pulling the body from the frame????

[low springs]

since i have everything apart i figured i would go the extra mile and pull the body. i know i would have regreated it later. i have everything unbolted already wires, gas tank, steering colum, pedals etc.

my question is how do i pick it up? i will have a bench to place it on once its off. i will also build a jig for it to move it around the shop. i remember a post way back someone using camper jacks. i just can't find the post.

what would be the easiest way to pick it up? oh yeah its a 54 chevy 2dr. any info would be great. i might have to send out the Bat signal for help on this one. this will tell me how many true friends i have. that will come by and give me a hand picking it up....thanks

[Greezy]

If the car is totaly stripped you should only need about 3 or 4 people to heft it. Add two more if your doors are still on, if they're anything like my 51 doors were those puppies are heavy. I did pull my Fleetline off the frame by myself but I wouldnt recommend it. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

[JimC]

The way I do it is not the easiest, but works for me and does not distort the body.

I simply use a floor jack and 4x4 just long enough to fit between the frame rails.
I lift one end, blodk, and lift the other end, and block.
I repeat this process untill I get the body high enough to roll the frame from underneath.
When the body is high emough to get the frame from under, i use 4x4's long enough to extend from each side of the body, one in the front about the cowl location, and one about the trunk pan location. I block these up so the body can rest on them.
These should be between the frame and the body.

I should mention that I remove the rear wheels and place a floor jack under the rear differential. Then, by rolling the shassis from the front, the rear will follow.The floor jack under the pumpkin allows the rear to sit low enough to clear the body.

[Brad54]

Pulled the body off my '56 Chevy and my '57 Chevy wagon.

Get two engine hoists (worth the rental fee!). On my Tri-5s, there are front body mounts at the bottom of the firewall--get two heavy duty eye bolts (500pound rating) from the hardware store and put them in the front mounts. Hook a long length of chain to them and then hook the chain to the engine hoist.

In the back of my sedan, I put two eye bolts through the shock mounts in the floor (above the rear end), slid the boom into the trunck and lifted that way (chain to the eye bolts).

On my wagon, I couldn't get in to the shock mounts, due to the long roof.
Took two 4x4 timbers and screwed heavy duty eye bolts into each end. jacked the body up with a floor jack and slid the 4x4s between the frame and the rockers, just behind the firewall and just ahead of the rear wheels. Then took a 8-foot lenght of chain on each side and hooked into the eye bolts and lifted with the engine hoists (on both sides of the car) in the center of the chain. The wagon was tail-heavy, so I borrowed a neighbor to hold the back end up. We set the back on a garbage can while we rolled the old chassis out and the new one in.
Two engine hoists, two lengths of chain, 2 4x4s and 4 eye bolts.
-brad

[The37Kid]

Times like this it pays to have a friend in construction with a backhoe. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[G V Gordon]

We use camper jacks under the rocker panels. It's a good idea to run a chain or ratchet strap through the car conecting the two to keep them from spreading. Don't have any pics but have seen this method on here I think. Maybe someone else can post pictures.

[Tbone]

DAMN lowsprings I just checked your location I wish you where that far away from me. I know you dont know me but I am working on the same project and would be more then willing to help you lift that bad boy. IF anyone needs a hand in the So Cal area hit me up, I'm not that great with a wrench or a welder but I'm a strong SOB and like to help.

T

[FONZI]

DANTE,
I would be glad to come help. Just let me know.


FONZI

[praisethelowered]

I can help this weekend. . . I'll bring my back brace.

and you can also borrow my 1ton engine crane if you need a second one.

besides I need to lift the body off of an old snap-on van in the next few weeks . . ha, ha ,ha.

[Andy]

I made a gantry to lift the body off ond move it around. Also good for working under the body. Made from scrap pipe and some Harbor freight wheels. It is reall handy to get the body off when working alone.

[Slide]

When I worked at my dad's shop, we usually just got all the guys around the body and picked it up by hand. Worked pretty good, but on those 50's cars, it's a LOT easier if you remove the doors & decklid. (Assuming everything-- glass, upholstery, etc.-- is stripped.

I have also seen it done using a come-along and big wide tow straps. You run the strap(s) through the door windows, hooking them to a come-along/chain hoist that's connected to the ceiling joists/rafters/tree limb, etc. I even have a book with a photo of a Chevy (I think it's either a 51 or 52) being lowered onto the chassis in this manner AT THE FACTORY. In this case, the body apparently has all glass, doors, etc, and even the front fenders & grille on it.

