I was wondering how hard it was to pull the body off the frame. Do i need a hoist, or can a group of guys(or ladies) lift the body off. How heavy are these bodies. Also, do most people do the body work with the car off the frame, or do they put it back on once the frame is prepped. Thanks

Well, there are a dozen different methods to get the body off the frame, everyone has "their" way of doing it. When I took mine off I used a floor jack and allot of boards and blocks and worked up high enough to get the frame to roll out from under the body, this I did by myself so if you don't have allot of people to help, it might work for you. As far as doing the body work on or off, it depends on how much "body work" you have to do. If you are putting in quarters and floors, you would be better off doing this on the frame so to assure correct allignment. If all you are talking about is fixing dents and small repair patches, then you could go either way. There is allot more info on all of these areas in here, do a seach and you should be able to find all the answers you need.

I've never restored anything and am at a loss as to how to proceed and what to do first. Where can I get some help and direction? I am not short of time or work ethnic. Just tell me what to do in what order and I'm there. \
Paul

Originally posted by Paul Fatseas:
I've never restored anything and am at a loss as to how to proceed and what to do first. Where can I get some help and direction? I am not short of time or work ethnic. Just tell me what to do in what order and I'm there. \
Paul What part of Houston are you in. If you are close to San Jacinto College you can take thier paint & body classes and learn alot. Today is the last day to enroll for this sem

Originally posted by Paul Fatseas:
I've never restored anything and am at a loss as to how to proceed and what to do first. Where can I get some help and direction? I am not short of time or work ethnic. Just tell me what to do in what order and I'm there. \
Paul What part of Houston are you in. If you are close to San Jacinto College you can take thier paint & body classes and learn alot. Today is the last day to enroll for this sem

If you need 1/4's hung, do them first before removing the body. Hardest part of the whole job for most is getting the body bolts out.

I just started disconecting everything in site. Took out the body bolts and jacked the body up alternately from the front and then the rear. Purchased two 4 x 6 x 8' long timbers to support the body as I progressively raised it. I did mine in 8" lifts and stacked up cement blocks to support the timbers as a raised it up.

About a dozen posts down on this forum is a couple of pics you might find interesting, if not scarey.

http://www.chevelles.com/forum/ultimatebb.php/topic/3/12046.html

Check my album under 67SS restoration. I have a few pics of my current restoration with the metal work and body work being done. I use both a wooden dolly on wheels for body work and a full rotessorie when I do frame offs.

I have done it many ways but by far this was the easiest:

Removing and reinstalling body from frame can be real easy if you build a frame with center hook out of angle iron that mounts to the floor of your body at the seat belt attatchment points ... use your engine hoist to pick up body and take it anywhere you want ...one man job with a helper to guide body ...no heavy lifting and no straps or chains wraped around the body ....just reinstalled my body on frame last week this way,removed from rotiserie and lowered onto frame lining up mounts was easy with one person maning the hoist inchers at a time , body shop was amazed how easy it was .... got idea from other member here .... can post pic's if anyone interested . Right now car back in my garage and I have it hooked up to hoist taking a little weight off the mounts that are bolted up loosely so I can move body around on frame to get it centered ..one man job
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/CDNSS/P1010009d.JPG
Bill

I'd like to see your lift frame Bill.
Wish I had a drawing so I could get it fab'ed then take it to my car. My body is an hour away and I've got a welding/machine shop right in my back yard.

I tried to upload the pic to my showroom acct but every time it says I have exceeded the file limit and have deleted all but 2 764kb?? pics .... not sure of showroom limit ?? I can e-mail the pic to someone who can post ....when I take frame out I can take pic .easy to make , not rocket science also used my engine lift leveler to get balance perfect

Herb I sent you the pics and basic dimensions on how to make ....anyone else wants same infoetc. e-mail me , wish I could remember who 1st posted this idea here they deserve the credit for idea ..it is slick smile.gif

My son and I are currently doing a frame off on his 70 Chevelle. First we gutted the whole interior including front and rear windows. Then we pulled the engine and trany. Then we droped the gas tank and disconnected all lines, pulled stearing colume, parking brake, etc. We had 5 buddies over and lifted the body off. It's not that heavy, I would say about 500 to 600 lbs. we rolled the frame out from under it and lowered the body on to 4x4 posts and cinder blocks. I know a couple of restoration guys and they say the best thing to do is restore the frame, suspension, etc and then set the body back on it to do all body work. They said they usually wrap the the frame and everything else that they can so that the body work and painting does not mess up the restored frame. I got to tell you, my son was 16 when we started, he's 18 now and in college and we had a blast so far. The 454 is completly rebuilt, frame blasted and POR 15 sprayed and we should have a complete rolling frame by the end of this summer. Ford 9" rear, M22 rebuilt, drop spindels,etc. Every part will be brand new, including all bolts, screws, etc.

It's a lot of fun, but very time consuming. In total the complete restoration will take us 4 to 5 years.

KC

Bill, didn't get the e-mail yet. Still looking for it though. May have gotten caught by a spam filter.

Pls try re-sending to: a234@erols.com

Also, you can post pics to the temp showroom it your personal is full.

Well guess yall forgot to mention those strip out rear body mount bolts!But floor jack and block seem to work!Any in middle of frame off myself in ft worth area!

Huh?? It's bolted into the front and rear seat belt bolt-holes. How's that hurt the body mount bolts?

CDN SS, is this what you were referring to?

cheers,
Mike

Yes .... sori I forgot who shared the idea .....it worked great Thank-you

No problem man, great to have a site like this to exchange info and ideas! good luck with the resto.

cheers,
Mike

The body is light when its completly gutted. I would say 2 or 3 people could lift it. I will just hook up a hoist with straps to the middle of the car and lift it with one hoist right in the middle. see my photo links of my project. I'm putting the body on the rotisserie soon.

Hey check out the thread below. One man, one decent floor jack, some blocking, sawhorses, 4x4's and some patience. Yes I did this myself, I took the rear springs out and also the rear tires off and rolled it right out from under the body. These are pictures of it going back on. Piece of cake, just take your time, make sure everything is unbolted and it won't take you long at all...Good Luck and have fun....Mike

graemlins/beers.gif

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/obseSSed