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How to lift the body off a stock Model A?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Just Gary, Aug 17, 2006.

  1. I'm removing the body from a stock '28 Tudor sedan that still has the drivetrain in it.

    The body is solid, not flimsy. I've removed the wooden front floorboards and all the mounting bolts. Now it's just resting on the frame. The problem: there doesn't seem to be a simple way to remove that long shift lever.

    What's the simplest way to proceed?

    1. Is there a way to remove the shifter that's not obvious?
    2. Should I leave the shifter in place, invite a few more friends, and "clean-&-jerk" the body chest-high (high enough to clear it)?
    3. Should I remove the firewall/cowl/gas tank, then just lift the remaining body just a few inches, then carry it back and away from the chassis?

    Thanks much.
     
  2. singledownloop
    Joined: Jan 10, 2004
    Posts: 581

    singledownloop
    Member

    i'd either have plenty of friends and do the clean and jerk or figure out how to get the shifter off.I definately wouldn't take the firewall out.....
     
  3. Bruce Lancaster
    Joined: Oct 9, 2001
    Posts: 21,681

    Bruce Lancaster
    Member Emeritus

    Shifter: The steel cup that retains the thing at its pivot unscrews--if you look closely you will see the lower flange of said cup has flats you can grip eith a big adjustable wrench. The spring within on an A is POWERFUL--so be low and beside the thing as you unscrew.

    You can also remove a few bolts and lift entire shift top off of trans.
     
  4. toledobill
    Joined: Apr 9, 2003
    Posts: 369

    toledobill
    Member

    When I got my '29 body off the frame back in 1966, it only took a six-pack doled out teo-at-a-time to three friends. Lift-and jerk, enjoy a couple of cans later. Without friends or beers, I imagine you're looking at some kind of hoist.

    To paraphrase Dione Warwick" "That's What Friends Are For".
     

  5. Bruce Lancaster
    Joined: Oct 9, 2001
    Posts: 21,681

    Bruce Lancaster
    Member Emeritus

  6. buschandbusch
    Joined: Jan 11, 2006
    Posts: 1,293

    buschandbusch
    Member
    from Reno, NV

    make sure you got a good five or six guys. It took my brother and I a while just to get the back half- no doors or cowl- off the frame and that was a major pain in the back, literally :rolleyes:
     
  7. BRENT in 10-uh-C
    Joined: Apr 14, 2004
    Posts: 502

    BRENT in 10-uh-C
    Member

    Definitely not one to want to contradict Bruce but this is an area that we have PLENTY of 'sperience at.

    IMO, you need to remove the the transmission tower bolts that attaches it to the trans case and remove it "straight up and off" of the case. The steering wheel & column can stay intact however that is a bunch to lift it over. If you remove just the two sector housing to frame bolts but leave the pitman arm connected it will drop down and make life easy.

    We find it just as easy to remove the clutch pedal assy by removing the pin on the shaft and the collar. Remove the clutch adjusting shaft pin and slide the clutch pedal off. This will gain you some clearance beside the subrail extensions.

    I would leave the tank in the car since removing the cowl is a tad more involved on the frame.
     
  8. CalifCarl
    Joined: Jun 3, 2002
    Posts: 224

    CalifCarl
    Member

    I've done it by myself, both on my 39 and 31 ford coupes. I blocked and jacked and used 4x6's from one side to the other getting the car high enough to roll - drag or whatever the chassis out from under the body.
     
  9. blue_oval23
    Joined: Jun 25, 2006
    Posts: 69

    blue_oval23
    Member

    when I lifted the cab off of my truck, I mounted four hooks in my rafters in my shop, then i went out and got some five hundred pound ratchet tidown straps and hung them from my hooks, then at the other ends i hooked onto the four corners of the cab and lifted it straight up. i rolled my chassis out from under it and set the cab on saw horses. Now hear is the tricky part, you can't really let it down slowly , what i did was when i was ready to lower it back onto the chassis, i removed the saw horses and rolled my chassis back under, then i lifted the chassis with floor jacks until i 1/2 inch under, then i let the ratchets loose. it sounds like it is alot of work, but when you cant get some friends to help, it works out great for a 1 man job. I just got sick of haveing to wait for thier schedules to match up when they had free time to help.:D
     
  10. headhunter
    Joined: Oct 5, 2005
    Posts: 271

    headhunter
    Member
    from Austin, TX

    You can lift it with 4 guys, it's really not that bad when you share the load. As Brent suggested, we removed the bolts on the steering box which let the column and wheel drop down a bit making it a little easier.
     
  11. 4 wratcheting straps in the overhead to the windows. go to each corner one at a time...listening for wood cracking becuase of the weight. :)

    Keep going until it clears...then slowly lower it down.

    I used (2) chain falls and (2) straps when I did it by myself.


    Or


    Build a jig to fit your engine hoist to pick it up. I have see it done that way as well....(from the side)
     
  12. belle
    Joined: Jul 30, 2006
    Posts: 150

    belle
    Member

    all good advice so far..all i can add is to remove all the extra weight you can before you lift the body. take the doors off , drain the fuel from the gas tank or remove the tank ,take out the remaining glass , seats , window risers ,floorboards etc
     
  13. Wow!

    My question focused on how to maneuver around specific components more than how to overcome gravity, but you've all provided food for thought.

    Thanks everyone.

    Now log off that computer and get yourselves back into the garage. :D
     

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