jhorton58

I am trying to find a better way to remove C3 bodies from the frame. I have used the straps, but I always have trouble with balance, grip and minor damage.
Does anyone have any ideas or know of better ways.
I was at the Corvette Museum in Bowling Green yesterday and the they had a C3 off the frame with the lifts under the wheel wells, but I think this was just factory equipment/tools.
Any ideas.

TeaEye

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-p...ody-jacks.html

Check this setup.

Am glad you asked the question. How high must you lift the body to clear the gas tank with the tires on?

...Roger...

To pick up and slide sideways you need about 36".

Z068

I did it with 5 guys, planned on 6 but......well you know. It was a bit of a reach to get over the fuel tank but no damage. The whole event was no more than 10 minutes. I think with 6 normal strength, normal height guys, no problems.

Steve

MyRed69

Hey Roger, is that the rig you're bringing down for me this winter???

...Roger...

If I still had my Suburban, the jig on top,metal side straps and cherry picker would be sitting in your driveway the first week of Jan.

jhorton58

I need to get it 3.5 to 4ft off the ground. I have 14ft ceiling, so that shouldn't be a problem.
I may have to find an engineer that may be able to help me with this.
I have several C3s, about 18, in different stages of repair and restore and I want to have a jig attached to the ceiling, or free standing, that I can get the car under, lift the body off the frame, restore or repair it and then put it back.
This is not a business, just a hobby.
I did like the jack stands, but, I would like something that lifts the entire body at one time.
Roger, that jig, or rig, looks like it would do the job - did you build it?
If anyone has any plans, I would appreciate any help with this.

wombvette

18 cars? You need a lift. Makes easy work of it.

Arcticshark

When I saw this thread, I thought you mean't "lifted" c-3s

Sorry, couldn't resist.

AWilson

I used 4 cheap bottle jacks, about 12 -6inch tall landscaping blocks, 4pcs- 6 x 6 inch 1.5 inch think lumber and 4 pcs- 6 x 6 inch 3/4 inch lumber, and castors under the wheels so I can make minor adjustments in order to get the body bolts in.

I placed 2 of the jacks under the foot wells just behind the firewall and 2 under the seat area just in front of the vertical support behind the seats. Work your way slowly and evenly up. Once your high enough you can build a wooden support under the body and above the chassis. Then you slide the chassis out from under it!

Going back on I supported it with the jacks, cut the wooden support out and slowly went back on.

Might be a better way but that's how I did it.

TeaEye

I like Awilson's approach.

Lets see more Body lifting ideas which use the basic tools most of us have or can be obtained inexpensively. Floor jack, bottle jacks, cherry picker, cinder blocks, 4X4s, 6X6s, spouse, etc.

Goal: Cheap, Safe & Stable way for one person to remove/re-install body without hurting himself/herself or the car body.

More Photos..............

jhorton58

Articshark, I didn't see that coming.
Wombvette, that is exactly what I am looking for. I have made lifting jigs before with 2 in steel tubes, 2 X 4s and chains, straps, but, I really wanted something stationary like this so I could just lift and go. I will use the ad above to start with.

I have never failed to get good help from good people on this site.

Thank you all for the help.

mysixtynine

I use a steel cradle and the lifting straps wrapped around it to shorten them because they are so long and put it to work on either my gantry crane or cherry picker.

AWilson

Thats why I thought I should post. I saw all the other ways also. I even bought the sling. But if you only realistically will do it once or twice, we need a easy fast way. I may have pictures.