I am doing a frame off restoration on my 70 BB convertible. I built the standard body dolly that you find the directions for in the Corvette Forum. I built it too high to start with. That is why you see the metal supports in the middle of the legs.



The first addition I made was in the front. I removed the radiator core support to restore it which left the nose unsupported. I cut an 8' 2X4 into two 39 inch and two 9 inch pieces and placed the 9 inch pieces between the 39 inch pieces at each end and placed this under the nose to support it.





I put the body on the dolly a couple of months ago. Well I noticed the other day that the rear was sagging and there was a gap between the rear quarter panels and doors. I immediately jacked up the rear with some boards under the trunk and floor jack supporting the rear to the correct height.

I then built an extension that has outside dimensions that go back 33 inches and are 47 inches wide. If I were to build another one, I would go a couple of inches wider and an inch longer, but what I have works fine. I built the back corners out of 4X4's with a 7 inch by 7 inch square block on top. The top of the 7 inch square blocks are 10 inches higher than the top of the half inch plywood plates on top of the original body dolly. I put the extension in with the 4X4's and then jacked up the rear end a little to slip in the 7 inch blocks.





The car had a roll bar in it when I bought it and has holes in the wheel wells where the roll bar went through down to the frame. This may have weakened the rear to cause it to sag.



If you are going to build a body dolly, you may want to consider adding the extension to the back.

Allen

 

Very nice. Did you draw a diagram with the measurements? I will need to build one soon and am looking for one that is well built.

 

I have a hand drawn sheet that I can scan and send to you tomorrow.

 

Hi OCB,
Here's another example of a wooden dolly, (for non-welders).
It can be easily built in one morning.
It supports the body at the 8 body mount locations.
The working height of the body can be varied by how tall the the uprights are.
The uprights are held in place with bolts so they can be removed individually to work on the body/birdcage at the body mount location.
There are 2 uprights forward to support the front of the clip.
The large wheels make it easy for one person to move it around even outside with no paving.
A few people have built copies over the years.
Regards,
Alan

 

Hello OCB,
If you are a welder here is one I made from square tubing and flat bar and some other small parts. This one gives me plenty of room to work under the body.
Don

 

Both of these are very nice designs, Thank You.