I would like to do a frame off restoration on my 68 Chevelle, but I need a little help! I don't have access to a lift and I can't use chain-falls, because the ceiling of my garage is finished. So I'm not sure how to get the body off! I've been told I could jack the car up as high as possible, set it on jackstands, then position additional jackstands underneath the rocker panels and then last but not least, remove the jackstands from the frame and lower it! Sounds easy doesn't it, but I'd appreciate some opinions and ideas.

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1968 Chevelle

Hi, I started a body on resto of my '68, and I just decided to take the body off as well.
I will follow the method that you described as well. Send me an e-mail and I will let you know how it went once I do it. Probably this weekend.

Hi, I've never done this but have thought about it and would someday like to. I read somewhere (I think it was written by Jeff Lilly) that the jacks used by guys with campers in the back of pickups were the hot setup because they were off to the side and lift straight up unlike a floor jack. Good luck, Jim.

Tony, i am in the finishing stages of the Frame off on my 69 and i used chain hoists to pick my body up but if you use 4x4s that are knot free (good and strong) you can do it with 2 floor jacks, if you go to my website you can see how i positioned the beams under the car, i used floor jacks to move the body around in the garage while it was off and it worked good, once you get the body up as high as safely possible then remove the rear wheels, put a floor jack under the rear end, lower it as low as it will go then roll it out carefully, be careful and dont get under the body unless it is verry good and secure, also dont make any harsh moves, you dont want to drop the body....

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Two Things Dad Always said dont lend,, Your Car And Your Wife...

Well just make sure you have the car down to the body shell. But I have to ask, Do you have a cherry picker? See I'm doing the exact same thing, and have the exact same problem as you do. What were doing is taking the cherry picker, then lift the front end up a little then place a cinder block or two under it. Then lift the back end, and place then cinder blocks. Then finally once we have it up in the air enough, we will once again take the cherry picker and raise it to the final height. Then what were doing, is using some heavy duty (and I mean heavy duty) saw horses, long enough to clear each tire by about 6", to support the front. Then raise the back and slide a saw horse under the middle and rear of the car. Then that way, we can slide the frame in and out from under the car, when we need to work on it. I think this set-up will be great. Anyone see a problem with this?

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1970 Chevelle (frame-up in progress)

Mac70, you're right on track. I've done this 3 times now, and all 3 used a similar method to yours. My cars have rested on 4"x4"x8' beams on jack stands without a problem. One beam just behind the cowl and another just infront of the rear wheelwells. I used a floor jack to raise the car, however, since I didn't want to rent a cherry picker for that. If you plan well, which sometimes we don't, you could use the cherry picker for 2 tasks in one day. Take your motor out, then do the body. Just make sure everything is ready before hand ( body mounts loose, motor stripped bare, etc. ), and it will only take a few hours.

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Dan Orgill

I'll eventually be pulling the body off the frame on a couple cars I'm working on, except theyll be going onto a body rotisserie. Now, I know you should brace the doors on convertibles to prevent body flex, but should I brace them on a coupe as well, or can I leave it alone & it still be straight. I'll be taking the doors off as well, if that makes any difference.

One more thing, the trunk floor on the 68 is toast, would it be easier to fix with it still on the frame, or on a rotisserie, where you can get to things easier.

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Eric Taylor
72 Malibu 350

I didn't brace doors and all seemed fine. I wouldn't remove them with the body off the frame, because you may encounter flex at this point.

As for the floor, I would fix it while on the frame. This will give you a solid brace to work over. It will also be easier to make sure everything is lined up and fitting correctly in relation to the frame. If the floor is questionable, the body may flex on the rotisserie, and I would think would most certainly flex if on the rotisserie and the floor was then removed.

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Dan Orgill

I thought about this too. I think it would be very hard to flex the body on a coupe. Someone else that has done this before might be able to tell you for sure, but as long as your careful I don't think it would flex.

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1970 Chevelle (frame-up in progress)

First, thanks for everyone's input, I feel a more confident now!

Also, I'm curious about bracing the door openings too! I've heard coupes and convertibles should always be braced because they have a tendency to fold if they're lifted incorrectly. Anyone else have any input.

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Tony -- 1968 Chevelle

Mac70, I was looking at Accessible Systems website and they have a tool called a Body Lift. It's an H frame with 4 tie down straps and it attaches to the inner boom of a cherry picker. Looks cool, just thought I'd let you know!

WebSite: http://www.accessiblesystems.com

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Tony -- 1968 Chevelle

Heres some pics of mine http://members.spree.com/entertainment/ochrisl/chevelle/Body/body.htm
The frame is still under the body in the pictures.I took the back tires off and put a floor jack under the rear and me and a buddy pulled the frame out pretty easily.once everything was unbolted it only took about an hour to get the frame out. I used two floor jacks and some wood blocks to jack the body up.Just be careful and take your time.

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70 chevelle,400cid turbo400.blue with silver stripes.
http://members.spree.com/entertainment/ochrisl/

Hey thanks Tony! I'm going to give that a real strong look over. I almost think I could build one if I could see one in person. Once again thanks.

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1970 Chevelle (frame-up in progress)

I had my 70 hard top off the frame on my home made rotisserie with the doors off and never had a problem with flexing or bending. I also used floor jacks and saw horses for the job, I raised the car with floor jacks and used saw horses that are a bit different instead of the board laying flat they had teeth in the saw hose stands that gripped the 2x6x6 like a vise, I set the boards in the stands on their sides so they were very sturdy, set one under the rear wheel wells and the other under the front of the car around were the driver sits, made the frame of the rotisserie out of wood, 4x4s and 2x4s used tool box casters for wheels and had no problem at all, rolled it in and out of the garage a number of times.

Cortez, would you happen to have any pics of your rotisserie? I never thought about using wood, though it'd be cheaper. Thanks!

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Eric Taylor
72 Malibu 350

I just bought some plastic saw horses tonight. Supposedly they can hold 1000 lbs between 2 of them. Hope they are going to work.
Also, how hard is it going to be to re-allign the bolts and holes of the body mounts with the holes on the body. I am assuming once the body is off, you set the mounts on the frame, then you roll it under the body and go from there, but it seems that it would be hard to re-allign everything.
Thanks