dp1971
New member
I've seen a few recent inquires about this topic and I did my first one ('71 Roadster) a few weeks back. In searching the web prior to getting started, I found a lot of generally helpful info, but no one really offered a list of what needed to be done where. I kept notes during my lift and thought it might be helpful to others starting the adventure for the first time.
Also, I pulled mine with an engine hoist, a home made spreader bar, 5 ratchet straps and a couple of lifting tabs that I fabricated to allow the ratchet straps to grab the body lift point in front of the doors.
My wrenching buddy was out of town (jobs sure do get in the way of your hobbies), so I pulled it by myself. The lifting rig that I used allowed me to easily lift the body high enough to clear the engine. I could have rolled it out from under without any wiggling or rocking of the body (saw that mentioned a few times) but I pulled the chassis out from under the body to the side using a floor jack. Sounds like a lot of extra work but the weather was crappy on the day of the lift and I didn't want to roll the chassis out into the rain. Anyway, it all worked out pretty slick.
FYI, I've seen weight estimates on the C3 body of 600-800 lbs. I'm thinking from the force needed on the lift jack to raise the body and the slight bowing of the engine lift arm, it's probably more like !000 with AC components, headlamp assys and the radiator still in the nose. And the center of gravity appears to be about the base of the windshield.
Click on the pdf to get the list.
View attachment Vette body lift sequence.pdf
Also, I pulled mine with an engine hoist, a home made spreader bar, 5 ratchet straps and a couple of lifting tabs that I fabricated to allow the ratchet straps to grab the body lift point in front of the doors.
My wrenching buddy was out of town (jobs sure do get in the way of your hobbies), so I pulled it by myself. The lifting rig that I used allowed me to easily lift the body high enough to clear the engine. I could have rolled it out from under without any wiggling or rocking of the body (saw that mentioned a few times) but I pulled the chassis out from under the body to the side using a floor jack. Sounds like a lot of extra work but the weather was crappy on the day of the lift and I didn't want to roll the chassis out into the rain. Anyway, it all worked out pretty slick.
FYI, I've seen weight estimates on the C3 body of 600-800 lbs. I'm thinking from the force needed on the lift jack to raise the body and the slight bowing of the engine lift arm, it's probably more like !000 with AC components, headlamp assys and the radiator still in the nose. And the center of gravity appears to be about the base of the windshield.
Click on the pdf to get the list.
View attachment Vette body lift sequence.pdf
