Starting a body off, got questions.

[Al 65 Sting]

I am getting ready to lift the body off my 65 coup and would like some more input. I am going to build the wooden platform/frame to hold the body. I have read a body off prep list that was published in a NCRA mag a while back. But nothing has told me about leaving doors on or remove. Same goes for front/rear winshields and seats, dash etc. I would prefer to leave doors and windshield in place until the body is set firmly on the platform to help avoid "tweaking" the body. At the same time it is a lot of weight to leave in place.

What do the pro's suggest?

Thanks,
Al

 

[JohnZ]

I'd take the seats out, but no reason to remove the doors or glass first; you're going to use a hoist or an army of guys thirsting for beer anyway, right?

 

[Al 65 Sting]

Thanks John. Yes, I plan on having a bunch of beer thirsty Vette enthusiast playing hoist-O-matic. No date set for the lift yet but probably mid December.

Any beer thirsty Vette guys gunna be in the Sarasota, Florida area in mid December?

Al

 

[67HEAVEN]

Any beer thirsty Vette guys gunna be in the Sarasota, Florida area in mid December?

Al

I wish.

Good luck. I'm sure it will go fine.

CHAPTER 3

 

[61 Silver]

Thanks John. Yes, I plan on having a bunch of beer thirsty Vette enthusiast playing hoist-O-matic. No date set for the lift yet but probably mid December.

Any beer thirsty Vette guys gunna be in the Sarasota, Florida area in mid December?

Al

Hi!
Spray all your body mount bolts with penetrating oil. I did this on a daily basis until I was ready to remove the body mount bolts. I also used an impact wrench to remove the bolts.I actually tighten them first to help break them loose. I am sure others will provide you with information that will help you with your restoration.
Good luck!

 

[67HEAVEN]

Put the mounts and shims from each position in marked bags so that you have a headstart for setting level when dropping the body back on.

 

[WayneC]

You haven't said how you intend to remove the body. I'd do it intact, if the extra weight isn't a problem based on the method you use to lift.

I did a 'vert with doors, seats, folding top, and hardtop still in position. After removing the engine & tranny and disconnecting everything attached to the frame, I used an incremental method (a few inches at a time) with a floor jack and cross-wise 4x4's and wood shoring, then rolled the chassis out to the rear.

If you have the equipment to lift the body off using a harness, it should be easy. Take your time, to be sure nothing has been overlooked in disconnecting the body, especially during the first small increment of lifting.

 

[Al 65 Sting]

The plan is to get 8-10 guys to manually lift the body off. The engine and transmission are already out which makes the lift a little lower than if they were in.

A neighbor does have a crane service and brings the rig home on weekends. I could do the 4x4 under the body thing but not sure if that is the best method fearing crushed body parts due to all the weight being put on just 4 points.

How much does the body of a coup weigh without the seats and carpet in it?

From experience, what works best?

Thanks,
Al

 

[firstgear]

Put the mounts and shims from each position in marked bags so that you have a headstart for setting level when dropping the body back on.

uh oh......setting level? When taking the body off the frame if you get the shims exactly back where they came out, can one assume that things are really back where they were OR do you need to do some kind of check to see and if so, HOW THE HECK DO YOU DO THAT?????????

 

[IH2LOSE]

The plan is to get 8-10 guys to manually lift the body off. The engine and transmission are already out which makes the lift a little lower than if they were in.

A neighbor does have a crane service and brings the rig home on weekends. I could do the 4x4 under the body thing but not sure if that is the best method fearing crushed body parts due to all the weight being put on just 4 points.

How much does the body of a coup weigh without the seats and carpet in it?

From experience, what works best?

Thanks,
Al

Your going to be suprized at how strong our cars actually are. But I f i had a choice to lift it off with freinds or to use a crane (even an engine crane i would chose the crane as it will be a more controlled event leaving nothing to chance,

 

[67HEAVEN]

uh oh......setting level? When taking the body off the frame if you get the shims exactly back where they came out, can one assume that things are really back where they were OR do you need to do some kind of check to see and if so, HOW THE HECK DO YOU DO THAT?????????

The cars change some over so many years. When you use new mounts, you may have to make minor adjustments in the shimming. Probably nothing major.

I'm certain there's an old thread around here which outlines the procedure. Post a reminder tomorrow if I don't find it.

 

[Al 65 Sting]

Thanks for all the good info guys. I will get some pics when we do the lift off and update on how things are going. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Al