I searched and couldn't find this so ill post and ask.

I am about to yank the body from mt 68 to work on the frame but am looking for the best method.

I was considering taking a cherry picker, mounting chains to the seatbelt bolts on the transmission hump, then two more on the hexagon studs in the rear, but I am not sure that will work.

Any thoughts?

I searched and couldn't find this so ill post and ask.

I am about to yank the body from mt 68 to work on the frame but am looking for the best method.

I was considering taking a cherry picker, mounting chains to the seatbelt bolts on the transmission hump, then two more on the hexagon studs in the rear, but I am not sure that will work.

Any thoughts?

I think Derek69SS did it that way by himself and he said it worked good. I used a cherry picker on a chain running from front fender bolt to front fender bolt and then a couple of us on the back corners and it worked but we could have used more help for certain, my back hurt for two weeks!!

Jeff

Derek step in and confirm please

and yea im having to do this with possibly one other person helping

http://xs113.xs.to/xs113/07120/S4300004.JPG

can you detail? I see a bolt to the front seat bolt per side (my floor ha some rust to it, i dont know if I want to pull from there, possible the back seat hole.

Where in the rear are you hooked to?

They went to the two inner rear seatbelt bolts. But, If/When I do it again, I will go with the two outer bolts. It was a bit tipsy, but not to where it was uncontrollable..

-Todd

I assume those area the hexagon things?

Andy69 can show you how to remove the roof from a garage...
http://members.aol.com/andy265245/floorjack3.jpg

Old camper jacks work good.

You could buy two more cherry pickers for $200 each, then sell them for a $100 each when done.

With three pickers its a pretty safe operation, and one man can do it by himself.

If you have a finished chassis to set the body on when you're done, three pickers will let you set it on the chassis very gently.

Just something to think about.

BODY LIFT (http://www.1969supersport.com/lift.html)

Rob

I built a dolly underneath the body, supporting it by the rockers, and lowered the frame from the body. I'm working in a one car garage, and felt that this was the "easiest" way to go...
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k297/chevls2/SeparationAnxiety4.jpg

good idea, but not a option. has to work with one cherry picker

ive already got car dollys that the body is going on when i yank it so i dont want to build something

Oh and I am also worried about body flex, im thinking of leaving the doors on to keep this from happening, i dont really want to weld supports in on the inside.

The doors are just extra weight, might not be a good idea.

Rob

i had planned on removing the doors when i yanked the body, but i want to prevent flex

I would not worry too much about flex, unless you plan to suspend it for more than 6 hours.

-Todd

If you stop and think about the latch on the door, that is not going to help you out much, I would think, considering the weight of the doors, and they are heavy, even with the glass out of them, pull the doors and the hinges.

Rob

How much is still on the body, windshield, heater stuff etc. How far are you taking the body down.

Rob

The first time I removed the body, I rented an extra lift.
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/500/bodyoff7.jpg

The second time, after I realized that I'd be doing this several more time's, I built the "Gallows".
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/500/gallows1.jpg

About 50.00 buck in lumber, and it worked great.
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/500/medium/Picture_0273.jpg

Doors on/off, don't really matter, unless it's a vert.

How much is still on the body, windshield, heater stuff etc. How far are you taking the body down.

Rob

doors, trunk lid, all glass but windshield...thats it

you know the dollys that you put under car tires? the metal ones? ive got 4 of those that have square tube welded between them as a mount (had a 4 door dually truck body on it, i think it can support the velle easily)

so yank the doors..check

How much rust do you have in your floors and rockers, enough to weaken it?

Dave has a pretty nice setup with the gallows, and it doesn't cost much to make.:thumbsup:

Rob

How much rust do you have in your floors and rockers, enough to weaken it?

Dave has a pretty nice setup with the gallows, and it doesn't cost much to make.:thumbsup:

Rob

not much, mainly the top 1/4 of the front panels and the lower 1/4 of the firewall panel

Alex,

When I took my body off I use two 4 x 4's under the body between the frame, the 4x4's went past the side of the car and had I hooks in them. I jacked the body off the frame to slide the 4x4 between the body and the frame. One 4x4 was in front just back of the firewall and the other in the rear wheel area. I took 4 come alongs (borrowed 2 from friends) and hook them to the rafters of the garage and the hooks on the 4x4's and lifted the body off by tighting up each come along. I also had my doors off the car. I did it all by myself and it went very smooth. I made sure that the rafter could support the weight. Cost about 40 dollars to do it and I used the 4x4's to finish building the fence when I was done.

and hook them to the rafters of the garage and the hooks on the 4x4's and lifted the body off by tighting up each come along. I also had my doors off the car. I did it all by myself and it went very smooth. I made sure that the rafter could support the weight. Cost about 40 dollars to do it and I used the 4x4's to finish building the fence when I was done.


