How much weight can 2 4X4's support?
 

I'm about to pop the body off my '81 and I'm building a structure along side both sides of the car with a pair of 4X4's (one on top of the other) spanning the distance between the side supports. The distance spanned is about 9 1/2 feet. Do you think I'll have enough strength in the double 4X4's to support the weight of the stripped body?

I will add angle supports between the sides and the double 4X4's. I'm sure there is a chart/graph, etc. somewhere on the web with strengths for wood/steel, etc. But I couldn't come up with it...

I'm doing this in a tent-like structure so I don't have anything with any real stength overhead to use. Watcha think? Anyone been there and done that this way?

kdlp

Im kinda confused about your layout. 2 4x4 should be plenty strong. Are you going to put the body on a wooden frame, then put that on top of the 4x4s? You need to be very careful on how you support the body, otherwise it will crack. Make sure the nose is properly supported.

The http://www.corvettefaq.com/ has some good articles on body removal points and I'm sure someone will give you plans on a body wooden cart with caster wheels. I have seem them on this site but can't remember the posters name for a search.

Good luck and keep us up to date on the body off removal!!!!!

The side supports topped by the stacked 4X4's would be just to remove the body (straight up) from the frame. I've got a few able bodied buds that will then roll the frame out and the body cart underneath. My concern is if there will be enough strength in the stacked 4X4's to allow the lift of the body straight up off the frame.

I'll use a winch/hoist from the 4X4's attached to a four point strap to lift the body (again with some friends standing by just in case I forgot to unhook something or in case something hangs up.)

I don't know what a late C-3 body weighs.... I've removed everything from the interior as well as the headlight buckets, etc.

kdlp

yes, a 4x4 should support it. They are incredibly strong

Just last year helped a bit with 69myWay, Chris, remove a guys '78+ body off the frame, supported initially with 2x4 across ladders on either side....I can say they were under tremendous strain, and they were stacked 2 deep layed flat, so they would not flip.....

I would use at least a 2x6......and they need by about 12' long...plenty of room....

GENE

When you say 4x4, are you talking about wood, or are you REALLY talking about 4 wheel drive vehicles?

No, no.... just 4X4 dimensional common lumber.... Does anyone know (or even have a reasonably close guess) as to what a late C-3 body weighs?

kdlp

http://www.mrharrison.org/pictures/NoHoist.jpg

They should hold enough... :smash:

Looks like that guy is welding the gas tank :eek:

I lifted the body off my 73 without taking anything out,
I had an engeneer do some calculations on mods I was making to my lift.
He told me the arm I was using would have a slight crown to it if I lifted 1000 lbs..............the arm ended up with a slight crown to it so my 73 body weighs around 1000 lbs. I would guess around 400 - 600 lbs with everything removed.

Steve

UNBELIEVABLE!!! :shocked: It looks like the beginning of a faces of death episode.

B.....

Thats exactly what I used when I lifted my 65 vert body. One vertical 4x4 on each side with double 2x12's across the top for the lift. After the chassis was pulled away, the body rested temporary on pair of 4x4s running side to side under the car, one for the front and 1 for the rear.The wood sat on a saw horse by each wheel well. Plenty of strength.

This how I did. That's a 10' 4X6 across the top and 10' 4x4 on the legs. Worked well.
http://home.mindspring.com/~ricklewi...ctures/Bl2.jpg

Simul8,

Great photo, that's almost exactly what I have drawn up. I was just concerned about the 4X4 holding up. Glad to hear that your lift came out well.

Thanks,

kdlp