proper body-off that would obviously be the better way to go but you can still make a pretty decent driver without removing the body if your frame is in serviceable condition. Gimme your email if you want some pics....
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
Originally Posted by 79vetter
I wish very much that I had pulled the body off of the frame. You can get to everything easier and quicker once that body is off. 
it is actually easier, but you do have to have the space. hey this could be a good excuse for a lift, just lift the body and work on the frame underneath, you only take up one spot 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,248
Likes: 48
From: westland mi
i'm guilty of doing a body on, definetly the harder way of doing it. very time consuming and a labor of love.
more pics here. http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v323/rosslato/
more pics here. http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v323/rosslato/
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,412
Likes: 792
From: Redondo Beach, California
I think that if you don't separate the body/frame you can cleanup/paint about 70% of the frame. That in itself is a pretty good accomplishment. (However if you have frame rust damage/birdcage rust damage I think you really need to separate the body and frame for repairs.)
You can replace the brake lines without removing the body. I've done this three times and that was with stainless steel lines...and my car has a welded in transmission crossmember.
But to replace the gas lines, especially with stainless steel, I think you just have to separate the body some - perhaps 6-10 inches - to do this. Some people have replaced the gas line with braided steel hose with the body on. This is probably a good alternative.
Finally, if you're going for a really top knotch restoration and want a perfect paint job, seperating the body - putting in on a dolly for body work and painting - you can do body work, paint prep, paint and finally put the body back on without overspray or polishing powder on the rest of the car. Painting the body off of the car is the way is was done at the factory.
(1) don't separate body and frame, (2) drop the frame a few inches, or (3) completely remove the body and frame. It just depends on what you want/need to do with you car.
You can replace the brake lines without removing the body. I've done this three times and that was with stainless steel lines...and my car has a welded in transmission crossmember.
But to replace the gas lines, especially with stainless steel, I think you just have to separate the body some - perhaps 6-10 inches - to do this. Some people have replaced the gas line with braided steel hose with the body on. This is probably a good alternative.
Finally, if you're going for a really top knotch restoration and want a perfect paint job, seperating the body - putting in on a dolly for body work and painting - you can do body work, paint prep, paint and finally put the body back on without overspray or polishing powder on the rest of the car. Painting the body off of the car is the way is was done at the factory.
(1) don't separate body and frame, (2) drop the frame a few inches, or (3) completely remove the body and frame. It just depends on what you want/need to do with you car.
