Corvette body weight
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,128
Likes: 21
From: North Alabama
Corvette body weight
Any help? Fixing to lift the body off the frame. Can anyone tell me the weight specifications of a 71 body complete? Need to make sure my hoist can handle it. Thanks 
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,683
Likes: 201
From: Waterford Mi
Don't know the exact weight but I lifte my 73 body with a 2000lb come-a-long without any sign of it being to much. If I had to guess, I fiqure the motor is a good 800 lbs, the frame and drive trian with suspention another 1200lbs, that only leaves about 1500lbs for the complete body.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,987
Likes: 3
From: Manchester, Dead Center in the Middle of TN 25 miles to Jack Daniels,10 miles to Geo Dickle, and .8 mile from the Liquor Store at I-24 Exit 114
St. Jude Donor '05
That's still a pretty hefty lift RedWingVette
I plan on taking mine off come spring. I would have figured less than that due to the Hood, Seats, T-Tops, Carpet, Jack & Acc, Battery, Radiator and anything else I can throw overboard.
I also plan tho remove the gas tank to lower the overall height of the chassis.
I have been told six people can lift one off and set it on the dolly. I prefer to use a porta hoist and straps to remove the body and then roll out the chassis and put the dolly under it to lower on to.
Good question any other advice from anyone? jim
I plan on taking mine off come spring. I would have figured less than that due to the Hood, Seats, T-Tops, Carpet, Jack & Acc, Battery, Radiator and anything else I can throw overboard.
I also plan tho remove the gas tank to lower the overall height of the chassis.
I have been told six people can lift one off and set it on the dolly. I prefer to use a porta hoist and straps to remove the body and then roll out the chassis and put the dolly under it to lower on to.
Good question any other advice from anyone? jim
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,865
Likes: 1
From: I may be getting old but I refuse to grow up
I lifted mine with a modified cherry picker that I had an engineer at work rate for me. he told me my setup was good for 1000 lbs before the arm would bend. I didn't take anything out of the interior but did have the hood of and the rad out.
There was a slight bend in the arm while the body was in the air.
Steve
There was a slight bend in the arm while the body was in the air.
Steve
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,435
Likes: 0
From: largo florida
Not to hijack, but how long do you guys suppose it would take to unbolt everythign and pull the body? Also, how long to put the body back on and attach everythign that needed to be taken off?
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,987
Likes: 3
From: Manchester, Dead Center in the Middle of TN 25 miles to Jack Daniels,10 miles to Geo Dickle, and .8 mile from the Liquor Store at I-24 Exit 114
St. Jude Donor '05
I have read several post where they pulled it from an overhead ceiling joist with a hoist. So it must not be to heavy.
I have a 2"x3"X 6' spreader bar that I hope will allow the cherry picker to operate a lower height also. My straps should only be 48" or so in length and not attach at a center point. The spreader bar should also be much more stable.
Jclgodale3, If you can use a pulley block you can double the capacity of your winch, if the cable has enough capacity. That is unless you are already running a pulley block.
jim
I have a 2"x3"X 6' spreader bar that I hope will allow the cherry picker to operate a lower height also. My straps should only be 48" or so in length and not attach at a center point. The spreader bar should also be much more stable.
Jclgodale3, If you can use a pulley block you can double the capacity of your winch, if the cable has enough capacity. That is unless you are already running a pulley block.
jim
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No front end though and completely stripped
Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 653
Likes: 0
From: Dickinson (Houston) Texas
I lifted mine with a 1 ton chain hoist. It was connected to a beam that spanned 2 ceiling joist on each side of the beam. I also had 4 people to steady the body as the hoist took the weight. There was another person who pulled the frame out from under the body when it cleared. With the fuel tank out of the way, the body does not have to be lifted as high. I had the interior stripped except the dash and wiring.
www.bigdogvettes.com
www.bigdogvettes.com
Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 653
Likes: 0
From: Dickinson (Houston) Texas
Originally Posted by lostpatrolman
Not to hijack, but how long do you guys suppose it would take to unbolt everythign and pull the body? Also, how long to put the body back on and attach everythign that needed to be taken off?
Not sure about going back together.... have not done that yet!
www.bigdogvettes.com
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,683
Likes: 201
From: Waterford Mi
I put my body back on and ready for the road in 3 days total. It took about a week at a couple hours a day. My brother came over to help set the body back on the frame but I was on my own for everything else. body-off
Last edited by redwingvette; Nov 29, 2004 at 07:24 AM.
