I am looking to perform a frame off restoration on my 1968 Chevelle SS. I currently have everything that holds the body to the frame disconnected or removed. I am looking for a gross weight of the body without the frame attatched. Also, any suggestions as to how to lift the body and what to lift it with would be helpful. Thanks for your time.

I used three engine hoists. Two in the front and one in the back. In the back I put a sling thru the drain holes and lifted. Works great. You just need a couple friends with engine hoists you can borrow. http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/71SSBB/68bodyinstall-1.gif

I don't have an exact number, but it is still many hundreds of pounds. You won't lift it up by hand. I used a engine hoist on one end and a floor jack on the other. If you search around my website there are a few photos.

On my '64, without a front clip, interior, doors or glass, 3 ppl can lift it and move it around (2 on the firewall and one at the trunk.

One of the other problems I am running into, is space. I only have a single car garage with 2 feet of clearance on both sides of the car. Do you think that 6 people could lift the car on to a stand?

I have just put mine back on the frame after 3 years.
I got it off by jacking the body up off the frame one end at a time using jack stands and 4x4's to support it untill I got the frame out from under it.
The pinch weld will hold the weight of the body if it is stripped of everything glass ect....
If I was to do it over again I would dissamble the frame, like take the front end and rear off it because ya have to get it up to high with it assembled. :eek:
Apart you only need aprox. 17" clearance to slide the bare frame out from under the body.
I did mine in a 12x24 shed so I know about limited space. :(
I have pictures if you need to see how I did it?
hope this helps? graemlins/beers.gif
T.C.

edit. Started to write what T.C. wrote. I did mine the same way.

edit again. This picture is from a fellow Team member named Jeff. I hope he doesn't mind the post. This is exactly how I did mine. It worked great and only had the help of one friend.
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/70Z15/pic015.jpg

Originally posted by jeepster34:
One of the other problems I am running into, is space. I only have a single car garage with 2 feet of clearance on both sides of the car. Do you think that 6 people could lift the car on to a stand? If they are strong, I think it could be done.
No sissies.

I have done it with six average guys no problem. That is IF the body is striped. No doors, deck lid, glass, seats. If you are going to be removing it anyway, might as well get it out before you remove the body.

It is like removing pick up beds at work. We have to do it all the time when repainting the beds or back of the cab. I can't believe how many times guys will ask for help to remove the bed and the tail gate is still on. They are going to be removing it anyway, so remove it. That damn gate is about 80 lbs!

Likewise with the body. You are doing a frame off restoration, I assume that includes painting the car. You would remove the doors, decklid, glass (glass weighs a LOT) during your restoration. So remove it now before the body. Then install it after the body is painted and setting back on the frame.

It just makes sense to me. smile.gif