Yikes:eek:

How big are your garage rafters, I can't imagine any garage being built with large enough rafters to be able to handle a point load like that. I'm a general contractor and do home design, I would strongly urge you to consult an engineer before doing something like this.

Jeff

Here's mine... I used 2 cherry pickers and a heavy steel 1.5 x 3 tube as a beam to lift the body bolts from. If you look carefully you can see the chains going down to the seatbelt bolts, and also the 1' body-mount spacers so I could work on the floors with the weight resting on the frame. It was easy to balance, and I did it on my own... took 2 people to help get the body back on the frame and bolts lined up though.

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/500/medium/bodylift1.JPG

Just for the record I built basically a set of gallows. I had two come alongs on the wall side of the garage so the wall was taking the weight, and put a set of 4x4 up to the rafters for extra support where the come along attached to the rafters. The car had no door, no interior in it. Two of us could lift the body up of of the frame. I made sure the car was as light as possable. I also have an civil engineering degree so I understand that the rafters alone will not hold the weight of the car without some support. You would not want to try this in the middle of the garage. The safe bet is to use a cherry picker.

keep em coming guys, I appreciate the help.

If you have a big enough place you can do jackstands with some sturdy boards across them. I used landscaping timbers and it help fine. Use a farm jack or cherry picker to raise each side slowly and then raise your jackstands to add another block. I guess if you had about 6 friends to come over and lift that would work too

http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/6374/aug1804sr5.th.jpg (http://img73.imageshack.us/my.php?image=aug1804sr5.jpg)
http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/8100/aug1803bg1.th.jpg (http://img73.imageshack.us/my.php?image=aug1803bg1.jpg)

I used 3 hoists.
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/500/lift_body.jpg
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/500/medium/body_installation_1.jpg

I just put mine back on. I did it w/ one cherry picker by myself in a small garage. I took a couple pics so I could show if anyone asked. I left the glass in and the doors on. I did the front then the back. On the way up I set the frame on jack stands then lifted the front and used cinder blocks and 4x4 to rest it, then did the back. I cut a small 4x4x4 block to sit the body mount down on, so I wouldn't crush the pich rail.

On the way back down I did it in 2 stages for the front, so it wouldn't slide off the back 4x4 support.

Front:
http://www.bionicengineering.net/media/DSC02450.JPG

Resting while dropping the back:
http://www.bionicengineering.net/media/DSC02451.JPG

Rear:
http://www.bionicengineering.net/media/DSC02452.JPG

six freinds is the best way.i did mine that way and used some metal saw
horses with 2x6 on them. took about a minute to have the body up and
supported and rolled the frame right on out.body has been on them horses
for three months now and just about ready to drop the body back now.
no doors and glass with 6 people was realy light.
also was done in a one car garage with every thing else in there to like
fridge washer and drier work bench tv lawn mover compressor and so on

I also use concrete blocks and a couple of 4x4 posts with a engine hoist. I'll lift from one end, then the other raising the blocks in stages if I have to, this pic shows a strap around roof line to keep things stable as I set up the rotisserie. I've done it this way several times. Sometimes I use a backhoe but thats cheating.

I did a 3-point lift. Two screw jacks towards the front corners, and a cherry picker in the back. Think I jacked the front corners up until I saw a gap, looking through in between the frame and pinch rails. Then I set the body on stands and slid a long lock under the body and on top of the two screw jacks. Then I just used the two jacks with blocking, and then a cherry picker at the rear.

http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/dwaynes69bb/69VelleBody.shtml

I lifted my '69 body with one engine hoist and a load leveler.

Worked like a charm and made it a one man operation.

http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/dwaynes69bb/69VelleBody.shtml

I lifted my '69 body with one engine hoist and a load leveler.

Worked like a charm and made it a one man operation.

Where are you bolted to on the inside and did you have the doors off for this to work? I am about to put my body back on and this looks like an interesting way to get it done by myself.

Never mind the doors question, I can see now they were on.

Jeff

http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/dwaynes69bb/69VelleBody.shtml

I lifted my '69 body with one engine hoist and a load leveler.

Worked like a charm and made it a one man operation.

there we go, thats what Im looking to do.

You did leave the doors on? and no issues? glass in em?

also looks like you bolted to the front seat back bolts and the rear seat outter bolts?

For both removing and replacing a body, I like to use a high lift floor jack. The one I use will lift about forty inches high.

