As body lift approaches...a few questions
 

There are several of us at roughly the same point in our projects so I'll put my questions out there, and maybe others will have some also. I have read the "Body Lift Ideas" thread in the FAQ sticky ( https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...s-for-you.html ) and there are some good ideas there.

1. I will be using an engine hoist and a body strap such as can be bought from Corvette Central or others. Since convertibles have less strength in the rear, I am considering running a ratchet strap from the lift ring to....I guess the back of the body where the valance was removed from? And maybe use a piece of angle to spread the contact area? Any thoughts on that?

2. I've read it's best to have someone at each corner for stability. Tentatively that's what I'm aiming for, plus me to crank the hoist and the wife to fetch things or whatever else. Anybody suggest more, or done it with fewer?

3. I built the body dolly from the Noland Adams plans available in some thread or link on here. I want to add a rear section, probably 2 casters and some framing bolted to the main dolly just like the front extension. Any thoughts or comments on that idea?

I'm sure to those who have been through this operation before, some of you a dozen times, it's no big deal. But for me it's a learning experience, and I'd rather ask extra questions on here now than to get it half way off and find some aspect I had not thought about yet.

Thanks! :cheers:

Exciting! This was my first, and I lifted it off by myself with the engine hoist. I think your idea of mirroring the front extension for the rear will work. Thankfully there are great folks on here that gave me tips (attaching lift points) to save me from myself. :thumbs:

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...2a28e9750.jpeg


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...610354224.jpeg

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...c9a6e6fca.jpeg

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...75f459d26.jpeg

Well done, Herm! I figured to tow the old frame out the door with a chain on the mower once we got the body off. I do have a set of wheel dollies, maybe that's another option.

Due to my space limitations, I used wheel dollies so I could slide the frame out the side due to the hoist legs.

Have you made a decision on your frame?

I will withhold a final decision until the original frame is out from under. i MIGHT have it repaired, I know they can heal the sick and raise the dead. But if a decent chassis comes along used, especially one with disc brake capability, if the price is right I would lean that way. It's nice to have options and I'm not in the position where I HAVE to grab the first thing that comes along.

I am not sure which way we will lift the body off the chassis. We have a few options depending on where we do the final separation.
1: At my house we can go with the front end loader and do it outside to give us plenty of space and height.
2: I have a 4 post lift and we can lift the body off the chassis with plenty of attachment areas above the car and then roll out the frame.
3: My brother has a 2 post lift which seems to be the preferred method. I think that would give us the most control and some very good lift points. We would not have to worry about any straps.

I did my 64 with my 4 post lift. See pic. Body shop wants to install with their 2 post. The 4 post arrangement puts a little strain on the lower body, but padding takes care of that where the straps press against it.


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...d095a5d8c1.jpg

Here is the lift:

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.cor...8329d89d6f.jpg

Much easier to leave the drive line including motor and pull the body. I saw that today when I posted (jack) and wondered why I did that. Honestly don't know. I also noticed I had the skates under the tires at first and they're gone at the actual lift. Don't recall that either. I may have grabbed the jack just to pull the chassis forward and out the door.

PS: I think I recall a headroom issue and pulled the skates out to gain more lift/clearance.

Thanks! One thing I had not seen mentioned in the lists is removing the spare tire tub. (tire is out of it). It may not make much difference but I think I will remove it first just to be done with it.

HEADS UP! If you are planning a body lift-off, this is important. I apologize for not being able to provide a specific source reference.

I have looked at a whole lot of threads on here, under the FAQ, after doing searches, etc. Somewhere, not sure where, there was a checklist of all the things to remove and/or disconnect before lifting the body. Actual list may have been on a thread here or may have been in a link. But the list was accessed from here somehow.

I believe that list does not mention the speedometer drive cable. If one end is in the instrument cluster, and the other end is in the tranny, that's certainly something that needs doing or you've got a hell of a wishbone to pull! :willy:.

If you're in the planning stages, check to see if your list has that task on there. Obvious once you think of it, but if you are working from an incomplete list it could get overlooked.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...body-lift.html

Good sister post using 4 post lifts to do the job.

Railroadman when you get your updated list of what to disconnect please post it. Most of the links don't work anymore for the lists.
FYI I have one son who after 2 years of majoring in Party - 24/7 at Virginia Tech is now with CSX and is doing great as a Conductor. (With what I know now I would have skipped College and would have gone this route.) Also one of the two remaining sons after graduating from VMI was with NS in management. It was a great job but now he is with the Federal Reserve.

Here is how I do it

That looks like an oil well drilling rig. I bet the neighbors were talking about that crazy guy next door. Did it have any use after this project?

Thanks for that link. Always educational to see how someone else does it. :thumbs:

When the dust settles I'll make up a new list, and post it as you suggest. I agree it's frustrating when old pics vanish, old links no longer work, etc.

As for your sons, it's a fascinating business. There have been some incredible changes since I started, and even since I retired. It's hard to tell how much of my disapproval of some things today is actually warranted as they go down the wrong path, and how much is just generational - the old guys ALWAYS feel the new bunch don't always have the right ideas. I did everything from manual labor to president, and frankly while I miss it in some ways, I'm glad I don't have to deal with the increased red tape, regulation and other stuff these days.

Fortunately, I don't have to worry about it, I can play with Corvettes instead! :lol:

They certainly did when I hung a dummy up there by the neck like in a 'hangin.:D

Gave 'em both away to buds after I was finished.

Tripleblack, that's quite a setup! I like it! You could blow some minds by building a platform with a trap door below it, and tossing a coil of rope around casual-like! :rofl: (Now tell me, son, what time are you going to bring my daughter home from the prom?" :lol:)

I won't have that much overhead clearance. It will be in a garage, I'll take a couple sections out of the drop ceiling which it 8'6" above the floor.

I still have to add the rear part of the body dolly, and it seems the mounts there are higher than those along the sides, and also narrower. I have a diagram with dimensions and will work from that. Any issues on the rear fitting onto the dolly?

Thanks, and I did have some fun with the neighbors (see post above yours):D

I built the "gallows" using my own plans. I built the dolly using plans that I found online. It worked just fine all around. The dolly that you want is for C2 ONLY IIRC. There was another version out there at5 the time which was for C1/C2 both. That's the one that might be troublesome.

If you haven't already built your dolly, I can try to locate the plans for you.

Joe