Pulled the body off today!!
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,844
Likes: 0
From: Pearland TX
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Pulled the body off today!! (VetteNut72)
Jesh!!! Here we go again! :lol:
So much for my theory that one day I would log into this forum and see every link about Saturday afternoon driving and not tinkering with stuff that takes it out of service. Nope! It seems we have lunatic after lunatic that will never make that possible.
Oh well... ya took it apart... what century should we expect it back together?
:D
So much for my theory that one day I would log into this forum and see every link about Saturday afternoon driving and not tinkering with stuff that takes it out of service. Nope! It seems we have lunatic after lunatic that will never make that possible.
Oh well... ya took it apart... what century should we expect it back together?
:D
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,205
Likes: 4,034
From: Connecticut, USA
Re: Pulled the body off today!! (VetteNut72)
nice job,could ou post some pictures of your lifting rig? Did you have any problem with the body flexing or do the doors hold it steady?
Thanks,
Gary
Thanks,
Gary
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
Re: Pulled the body off today!! (bgrice)
Jesh!!! Here we go again! :lol:
So much for my theory that one day I would log into this forum and see every link about Saturday afternoon driving and not tinkering with stuff that takes it out of service. Nope! It seems we have lunatic after lunatic that will never make that possible.
Oh well... ya took it apart... what century should we expect it back together?
:D
So much for my theory that one day I would log into this forum and see every link about Saturday afternoon driving and not tinkering with stuff that takes it out of service. Nope! It seems we have lunatic after lunatic that will never make that possible.
Oh well... ya took it apart... what century should we expect it back together?
:D
project forward at a timely pace. Keep in mind that my wife and kids will be
fighting you to spend the $$ elsewhere - so be prepared to send more !!
:lolg: :lolg: :lolg: :lolg:
Seriously, though - sometimes it's actually fun to tear into her. :yesnod:
Gary hits on a good point. It looks like your dolly doesn't support the nose or
#4 mount points. Don't open the doors without getting something to hold the
back side up in the air. A bar or strap can be used in place of the door to hold
the 2 door pillars from spreading apart.
:cheers: :thumbs: :seeya
[Modified by NHvette, 4:43 PM 4/17/2003]
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 594
Likes: 0
From: Tucson AZ
Re: Pulled the body off today!! (NHvette)
The front is supported as shown is this picture but I did not think about support at the #4 mounts. I'll make sure to cure this before opening the doors. :thumbs:
Craig
Craig
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,865
Likes: 1
From: I may be getting old but I refuse to grow up
Re: Pulled the body off today!! (NHvette)
Most of us in major resto mode would gladly accept donations to move the
project forward at a timely pace. Keep in mind that my wife and kids will be
fighting you to spend the $$ elsewhere - so be prepared to send more !!
:lolg: :lolg: :lolg: :lolg:
Seriously, though - sometimes it's actually fun to tear into her. :yesnod:
project forward at a timely pace. Keep in mind that my wife and kids will be
fighting you to spend the $$ elsewhere - so be prepared to send more !!
:lolg: :lolg: :lolg: :lolg:
Seriously, though - sometimes it's actually fun to tear into her. :yesnod:
How much height did you need to lift?
Steve :steering:
[Modified by stpman, 6:50 PM 4/17/2003]
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,004
Likes: 16
From: Gainesville, Florida
Re: Pulled the body off today!! (78Vette-SA)
I modified the original design to add support at #4 mount. I inserted a 2X8 through the main frame & added 2X4 uprights to sit up against the body reinforcement. This end really doesn't need wheels but I added some small ones just to keep it from getting caught on anything. The front is also supported at the hood support bracket on each side with the upright attached by a bolt thru one of the holes for the rad support. It works well!
NOTE: I had to notch the rear main supports so the floor pan would fit down in so the side rail would support the entire body channel. I also had to bevel off the rear of each rear 4X4 to fit inside the angled panel at the front of the rear wheelwell. See pic below....
[Modified by mdsmith, 9:59 PM 4/17/2003]
NOTE: I had to notch the rear main supports so the floor pan would fit down in so the side rail would support the entire body channel. I also had to bevel off the rear of each rear 4X4 to fit inside the angled panel at the front of the rear wheelwell. See pic below....
