Frame/Body Off - How Hard???

[75DropTop]

How hard is it to remove the body from the frame for a frame off restoration (1975)? I am aware there are a multitude of steps, but not what all of them are.

How much time involved? Was it worth it?

All insight is appreciated.

 

[Ol Blue]

If you have lots of space, time, money and perseverance and of course some mechanical talent, it can be rewarding. On the other hand, if you are doing it to increase the value, it most likely will NEVER be worth the time and money you put into it, at least not for many many years. If this is something you are going to keep in the family, then it may be worth all of the effort and money.

I'm on my third body-off restoration, doing my daughter's 72 LT-1 convert that she drove to college. It's a have-to situation since it is completely worn out. Once you start working on these old cars, you just keep finding other things that need to be fixed. I haven't done a detailed cost estimate, but I suspect it will be $10-15,000 even with doing everything myself, including the painting.

Good luck if you decide to undertake this project, but really take a hard look at the costs and time committment involved, not to mention it takes at least a two bay garage to do this in with some comfort.
Ol Blue

 

[75DropTop]

Ol Blue,

Time and space are not an issue. I have a two car garage with a little extra work space.

I am in no big hurry and enjoy working on it. Cost is not too bad since it will be spread over a while.

This restoration is for a keeper and a driver. I plan to have my mid-life crisis while I am young and can enjoy it :cool

I hope to only have to do this once (to this car) and want it to last. My dream is a 1965 coupe, but that will have to wait a long time.

 

[celeryman22]

check out www.67heaven.com I am in the middle of doing the same thing to my 1980. I have a website at www.vette-restoration.com, its on the web but not complete and there are no pictures just the template. This is my first ever car restoration, biggest pain so far... cutting the body mount bolts #2 and #3. I used a dremmel.

 

[calvin camp]

Body off

Hey guys,

I would suggest you get a copy of Noland Adams "The body lift workbook" and video to help get the details on building a body dolly and how to get the body off the frame. The book goes for $9 at most vette vendors and gives you a complete plan for building a wooden body dolly and a detailed check list of what to do as you get ready to take your car apart. Hope this info helps.

Cheers,
Cal

 

[mike weyman]

get a digital camera and write notes...

i wish i had taken more notes and pictures they would have really helped.masking tape notes on wires and such help, but more often than not they are dirty or painted over before you need to read them.a picture is really worth a thousand words.mike

 

[75DropTop]

Mike,

You are right about the pics.

I have used my digital camera on a lot of the project to document how things go back together.

I also have the 75 Assembly Manual if I really get stuck.

 

[Grizzly]

i wish i had taken more notes and pictures they would have really helped.masking tape notes on wires and such help, but more often than not they are dirty or painted over before you need to read them.a picture is really worth a thousand words.mike

I agree with Mike. Get yourself a digital camera if you don't already have one and take lots of pictures. The nice thing is you just down load them and start again. Use the maximum resolution so if you have to blow them up you can. The number you can store in the camera is really not an issue here. Set your camera's flash to be on all the time. It will cut down on the shadows and give you better pictures.

For tags find an old fashioned dymo label maker. The kind that make raised letters on tape. Just use a number and a note book. you can read the numbers through any amount of paint and the tape is more durable.

Good luck........................