Frame off question.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 288
Likes: 1
From: Maple Ridge British Columbia
Frame off question.
I've done quite a bit of research on removing the body from the frame, but one question still remains. After I lift the body off, can I leave it in the air? What I mean is I want to put supports across the body under the body mounts in the front and rear of the passenger compartment. I'll also build a support for the front section under the rad support. Will this be enough support or will I be risking the body structure twisting/warping? BTW I want to do it this way due to space limitations as I have a small garage and no where to put the body outside either.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,729
Likes: 267
From: Austin Texas
Corvette of the Year Winner 2017
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
you will take a huge risk, cracking/ breaking body if you do not properly support it,
front to back support on all mounts and the front nose.
attempting to suspend/store above is not a good plan.
Not to mention you will not be able to do any work on the body, while suspended in the air.
I would suggest build a body dolly on wheels on the ground, and store somewhere.
front to back support on all mounts and the front nose.
attempting to suspend/store above is not a good plan.
Not to mention you will not be able to do any work on the body, while suspended in the air.
I would suggest build a body dolly on wheels on the ground, and store somewhere.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,526
Likes: 1,960
From: Temple Terrace Florida
Dolly
I have done three body off restos. You really need a two to three car garage to do it correctly. One for the body, one for the frame and one for all the parts. That said, build a dolly out of wood with wheels so you can roll it around or get it out of the way. I transported my body on a dolly via flatbed for painting with no problem. There are a few great posts on the C-2 forum with instructions on how to build a dolly. The frames and mounts are mostly the same for both C-2s and C-3s. Good luck. Jerry
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,212
Likes: 4,300
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi MV,
Don't give up so quickly if you want to begin the restoration.
I did my restoration in a 14' wide low ceiling garage.
I built a wooden dolly to sit the body on supported on the underbody. It's a coupe and there was no further support. It sat that way for about 6 years.
I made it as tall as I could with out having the roof hit the ceiling.
I pushed it tight to one side wall. I then did the chassis and running gear restoration next to it.
I moved the body backward and forward as I needed to and did the same with the chassis.
It took a little planning but it all went smoothly.
Here are a couple of pictures to give you an idea.
Regards,
Alan
The body and chassis are pushed to the end of the garage with a door in it and I'm working in front of both of them.
You can just get a hint of the dolly and the body with a cover on it.
Here I have them both pushed forward and I'm working behind them.
Don't give up so quickly if you want to begin the restoration.
I did my restoration in a 14' wide low ceiling garage.
I built a wooden dolly to sit the body on supported on the underbody. It's a coupe and there was no further support. It sat that way for about 6 years.
I made it as tall as I could with out having the roof hit the ceiling.
I pushed it tight to one side wall. I then did the chassis and running gear restoration next to it.
I moved the body backward and forward as I needed to and did the same with the chassis.
It took a little planning but it all went smoothly.
Here are a couple of pictures to give you an idea.
Regards,
Alan
The body and chassis are pushed to the end of the garage with a door in it and I'm working in front of both of them.
You can just get a hint of the dolly and the body with a cover on it.
Here I have them both pushed forward and I'm working behind them.
Last edited by Alan 71; Mar 4, 2015 at 06:29 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 288
Likes: 1
From: Maple Ridge British Columbia
Interesting, so you left the body like that for 6 years with no issues. Well, I guess my idea might work after all. With everything else I have to store in the garage, there is just no way I can sit the body aside. That's why thought about building a structure under it after it was lifted off the frame. That way as the weather gets nicer, I can move the chassis to the driveway to work on it and put it back when the wife arrives home to park(:
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,212
Likes: 4,300
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi MV,
If the front clip is securely bonded in place it helps.
I took as much weight out of the front of the body as possible. I did leave the core support in place though.
If you wanted you could run a brace from the core support to the bottom rail of the dolly for extra stability.
I did spend time moving things around as I worked and it did take some planning.
At least this scheme is something to consider.
Regards,
Alan
If the front clip is securely bonded in place it helps.
I took as much weight out of the front of the body as possible. I did leave the core support in place though.
If you wanted you could run a brace from the core support to the bottom rail of the dolly for extra stability.
I did spend time moving things around as I worked and it did take some planning.
At least this scheme is something to consider.
Regards,
Alan
Last edited by Alan 71; Mar 4, 2015 at 07:52 PM.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,189
Likes: 111
From: Tolland CT
I suspended the body of my 70 from the rafters for about 5 years. Put two 4x4's across the bottom going from side to side. One bolted to the #3 mounts, the other bolted to the #2 mounts. Chains on the ends of each 4x4 suspending from the rafters. I took all the weight I could off the front clip. Removed the headlight units, grilles, bumper, and radiator support. Never had a problem. I suppose I could have built something to hold the nose up to be safer.
The body was up high enough to allow easy access to the underside including the rocker channels. Very easy to work on the engine compartment.
The chassis was kept under the body, rolled out to work on. I also had only one bay to work with.
The body was up high enough to allow easy access to the underside including the rocker channels. Very easy to work on the engine compartment.
The chassis was kept under the body, rolled out to work on. I also had only one bay to work with.