[Modified by mdsmith, 9:59 PM 4/17/2003]
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 912
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio TX
St. Jude Contributor '03 & '04
Re: Pulled the body off today!! (VetteNut72)
I'm jealous. That frame looks a helluva lot better than mine did.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=539745
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=539745
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,608
Likes: 3
From: Canberra AUSTRALIA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Re: Pulled the body off today!! (mdsmith)
SWEET!
Where did you get the plans for the frame?
I would like to get a copy of the plans and total materials needed.
Thanks.
:cheers:
Where did you get the plans for the frame?
I would like to get a copy of the plans and total materials needed.
Thanks.
:cheers:
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,692
Likes: 209
From: Loveland, CO
Re: Pulled the body off today!! (VetteNut72)
Looks like some strong dollies. Do you plan to do body work and painting on the dolly? I've been disappointed in past restorations to get the frame painted and pretty and then have wet sanding deposits get all over everything, and you can't clean it up again like you would prefer.
I'm thinking of painting on dolly and transferring back to frame after color sanding. Any thoughts?
I'm thinking of painting on dolly and transferring back to frame after color sanding. Any thoughts?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,004
Likes: 16
From: Gainesville, Florida
Re: Pulled the body off today!! (rponfick)
Looks like some strong dollies. Do you plan to do body work and painting on the dolly? I've been disappointed in past restorations to get the frame painted and pretty and then have wet sanding deposits get all over everything, and you can't clean it up again like you would prefer.
I'm thinking of painting on dolly and transferring back to frame after color sanding. Any thoughts?
I'm thinking of painting on dolly and transferring back to frame after color sanding. Any thoughts?
Anyone with an opinion on the matter, please weigh in!
[Modified by mdsmith, 3:25 PM 4/18/2003]
Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 653
Likes: 0
From: Dickinson (Houston) Texas
Re: Pulled the body off today!! (mdsmith)
I just built my body dolly this afternoon following Nolan Adams Body Lift Workbook. The plans I have do not address the #4 Body Mount. How far back did you add to the base frame and how high does the vertical board need to go to mate with the #4? I also noticed that you have two vertical boards in the front, what do those mate to? My Vette is a '78 coupe, I have the doors off, do I need to be concerned about the weight of the rear of the car pulling away, or will the T-Top bar be strong enough to hold it all together.
Thanks,
Bill
[Modified by matchframe, 2:05 AM 4/19/2003]
Thanks,
Bill
[Modified by matchframe, 2:05 AM 4/19/2003]
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,004
Likes: 16
From: Gainesville, Florida
Re: Pulled the body off today!! (matchframe)
How far back did you add to the base frame and how high does the vertical board need to go to mate with the #4? I also noticed that you have two vertical boards in the front, what do those mate to? My Vette is a '78 coupe, I have the doors off, do I need to be concerned about the weight of the rear of the car pulling away, or will the T-Top bar be strong enough to hold it all together.
Unlike ragtops, I've always heard coupes do not require additional support with the doors off due to the t-top bar & roof structure.
Mark
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,335
Likes: 1
Re: Pulled the body off today!! (VetteNut72)
Nice driveway. You may want to consider putting a brick sealer it. Those bricks dont take kindly to oil spills and drips. Good luck on the project. I can't tell you how many times i have been in that position. It alawys ends up costing 30% more then i originally estimate. And it takes me 3 years more than i plan for. Oh well, that'a how it goes when you have kids. :flag
Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 653
Likes: 0
From: Dickinson (Houston) Texas
Re: Pulled the body off today!! (sdixon)
Mark, thanks for the info. Adding the dolly back to the #4 mount makes sense. BTW, I have the lifting sling, but I have not totally decided how to do the lift. One way I am leaning is renting a hydrualic lift that has the extended arm to reach over the body. I noticed that you had 4X4s going up to a hoist. Did you have the 4X4 anchored at the top? I appreciate it!
Bill
Mike, I bought my Nolan Adams Body Lift Workbook from Corvette America for about $40. It comes with an hour long video demonstrating lifting a corvette body off the frame, and a check list of prepping the body. It also has designs for building the body dolly.
Bill
[Modified by matchframe, 3:36 AM 4/19/2003]
Bill
Mike, I bought my Nolan Adams Body Lift Workbook from Corvette America for about $40. It comes with an hour long video demonstrating lifting a corvette body off the frame, and a check list of prepping the body. It also has designs for building the body dolly.
Bill
[Modified by matchframe, 3:36 AM 4/19/2003]