On performing a frame off resto, whats the best order to use?

1) major body work, then body off, and final body/paint after reinstalled frame/chassis.

2) major body work, paint, then pull body off the frame, reinstall, then reassemble the car.

3) pull body off the frame first, and refurbish the chassis (cover with plastic), then reinstall and then do body work and paint (no floor work needed on my car- well maybe a trunk panel) and remove plastic at the end.


I was thinking of cleaning/stripping the undercarriage (body only) and loosening all the body mounts, THEN, doing all the body and paint work, THEN pulling the body off (front clip off first) and rebuilding the chassis (therefore no overspray on chassis, etc), BUT I am worried this might hurt the new paint/filler (its a hardtop)...

If this method is acceptible, I was thinking of installingthe new weatherstripping and rubber bumpers in the door jambs PRIOR to lifting the body, to limit flex...

Thanks for any advice, tried to search, but wasn't working...
Tony

I need to have all rust cut out and panels installed. After all metal work is done then body will be removed from frame. This way I have less chance of bending a weak body upon removal.

I'm in the middle of a frame off resto. I say go with plan #1.
Cut out rust,weld in new panels with the body still bolted to frame. Then do filler and primer, so all your sanding dust won't get into any newly painted engine and frame. Then lift body off and do frame, drive train, etc. A 2 door hardtop is not that heavy. To prevent flex, cross brace from the door hinge bolt holes on cowl to door striker bolt on quarter panel. It will not be flexing much anyway since you have welded in new panels, trunk floor,etc before lifting. If you lift a rusted shell, it could flex more easily. My 2 cents.

Thanks...

I am in the middle of a frame off on my 67 Ragtop. I dissambled the car, braced the interior, and put the body on my rotessorie. I then dissambled my suspension, had my frame dipped and blasted and built my comlete chassis. While I was doing that, I did a small amount of rust repair and repaired the transmission tunnel that had previously been butchered. I flipped the body and removed all of the undercoating and seamsealer. I took the body and parts and had them media blasted. Now I am doing pin hole patrol. Next I will seam seal, primer the interior, and paint the bottom while it is off the car. I will then cover the frame in either shrink wrap, liquid easy mask, or both and do body work and panel alignment. I am going to shoot the body on the frame. I am going to shoot the trunk lid, fenders, and hood off. I know some people spray the body off the frame, but I have used this pattern previously with good success. http://pic5.picturetrail.com/VOL97/466970/2986544/41498392.jpg

Good to see the bracing installed on the convert, I have a 69 camaro convert on a rotisery right now that the owner had started restoring 11 years ago without any bracing. What a mess he brought me! I see buckles in one of the quarters he partially installed. My plan of attack is to let the body down and let it relax, trial fit the doors etc. and get some bracing installed. This car has been in the air without bracing for 8 years! :( I hope I don't have to cut it apart. I've been waiting for a month for doors to trial fit but the owner hasn't supplied them yet-not a good sign.

I would definitely fit all your replacement panels and get the body work roughed in. The order I did mine was frame, panels, body work and paint. I tried to use a product called Slime to cover my frame from getting damaged since it was all blasted, painted and reassembled. This backfired on me and the Slime adhered to the paint on the frame. I just got the car back yesterday from the upholstery shop which did the vinyl top and headliner. I am now going to seperate the body and frame again so I can fix my problem. Somewhat of a risky idea since the car is painted but for all the labor and effort put into it, I can't leave the underside like it is now. Looking back at it, I wish I would have done paln #1.

John Weaver