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Best Place to Lift Body

6K views 15 replies 9 participants last post by  JohnC 
#1 ·
I have removed my body bolts and am about ready to lift the body. Where's the best place on the car to actually lift it with a floor jack?

I'm planning on lifting about 1-2in at a time on each side until I can place it on 4x4s and cinder blocks.

Thanks!
 
#8 ·
A four door should not be much heavier at the rear, if at all, compared to a 2-door. Pretty much all of the additional length of a 4-door is between the wheels... I am assuming you are talking about a Chevelle...

Maybe a wagon might be heavier in the rear, with the glass and extra overhang...


I think I'd rather have all the body weight on the rockers. If you have the front rocker and the rear quarter/trunk drop off, I'd be worried it would place more stress, potentially causing the body to sag... Using the rocker in front of the rear wheel, it will be closer to balanced, with some extra weight in the front...
 
#10 ·
Here's my body cart and method... This allows the frame to be stored under the body, but easily rolled out...
 

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#6 ·
When I replaced my body mount bushings and fuel line I jacked the car off the frame by the floor braces using thick blocks of wood and my floor jack. I only went up about 3" on one side did the work let it down and then moved over to the other side. The car had the full interior in it when I did it.
 

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#7 ·
For the trunk, knock out the metal drain covers in the trunk and wrap a sling through the holes. It will bend the sheetmetal slightly but its easily tapped back into place.
 
#11 ·
what about from the back? i have a 4-door and it's a little back-heavy (leaning back) I was going to find a way to hook my hoist to a ratch strap and hook to the rear bumper.
For the trunk, knock out the metal drain covers in the trunk and wrap a sling through the holes. It will bend the sheetmetal slightly but its easily tapped back into place.
I would not do that. Assuming you'd be using an engine hoist for the above suggestion, instead, use a sling around/through the truck latch and lift there. Done it many times with no issues.
 
#12 ·
Thanks Everyone. I was able to use the bumper slots on the 71 to hook a 3500lb ratchet strap to my engine hoist, this worked great for the rear. I was able to also use the rockers to lift the sides with the floor jack. I have it on some wood now resting on the frame. Next step is something safer than cinder blocks. My garage isn't big enough to have the frame and car side-by-side, so I'll need to be able to roll out my frame w/wheels from under the car to do the work on both... I'll look at something like the 1966_L78's cart.
 

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#14 ·
I did it with a floor jack under the rocker pinchwelds in my sloping driveway. Should have taken off the front bumper but didnt. Iirc, i used some plastic milk crates and jackstands to hold it up.
 
#16 ·
I lifted the front with an engine stand. Bolted a length of chain to the firewall at the fender mounting holes.

The back of the car we lifted with a stack scrap wood blocks under the trunk floor (gas tank removed). Stacked up wood blocks with a floor jack on top. Put a piece of 2x4 spanning the truck floor braces.
 
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