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Available lift height using engine hoist
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 274
Likes: 2
From: Finger TN
Available lift height using engine hoist
Can anyone thats used an engine hoist to remove the body let me know how much height is possible and the technique you used. Just finished building the dolly with 32" uprights and am doubting the cherrypicker will lift the body high enough to get the dolly under.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,669
Likes: 3
From: Kingston Ontario
I didn't use an engine hoist to lift the body off, but can tell you that you'll probably need 32" + just to clear the fuel tank. I've seen threads here that show the hoist located inside or just on top of the interior compartment. Whichever way you can safely lift the body.
I would say the trick to the whole procedure is to lift the body and roll out the chassis, followed by rolling the body stand under the body as opposed to trying to move the body with the hoist.
I would say the trick to the whole procedure is to lift the body and roll out the chassis, followed by rolling the body stand under the body as opposed to trying to move the body with the hoist.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 274
Likes: 2
From: Finger TN
I didn't use an engine hoist to lift the body off, but can tell you that you'll probably need 32" + just to clear the fuel tank. I've seen threads here that show the hoist located inside or just on top of the interior compartment. Whichever way you can safely lift the body.
I would say the trick to the whole procedure is to lift the body and roll out the chassis, followed by rolling the body stand under the body as opposed to trying to move the body with the hoist.
I would say the trick to the whole procedure is to lift the body and roll out the chassis, followed by rolling the body stand under the body as opposed to trying to move the body with the hoist.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 435
Likes: 18
From: Florida
Just checking on my summit hoist, it looks to me like you could raise the initial height of the boom somehow by adjusting the rams height up with a spacer, or the rod with a spacer between the end of it and the base of the boom. The boom looks as though it will pivot much higher than the ram will take it. Just a thought if your ram doesnt go very high.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 733
Likes: 1
From: Coquitlam British Columbia
Used a cherry picker for body seperation
You can check out this link to my body seperation using a cherry picker I had no trouble using a cherry picker to pull off the body and place it on my dolly. I did have to shorten my straps though.
http://www.vettemod.org/index5.html#
ikwhite
http://www.vettemod.org/index5.html#
ikwhite
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,117
Likes: 104
From: charlotte north carolina
two major problems to watch for. first, most of your lift height is lost in the strapping from the hoist to the car. that's where a frame like DW's comes into play. it keeps the straps short and more vertical than horizontal. i made mine out of 2x6 in a ladder shape, using the side legs to strap to the car and the center rung to attach to the hoist. second, as the hoist arm lifts, it will get very close to the side leg of the lift frame and limit the lift height. some guys lift the body, remove the wheels and lower the car frame onto car dollys and roll it out of the way.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 274
Likes: 2
From: Finger TN
Got the body off with the lift straps and engine hoist tonight. It was a pretty hairy experience by myself. Thank God my body is in primer. I didn't have the straps set right and the nose was very low. Found out later tonight, the straps are two different lengths. The hoist cyinder was right against the driver's door and scratched up the primer. I wouldn't suggest this method to anyone working alone. Wasn't even close to the 3' I needed for the tall dolly I built. Plus didn't consider having to deal with the legs on the hoist when moving the dolly under. Just had one of those nights that nothing went right.
Will have to nurse my wounds and try again tomorrow.
Will have to nurse my wounds and try again tomorrow.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 297
Likes: 1
From: El Dorado Hills California
I borrowed a lift strap assembly from my local Vette restorer. Found that they are way too long unless you could lift from 20' high. Instead I bought 3" ratchet straps pulled them down to the "T" top brace. I was using a 11' high gantry and come-along but even an engine hoist with this arrangement should get you high enough.
Blain
Blain
