I am working on a 71 Chevelle. I would like to remove the body to clean and POR the frame. However I don't have a overhead hoist so getting the body off would be tough. When this is done I don't have a bead blaster nor enough $ to have the frame dipped. Is this worth the effort if all I can do is air sand and scrape the frame. Your opinions appreciated.

With POR as long as you can follow the directions it will be worth it. many people have done the same thing here..

------------------
X-Ray View of my Chevelle :D (http://www.normieschevelle.com/sideview.jpg)
Getting Closer (http://www.normieschevelle.com/passfull.jpg)

I just did mine the same way. Took off the body without a hoist, wire brushed the whole frame, sanded, grinded whatever it took, and used por-15. Worked great, and the frame looks fantastic. It was a ton of work to remove the body without a hoist, but way worth it.

------------------

Ok you guys convinced me to go ahead. I've read a couple of posts on how to lift and support the body. But I'm still looking for the right one for my situation. Maybe I'm looking for a easy answer to a involved process. Thanks for your help

I like you don't have the luxury of a hoist so my brother and I just removed the body for my 66 using two 4x4s and two high lift floor jacks (with sections of 6x6 when it got beyond the jack range). Going back and forth from front to rear and blocked it up with cinder blocks. Keep especially careful doing it this way and make sure its supported well each time and both are lifting at the same rate. My whole front clip and the entire interior are removed so it's lighter and wasn't too hard to handle. It looks like normie's "x-ray view" except with the skin on. It probably took about 2 hours and a 6 pack. As a side note I just got done using POR15 on the frame from the rear to just behind the front suspension. I read about it on this forum and it really does a nice job. For prep all I did was a quick sandblast to knock the loose rust off. Good luck!

Lifting the body isnt a big deal BUT depending on the condition of the car you could be opening a can of worms by trying to remove the body bolts. Dry rust free car ok, but if the underside or floors are questionable or rusty you may break off a bolt or two (or all of em!) and end up in a messy job. If that is the case I would just wire brush the frame the best you can without touching the body bolts and then POR it.

------------------
Dave
70 chevelle ss396 conv
66 chevelle ss396 hdp/conv
72 chevelle
TC member #493
Never forget Earnhardt!

The bolt situation was a big problem for me. I broke off 3 bolts trying to get the body off, and another was spinning, and had to cut part of the floor. Fortunately for me, I had a rust free shell in the driveway to put on. As for actual removal, I jacked up the back alot, and then the front and so on, then rolled the whole chassis out from underneath it. Worked great, and gave me room in the garage to work. Hope it helps.

Damn I wish I had taken a picture of my parts car chassis hanging in the air above the frame, supported with 2 bale straps hanging from the front end loader of a tractor http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif It doesn't get any easier than that!!!

------------------
Chris Dagenais
'71 Malibu with a home built 454! 12.7@107
"Our balls are bigger :)"
CDE Power! (http://www.71malibu.com)

Thanks again for all your help. I'll probably start in Jan. Let you all know if I turn out laughin or cryin..