So I've got the body mount bolts out. The engine and transmission are out. I've still got to detatch the emergency brake cable, the battery ground, and the frame to seat mount tethers. I also need to look at the rear bumper attachment to the frame.
Question regards the front clip. Almost all of the photos I've seen of body-off frames don't have the front clip support/vacuum resevoir attached to the frame. So do I undo the 4 bots on each side of this frame member and hoist it with the body? Seems heavy out there unsupported like that...
Re: Body Lift Question - Front Clip (75 BBC Stingray)
EDIT : This discusses my '75. The early C3s are significantly different.
One of my biggest mistakes (but not too fatal) - was to leave that frame extension
on the front end when I took the body off. Over time, the weight started to
crack around the front corners of the fenders. That's OK - it needs a good
going over, anyway.
First, you need the front bumper cover removed. This gives access to two bolts
on each end of the inner bumper cushion (honeycomb). these bolts go to the
outer bumper brackets, which are also held on by the frame extension bolts.
You said four bolts - but there is a hidden one behind this outer bumper bracket.
So - get the outer bracket off and you'll be half-way there. I assume you
already broke all the bolts off to remove the lower front valence panel and
spoiler. Take out all the grills/etc. If you want to take it out in pieces, then
the bumper brace/honeycomb can be unbolted from the front of the frame
extension. Don't forget the two bolts at the bottom. This may also have a
mount at the very front/center of the nose. Mine was rotted away - so no clue
there.
If you get the valence panel out of the way - you can leave the frame extension in place (on the frame).
Definitely get these heavy pieces out before lifting the body.
Look in my website (in sig). I have some pics of my rusty 75 that might not
help. Also, look in the 70 pics - there is a section that shows us removing the
front fenders. Unfortunately, I don't have any pics up that show exactly what
you are doing.
Be prepared to replace the bumper cover. I'm going fiberglass on that.
Thanks, the "frame extension" was exactly the piece that I was talking about. I called it a resevoir because it also supplies vacuum to the lights. I had thought I was pretty close to being able to remove the body, but had forgot about the bumpers! :banghead: My hope is to do minimal disassembly on the body so that I can have the body back down on the frame by next spring to drive. I don't want to risk having a car project that I can't drive for 2 years - too great of a danger of loosing interest.
My overall plan was to do frame, suspension, brakes, engine, drivetrain this winter. I would then drive it by next fall 2004, then work on the body that winter.
I will be working Saturday and Sunday on the car and will look for any other problem areas where I have questions and IM you.
Body Lift Question - Front Clip