Cushion the jack with a piece of 2x6 on a floor brace or some other strong part of the floor or trunk to prevent any damage. Once the body mounts and other parts are disconnected, lift the back part of the body and place solid blocks of wood between the body and frame (best if they are long enough to reach from one side of the car to the other.) Then do the same thing towards the front, running the jack in from the side of the car. Lift the back again and support it on a beam (a 4x4 or a piece of heavy square steel tubing or channel) resting on strong saw horses set about one foot away from the car on each side. Then do the same thing towards the front. Roll the frame out from under the car and hook up the rotisserie if you are going that route. You may have to raise it a little more for that.

To place the car back on the frame, just reverse the procedure. It works for me; one person can easily do this, although I would recommend having someone else there for the sake of safety..

I still don't get the thing about the doors being on or not. Isn't most of the strengh in the body in the roof?

there we go, thats what Im looking to do.

You did leave the doors on? and no issues? glass in em?

also looks like you bolted to the front seat back bolts and the rear seat outter bolts?

Thats exactly where I bolted it.

And, I did have the doors on when I lifted it, But, the pass door that the engine hoist was in kept getting very close to hitting the arm of the hoist as I was raising it. So, I took that door off to re-install the body. It worked much eaiser and it really isn't that much work to remove and reinstall a door.

And yes glass and all components in the doors.

You can see in this pic what I was talkin about the arm hitting the top of the door. Plus I had forgotten about how close the cylinder was to the door. I beleive I even bumped it a few times. When you put the weight of the body on the hoist, it pulls the hoist toward the car. I had to keep stopping and raising the blocks and timbers and re-setting the hoist. It was much easier with the door removed. I'll try to get some pics of the body going back on showing the door off.

http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/dwaynes69bb/Tracys69/April06/p1010257.jpg

Heres one of the body going back on and the door off.

http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c3/dwaynes69bb/Tracys69/April06/p1010737.jpg

When do you plan on doing this....
I could bring over another cherry picker. I'm not far away...
Just dont expect me to be more than an extra set of hands as I have never done it before either!

You'll be fine with the one hoist and a load leveler.

But, be warned, it is very, very nerve racking to see your baby swinging in mid air when she first comes up off the frame. And trust me, she will swing a bit.

I was a nervous wreck until I got the body set back down on the blocks.

used 2 hoists, on the front and back, it was very easy and sturdy, then rested the body down on 4x4's supported by cinder blocks, then unhooked the front hoist and rolled the frame straight out. Then i reconnected the front hoist again and was able to work under the car very easily and felt safe. Check my sig for more pics.

When do you plan on doing this....
I could bring over another cherry picker. I'm not far away...
Just dont expect me to be more than an extra set of hands as I have never done it before either!

LOL, i appreciate the offer, honestly, no room for two hoists, but I greatly appreciate the offer. your in NTC arnt you?

You'll be fine with the one hoist and a load leveler.

But, be warned, it is very, very nerve racking to see your baby swinging in mid air when she first comes up off the frame. And trust me, she will swing a bit.

I was a nervous wreck until I got the body set back down on the blocks.

I appreciate the help. Ill probably remove one of the doors just like you did and then reinstall when ive got it back on the ground.

I dont know the exact time frame I will be doing this, but I dont expect it to take me more then two hours to do (if im careful)

Before you remove the door, drill a small hole (smallest bit you have) through the hinges where they mount to the body.

Then when you put the door back on you can just align the holes and the door will be back exactly where it was before.

Its really not too much work to remove one, but yoiu will probably need a helper. They are very heavy. I did mind by myself, but as soon as the last bolt was out and I had the entire weight of the door in my hands I started thinking, "crap, I should have got some heeellllppppp". :D

What I did was to put a floor jack with a 2' long 2x right under the large base at the battom of the door and put tension (very slight) on the door. Then remove the bolts and the jack should hold the weight of it until you can get a grip on it to move it.

Before you remove the door, drill a small hole (smallest bit you have) through the hinges where they mount to the body.

Then when you put the door back on you can just align the holes and the door will be back exactly where it was before.

Its really not too much work to remove one, but yoiu will probably need a helper. They are very heavy. I did mind by myself, but as soon as the last bolt was out and I had the entire weight of the door in my hands I started thinking, "crap, I should have got some heeellllppppp". :D

What I did was to put a floor jack with a 2' long 2x right under the large base at the battom of the door and put tension (very slight) on the door. Then remove the bolts and the jack should hold the weight of it until you can get a grip on it to move it.

Already drilled the holes..lol..luckly my dad was a body guy, i learned some things.

Didnt consider the jackstands on the door. ill do both of them and a blanket over the jackstands to help from damaging the door (doors are in perfect shape.

