shortest body removal height
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 91
Likes: 2
shortest body removal height
I'm trying to get the body of my 78 off in a one car garage with 7 feet from floor to rafters. The gas tank and engine are the high points on the chassis. The wells are the low point on the body. Mathematically that leaves 7 inches of roomif the to of the body is raised to a height of 7 feet. I could reinforce the garage with 4x4 legs and 2x8s bolted to the rafters. Use lifting straps, a 90 degree pulley and a horizontal Come-a-Long to lift the body. Add 2x4s across the 4x4 legs to support the body after lifted. In the end, the body would be stored over the chassis. I could either work on the chassis under the body or roll the chassis in and out as needed.
Thoughts? Is seven inches of clearance enough?
Thoughts? Is seven inches of clearance enough?
Racer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 276
Likes: 31
From: Brant County Ontario
I'm trying to get the body of my 78 off in a one car garage with 7 feet from floor to rafters. The gas tank and engine are the high points on the chassis. The wells are the low point on the body. Mathematically that leaves 7 inches of roomif the to of the body is raised to a height of 7 feet. I could reinforce the garage with 4x4 legs and 2x8s bolted to the rafters. Use lifting straps, a 90 degree pulley and a horizontal Come-a-Long to lift the body. Add 2x4s across the 4x4 legs to support the body after lifted. In the end, the body would be stored over the chassis. I could either work on the chassis under the body or roll the chassis in and out as needed.
Thoughts? Is seven inches of clearance enough?
Thoughts? Is seven inches of clearance enough?
I just asked this question.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 91
Likes: 2
Thanks DavidChristopher. I searched all the combinations of body, removal, lift, minimum clearance I could think of. Never thought to search for "pull". This could get fun. Might give my garage a tray ceiling for a little extra clearance.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,754
From: Charlotte NC
I understand that... 'Necessity is the mother of all INVENTION'.
But honestly....I would pull the body outside and then store the body on a good jig in a storage facility. Depending on how much you take off the body to lighten it and not stress the body in the front end area....the jig would have to be modified to support the front end.
I have pulled numerous bodies....and trying to do it in an area that tight...I would not want to do. NOT writing that it can not be done.....and if that is ALL I had...I guess I would have to figure somersetting out.....but I also know the money I am saving doing the work myself (if I was a DIY'er) can be put into a storage facility and not risk and damage that I would have to fix later.
Best of luck in your conquest.
DUB
But honestly....I would pull the body outside and then store the body on a good jig in a storage facility. Depending on how much you take off the body to lighten it and not stress the body in the front end area....the jig would have to be modified to support the front end.
I have pulled numerous bodies....and trying to do it in an area that tight...I would not want to do. NOT writing that it can not be done.....and if that is ALL I had...I guess I would have to figure somersetting out.....but I also know the money I am saving doing the work myself (if I was a DIY'er) can be put into a storage facility and not risk and damage that I would have to fix later.
Best of luck in your conquest.
DUB
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
As I'm currently doing the homework in preparation for lifting my own '78's body and storing it on an elevated dolly system, I'll share some of what I've found. (Please note that I'm drawing from years of experience as a general contractor with an extensive background in framing, so I am NOT recommending for a moment that just anyone who owns a saw and hammer should take on this particular project.)
The master plan on which I'm working (getting close to finalizing) is to roll the chassis in and out between 6x6 removable supporting posts when practical, and to have adequate room to work on it below the body when necessary. With very nearly a 9' ceiling to work with, in order to yield approx. 4 1/2 feet beneath the dolly I've concluded that the hoist itself (properly supported, of course) needs to be located in the attic space above the ceiling so as to maximize available lift clearance.
Here's the bad news... With only 7' to work with, tho you may be clear to roll the chassis in and out, you'll be working with approx. 2' less than I have available (depending on your support dolly), which certainly doesn't leave much room for working underneath. I'd think that in your situation it's going to be a bit more of a storage arrangement than I'll have, but even if you end up having to roll in and out to work on everything that certainly beats not having anywhere to keep it. My $.02
The master plan on which I'm working (getting close to finalizing) is to roll the chassis in and out between 6x6 removable supporting posts when practical, and to have adequate room to work on it below the body when necessary. With very nearly a 9' ceiling to work with, in order to yield approx. 4 1/2 feet beneath the dolly I've concluded that the hoist itself (properly supported, of course) needs to be located in the attic space above the ceiling so as to maximize available lift clearance.
Here's the bad news... With only 7' to work with, tho you may be clear to roll the chassis in and out, you'll be working with approx. 2' less than I have available (depending on your support dolly), which certainly doesn't leave much room for working underneath. I'd think that in your situation it's going to be a bit more of a storage arrangement than I'll have, but even if you end up having to roll in and out to work on everything that certainly beats not having anywhere to keep it. My $.02
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,285
Likes: 4,374
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi WM,
I lifted my car's body in a basement garage in which part of the ceiling was 7'.
I built a tall dolly to store the body on while I restored the chassis. The body WASN'T high enough to work under it so I pushed the body/dolly tight against one wall and worked next to it.
It depends on how wide your garage is as to how feasible this may be for you. I had about 13' of width. The dolly had large wheels on it so I could push it backward and forward to gain access to the chassis.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
I lifted my car's body in a basement garage in which part of the ceiling was 7'.
I built a tall dolly to store the body on while I restored the chassis. The body WASN'T high enough to work under it so I pushed the body/dolly tight against one wall and worked next to it.
It depends on how wide your garage is as to how feasible this may be for you. I had about 13' of width. The dolly had large wheels on it so I could push it backward and forward to gain access to the chassis.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
Racer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 276
Likes: 31
From: Brant County Ontario
Hi WM,
I lifted my car's body in a basement garage in which part of the ceiling was 7'.
I built a tall dolly to store the body on while I restored the chassis. The body WASN'T high enough to work under it so I pushed the body/dolly tight against one wall and worked next to it.
It depends on how wide your garage is as to how feasible this may be for you. I had about 13' of width. The dolly had large wheels on it so I could push it backward and forward to gain access to the chassis.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
I lifted my car's body in a basement garage in which part of the ceiling was 7'.
I built a tall dolly to store the body on while I restored the chassis. The body WASN'T high enough to work under it so I pushed the body/dolly tight against one wall and worked next to it.
It depends on how wide your garage is as to how feasible this may be for you. I had about 13' of width. The dolly had large wheels on it so I could push it backward and forward to gain access to the chassis.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
