I've decided the only way to do a good job on my 65 post is to do a body off restoration. However I never done this before. First off, can I raise the front of the shell from the frame by lifting at the slots at the firewall just above the front bushings? or raise from jacking underneath? Is there any need to weld in body braces ,ect? Once the body is off and on stands, can I then replace the floor pans & supports, and 1/4 panel skins?

I am hoping to complete my 65 by next spring.
My web site has pictures of the lifting point I used. I did lift from the openings in the lower firewall with no problems. I would replace the floors and quarters before you take the body off to keep everything straight.

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http://webpages.charter.net/65chevelle/

Theres what Ive done in the past on my 70's. I lift the front by jacking up the front enough so I can lift on the front body mount support, I bolt a piece of steel to the support and and lift up from the steel. Hard to explain.

Body braces are not needed on a hard top but needed on a convert. But still just cheap insurance, Ive just bolted them to the cowl were the door goes and then welded them on the inner stucture of the quarter. No need to make all sorts of X braces going here and there, just barace the door area.

Now before you even think of lifting that car off the frame YOU NEED to replace your floors and quarters. You lift your car off the frame and cut out the floors or quarters and you will end up with a car out of shape and wont fit back together and thats a promise. The floors and the quarters hold the car in shpae and if you have the car up on a rottistee with no support other then in the very front and back you will bend the car in the middle. You need the floors and quarters in place to keep the car in shape.

Do any sheetmetal replacement while the car is on the frame. Do your body work first then lift the car off the frame...Eric

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1970 chevelle
1970 chevelle SS455 not a typo its a buick baby
1949 and 1972 chevy trucks
http://briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/sevt_chevelles

I don't believe that any braces are necessary if you do all your bodywork (replacing quarter panels, fitting body etc.) with the body on the frame.
Gordon VM
Restoration Motorsports
http://groups.msn.com/Restorationphotos/shoebox.msnw?Page=1