I used a floor jack, but no reason why jack stands wouldn't work just as well.

Good luck with it and keep us posted with plenty of pics.

I used a floor jack, but no reason why jack stands wouldn't work just as well.

Good luck with it and keep us posted with plenty of pics.

yea the jackstands would at least allow majority of the weight to rest while I just have to balance.

ill be on it shortley, I appreciate the help.

i think i got the best way. but not all of us have a load bearing I beam in the middle of thier garage like i do. lol my new house im in right now has two that are positioned perfectly for a body to be pulled. in these pics this was at my old house with only one I beam and a cherry picker but boy did it work flawlessly.


rolling dolley with winch, gotta love it.
http://img2.putfile.com/thumb/5/14622451638.jpg (http://www.putfile.com/pic/8204670)
http://img2.putfile.com/thumb/5/14622451790.jpg (http://www.putfile.com/pic/8204673)
http://img2.putfile.com/thumb/5/14622451770.jpg (http://www.putfile.com/pic/8204672)

and BOOM! body on frame with 2 people which was my father and i when i was like 13. no back breaking work.
http://img2.putfile.com/thumb/5/14622451722.jpg (http://www.putfile.com/pic/8204674)

I am just going to use a lift at the corvette restoration shop that I work at part time..lol. I have built a couple of dolleys to set early vettes on while doing body work. I am going to build one for my body to sit on so i can work on the body work at the vette shop and work on the frame at the house.

i think i got the best way. but not all of us have a load bearing I beam in the middle of thier garage like i do. lol my new house im in right now has two that are positioned perfectly for a body to be pulled. in these pics this was at my old house with only one I beam and a cherry picker but boy did it work flawlessly.


rolling dolley with winch, gotta love it.
http://img2.putfile.com/thumb/5/14622451638.jpg (http://www.putfile.com/pic/8204670)
http://img2.putfile.com/thumb/5/14622451790.jpg (http://www.putfile.com/pic/8204673)
http://img2.putfile.com/thumb/5/14622451770.jpg (http://www.putfile.com/pic/8204672)

and BOOM! body on frame with 2 people which was my father and i when i was like 13. no back breaking work.
http://img2.putfile.com/thumb/5/14622451722.jpg (http://www.putfile.com/pic/8204674)

When you get it down to one guy, then show us, two guys is not the best way.:)

I'll let you know Rob, I'm about to lift it off this week, just me and my one cherry picker.

I gots me a plan :)

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/500/resized01.jpg

Run two chains in an "x" using the seatbelt mounting bolts.

Good luck.

I was able to do it with the one cherry picker, but it was UNSAFE with only one.

If our garage ceiling height allows for the lift, you might be able to get away with one in front and one in back, sliding the frame out the side, but if I had to do all over again (and I might have to put back on myself vs. body shop to meet budget), I would rent 2 for a day and use my own in a tri-pattern show earlier up in the replies.

Fred

Heres three of them, really safe and easy for one guy. http://www.1969supersport.com/lift.html


Rob

Took me about half a day with just myself, a floor jack, some cinder blocks, and 2x4s. About 30 min of actual work (spun 2 cage nuts), the rest of the time scratching my head wondering how do I do this without killing myself.

Heres three of them, really safe and easy for one guy. http://www.1969supersport.com/lift.html


Rob

You spend too much time finding ways to not work on the car. hehehe Hurry up Rob! That frame has been done for how many years now? The rubber bushings might already be starting to crack.

I'll let you know Rob, I'm about to lift it off this week, just me and my one cherry picker.

I gots me a plan :)

You have a definite advantage Andy, your garage roof can be lifted.:D

You spend too much time finding ways to not work on the car. hehehe Hurry up Rob! That frame has been done for how many years now? The rubber bushings might already be starting to crack.

I had to build this car door lift, maybe I'll put some pictures on. Plus the Grandaughter got her new to her 1999 Grand Am Gt smacked in the rear, so I told her I would fix it, I should be back on the uncut diamond by Saturday. Plus I told my number three Son, I would blast and paint his rims. These kids are killin me.

I could probably use somebody like you around here to clean the shop and go get parts for me, but I'd have to charge ya because you would probably hamper production with all the questions.:D

Oh, I even did a little plug welding on the door lift. I figured I better have a user friendly door lift, because they will be off and on about 1700 times to get that double radius, I'll put the close up pictures, then you'll see what there supposed to look like. These panel gaps will look like they were surgically lasered in.:)

Rob

You spend too much time finding ways to not work on the car. hehehe Hurry up Rob! That frame has been done for how many years now? The rubber bushings might already be starting to crack.

ooooooh, touche :D