convert reinforcement points [Archive] - Chevelle Tech

: convert reinforcement points


Gravy_D
Feb 27th, 05, 5:43 PM
I'm trying to determine the best (and how many)locations for supporting a 68-72 convert body before its lifted off frame.If anyone has some pics,that would be great. I've seen several pics of bodies being braced,but no good pics of where exactly they're bolted or welded to the body.

MARTINSR
Feb 27th, 05, 11:36 PM
Is your body rusty? Are the rockers and bottoms of the cowl in decent conditon? If they are, there is no reason what so ever to brace anything. There were no braces on the bodies before they were mounted on the frame at the factory. I have personally pulled the bodies off the frame, put them on a cart and rolled them around, reinstalled them on another frame, all without a problem.

If the rockers ARE rusted, I would say the best way is to replace them before pulling the body.

If all you did was to run a 1" square tube from the striker to the upper door hinge, that would be plenty unless your rockers are TOTALLY shot. If that is the case, refer to the suggestion to replace them before pulling the body.

Gravy_D
Feb 28th, 05, 6:54 AM
Yes its very rusty underneath, the 1 inner rocker is completly rotted through,the frt and middle floor braces are through on the ends,outer rockers are rusty,but havent determined how bad yet. At some point these floors were previously replaced with floors out of a donor vehicle,the frt/middle braces were cut through,then the floor pans were welded back from the top side only,braces werent welded at all. So now I have a big ? concerning the strenghth of the body.

WayneK
Feb 28th, 05, 8:19 AM
ON a vary RUSTY body.. remove the doors and get some 1" sq tubing and flat stock, fab a plate for the top door hing mount and a plate for the door striker area. bolt them in place.. install your 1" tubing and weld it to the tow plates.
Then cut a cross piece from on door the the other and weld. If the floors and the rockers are as bad as you say. you can also. run two pieces of tubing to the top windshield frame to the mid door cross brace and two to the behind the seat front trunk brace area.

We then lifted READ vary Rusted out GTO Rag body off the frame with two Eng, cherry pickers and nylon web straps attached to the new inner fabed frame.

MARTINSR
Feb 28th, 05, 10:24 AM
Ok, now we go back to my point, replace them now. How do you plan on replacing them?

You are in a sticky situation. I would inspect all the body mounts, maybe even replace them, inspect the frame for correctness, then replace the rockers and braces.

I don't see what pulling the body is going to do for you at this point. You can't pull the body and then replace all the rotted metal.

gwk
Feb 28th, 05, 12:46 PM
I supported the body at the frt. mounts, rear brace, and the bumper area. Then braced between the qtrs. and cowl with 1" tube and angle iron. Also braced the qtrs. to each other.
Then cut the floor out, repaired inner rockers, and installed braces and floors. It's a conv. as well and it worked out fine.

Gravy_D
Feb 28th, 05, 9:15 PM
My original plan was to reinforce from the upper door hinge mount to the striker then across side-side. I thought I should lift the body enough to get 4x4's or weld up some 6" spacers between frame and body. then replace inner rockers and floor braces. I have a replacement frame already so I planned on using this as like a "jig".

66n67
Feb 28th, 05, 10:24 PM
Here are 2 body link pages.
http://www.accessiblesystems.com/udb01.htm
http://www.accessiblesystems.com/mdb01.htm