Whats the proper order to attack my car... It a 1966 Chevelle Convertible...

Probably needs patch panels on the front quarters, and a trunk pan, but thats about it (I hope) for replacements...

Needs a lot of massaging (smaller dings and dents).

But I want to pull the body off the frame..

Should I do all the panel replacement first, then lift the body, then perform any filler/primer/blocking after I have it back down? Covering the frame in plastic?

I am worried that R&R of the body would crack any filler, but also want to keep it real clean...

Thanks

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What's that knockin' on my knee? Why that's only my Tach...

do either one but dont do both at the same time theres ups and downs to doing either first if you take the body off the frame first then you can get all the dust and shmutz from the body work on the frame and if you dothe body work first and you support the body a little wrong then you may end up doing some more body work after its been completed
i opted to take the body off the frame first when i did mine and just was careful with hthe bodywork and taped off the frame the other thing you could do that my friend did was to do the frame then wrap it in plastic wrap do the bodywork then remove the plastic it worked well

Always do any kind of body work while the car is on the frame. Never remove a car to preform any type of repair, as the car can twist and bend out of shape as you are repairing any damage. Dont get me wrong you can pound out dents but never ever do any panel replace like a quarter.

One thing on lifting a convert is making sure that it doesnt twist out of shape. Some will agrue with me that braces are not needed and some will say that it is must, if the car is solid, bracing really isnt needed but I would brace the car to be on the safe side.

What I do is get the car ready for paint, all it needs to be done is block out the last coat of primer and its ready, now is when I lift the body from the frame. Place the body on a dolly or stack of tires, now restore the frame. This method saves the restored frame from primer overspray and weld spatter. Once the frame is done I wrap it very well with thick heavy plastic, I wrap it twice. Now I place the body back on the frame. I block out that last coat of primer and then paint the car.

I do all my panel adjustment like the doors, fenders, hood before I paint the car. Remove them and take notes on where and how many shims were used to algin them.

I really dont think that cracking of filler will be a issue, filler has some movement to it but not alot, very small but still some there. Plus all you are doing is lifting it up a few feet, its not like you are hauling to China or anywhere just lfting it up. Just have plenty of friends on hand to help lift the car. If you tried lifting it with a cherry picker and jacks then yes I could see were filler cracking would come into play, but not with several people lifing it up in varoius places suppling equal lifing power throughout the whole car.

So basically yes do all the body work too the car while it on the frame, nothing supports the body like the frames does. There are alot of people that do the frame fisrt then do the body work but Ive done it that way before and it seems more of a hassle and you spend a lot of time repainting or cleaning the frame. Just my thoughts on the topic...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

if i had my 66 elcamino to do all over again i would gut body, pull off frame, spend the $$$$$ for chemical strip, etch prime, 1 coat epoxy. then address sheetmetal repair, mine got upper cowl, dash, roof, rear window panel, lower rear cab panel to floor, r&l passenger floor sections, 1 fabricated bed floor xmember. all done off frame, very difficult to assure good fits. you might get by doing trunk floor off frame. DO NOT CUT & REPLACE ANY OTHER MAJOR STRUCTURAL PANELS OFF FRAME UNLESS YOU ARE A VERY EXPERIENCED BODY TECH.**still a gamble.** mine was gutted, taken off frame, sand blasted,(body only)sheetmetal was stripped either by hand chemical,baking paint off, chemical dip, or good old fashioned 80 grit.unless your weather is 100% percent humidity the etch & epoxy will protect your stripping investment until you are ready to work on that area. choose an area to repair, work on that until you are going nuts! for your sanity etch prime & try something easier, then go back to whan was frustrating you. MOST OF THE TIME YOU WILL ACCOMPLISH MORE BY THINKING YOUR WAY THROUGH A TASK THAN DOING IT! mine has been apart for 7 (seven) years. close to 1000 hours by experienced technicians. not done but getting there! go for it!

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sorry about the caps (shouting) in my previous post thanks

A friend that does restoration goes about it in this way. First, he will replace any sheet metal that needs replacing. Next he takes car to body shop. They put body on a rotisserie. He takes the frame home and restores it. When body man is done, he brings the retored chassis with engine and trans installed and they lower the painted body on the frame. He takes it home and assembles the rest the car.