Ive got my 69 apart to the firewall and would really like to take the body off and clean up the frame so it looks perfect! I dont have the car in a full shop and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions or advice on bolt removal (those annoying square nuts that are guarentted to spin) and ways to jack the body up and support it to pull the frame from out under it with limited supplies thanks

I would suggest spaying a penetrating oil on as many of the bolts as possible and let them sit for a few days before attempting to turn them. When I removed the body on my 67 I used a chain fall to lift the front and a cherry picker in the rear. I hooked a chain to the body mounting brackets in front, and in the trunk I hooked my chain to the braces that attach to the floor and rear body panel.

This is how I lifted the body. Actually this is when the body was going back on the chassis.You need a couple friends with engine hoists, or you can rent them. Then raise the body and roll the chassis out....

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/71SSBB/Untitled-bb.gif http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/71SSBB/Untitled-aa.gif

When I did this, the engine and transmision, exhaust, driveshaft, and interrior were all removed from the car first. I was on a good concrete floor. Have someone with you and be very careful. Slow down; theres no rush.
I used four jackstands and a floorjack, eight cinder blocks, and four 4x4x8's. Two of the 4x4's have a channel cut in them to accomadate the pinch weld area of the rockers. Once I got the bolts out of the body mounts I put one 4x4 along the pinch weld on one side, jacked it up to the lowest jackstand hieght. Then I did the same on the other side. At that point I kept moving from side to side, jacking up each side about 2-3 inches at a time until I had enough clearence between the frame and the upper 4x4 so that I could slide the other two 4x4's in place, essentially making a square wooden frame. At each of the four intersections I sank a 3/8x6 lag screw to keep the wood locked together. After all the wood was in place I then lowered it so that it rested on the frame of the car and I could removed the four jackstands.
Now I jacked up the whole assembly front to back a little at a time in increments (using the front crossmember of the car frame and the rear differential housing as my lifting points) until I had enough clearence between the lower 4x4 and the floor (about 24") to place the cinder blocks. After all the cinder blocks were in place, at the four intersecting points on the wood frame, I lowered the car frame to the floor.
I then removed all the front suspension and steering components and made a 'skate' with two casters and a 1x6x48 piece of wood and bolted it to the front crossmember of the car frame (2nd pic). Since then, the pressurized media blaster I got from Harbor Frieght Tools has paid for itself and then some.
The two square nuts at the firewall mounts can be taken out easily. I hit mine with PB Blaster for three days. If they break loose and spin you can use square steel stock to box them in again.

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/Lou_Merrell/bodyoff.JPG

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/Lou_Merrell/frameafter.JPG

perfect guys thanks lou cancer and 71ssbb thats just what i needed. that engine hoist setup looks good especially will make it easier to lower the body on to the frame i might try both use the wood and cinder blocks to take it off then setup engine hoists when im ready to lower! thanks guys

When you say down to the firewall, how much is actually left on the car (windows, interior, etc)?
I just did this on my 66 but the car had no windows, interior, wiring, etc. If you are basically to this point, I will post how I did it. I did it in a decent size garage and had 10 jack stands, 3 jacks, and about 10 pieces of 2x4x8 lumber. It was not difficult but you can't rush this. I also picked 2 people that I knew were just right for this task.

John Weaver

Slopar. Can you please post your method. I'm doing this on my 64 soon and i'm thinking the weight would be roughly the same as your 66. Do you have any pictures of your process.

hey guys i just got in from the task mentioned i got all the bolts off (there was one that was a major pain like always) the car has no interior but all the windows still in. i had taken the reared and gas tank out a couple weeks back and had jackstands in the wheel well of the frame to hold up the rear and had 2 tires up front. I used 4 jackstands and a piece of 4x4 i cut the 4x4 to length to fit between the frame rails and with the new jackstands held up the body then removed the old jackstands from the frame; down went the frame!!! then moved to the front and put another piece of 4x4 cut to length at the front and put the other 2 stands up front so i had 4 stands one on every corner. then it was kind of a process to slide the frame out the side used two jacks front and back took out the stands then moved the frame over put the stands back. then went to the other side same thing pulled out the stands with the jacks and slid the frame out and whala the frame is free and the body is secure!