[crush1776]

Hey JimC,

That's EXACTLY how I did my '51 Victoria, SOLO I might ad.
I would not recommend doing it by yourself. Things can get dicey.

[plan9]

dante, listen to my advice...

ill bring my sawsall, you get yours.... and lets cut it up into 3 different sections. later well spot weld and bondo it back together... easy. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[HotRodHon]

This post couldn’t come at a better time. I will be pulling the body off a 47 ford in the near future. So far I gotta say JimC's idea looks the best. No extra purchasing and supports the body from the bottom. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
slightly o/t does anyone know if its easier to pull all the front sheet metal (fenders n grill) at once, our pull em off separately. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Craig http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[cosmo]

On a '46 to 48 Ford, pulling the doghouse requires two people, but is much faster than on-bolting everything else. Two people because of the floppy factor.
When I pulled the body off my '38 Chebby, I lifted the front with an engine hoist, blocked it with a 4x4 and stands, then lifted the rear and pulled the chassis out from under. Make sure the stands will clear whetever sticks out http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Cosmo

[JimC]

I did mine by myself. It is not a real scary deal, but takes some time.
I did have the front clip, doors and rear deck lid off the car.
I also, did it in the attached garage you see in the above photo.
The camper jack looks good, too. I would caution that using chains to link the camper jacks that you be careful not to get the chains against the body so you do not dent the body.

The 47 Ford coupe I bought from Roothawg had had chains used and there is considerable work on the roof and door frame.

[low springs]

[ QUOTE ]
DAMN lowsprings I just checked your location I wish you where that far away from me. I know you dont know me but I am working on the same project and would be more then willing to help you lift that bad boy. IF anyone needs a hand in the So Cal area hit me up, I'm not that great with a wrench or a welder but I'm a strong SOB and like to help.

T


[/ QUOTE ]
i could use all the help i could get. plus this would give you some input for your project. its really not that far to gain some knowledge and meet some other cool people off this board.

[low springs]

[ QUOTE ]
dante, listen to my advice...

ill bring my sawsall, you get yours.... and lets cut it up into 3 different sections. later well spot weld and bondo it back together... easy. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[/ QUOTE ]
did you learn that when you worked at a chop shop.. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[low springs]

[ QUOTE ]
I can help this weekend. . . I'll bring my back brace.

and you can also borrow my 1ton engine crane if you need a second one.

besides I need to lift the body off of an old snap-on van in the next few weeks . . ha, ha ,ha.

[/ QUOTE ]
Fonzi, PTL i would greatly appreciate the help. i will keep you guys in mind and give you notice as to when it comes off. this will be within about 2 weeks.

PTL, we don't need no stinking hoist. as long you have your back brace you can do it by yourself. that brace turns you into a super hero or something. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Church]

Depending on when you need help, give me a call. Donnie has my contact info. And that bitch better help too!!!

[low springs]

thanks fellas for all the help. it will all come in handy in the next week or so. i will take photos and keep you guys all up to date with it.

the front glass is out but the back and the 1/4 glass is still in. should i pull them out. since the body is still very structually sound i shouldn't have to brace the body or should i. i don't really see the body flexing to bad.

i've never braced them before but then agian i worked at a shop that had a car lifts. made it a lot easier that way. a 1 man operation.

[plan9]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
dante, listen to my advice...

ill bring my sawsall, you get yours.... and lets cut it up into 3 different sections. later well spot weld and bondo it back together... easy. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[/ QUOTE ]
did you learn that when you worked at a chop shop.. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

yah... the hood is having a bad effect on my whiteness!!!!

[low springs]

[ QUOTE ]
Depending on when you need help, give me a call. Donnie has my contact info. And that bitch better help too!!!

[/ QUOTE ]
HAHA! you've heard the man Donnie. since you badgered him into something. oh i'm sorry "suggested". http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[praisethelowered]

[ QUOTE ]
PTL, we don't need no stinking hoist. as long you have your back brace you can do it by yourself. that brace turns you into a super hero or something.

[/ QUOTE ]

yeah, forget these other guys,

All I need is my back brace . . .

. . .and the stash of extra vicadin saved from all the other times I have been paralyzed with pain when I have thrown my back out.