81vette

Anyone know how high I'll need to raise the body to roll the frame out from the back of the car? It looks to me like 1-1/2 feet (or just enough for the tires to roll under the body) would be enough. I have removed the front and rear bumpers. I have left the gas tank in, but since it will be the frame rolling out the back that shouldn't be an issue. I am planning to do this in the garage which has 8' ceilings, so anyone who has done it in their garage please chime in.

mark



[Modified by 81vette, 11:09 AM 2/27/2003]

Tom73

You will need to raise it high enough for the carb to clear the bottom of the firewall. The carb and the fuel tank should be the high points on the frame.

tom...

81vette

I forgot to say that the engine and tranny are out of the car.

mark

Big Fish

I found out the hard way the body won't go on or off with the radiator support in place. Maybe you already have it out. I don't think you should have any clearance problems with an 8 foot ceiling, but you could play it safe by removing the wheels and placing the frame on dollys, should gain another 3-4"

81vette

Actually I was planning to remove only the bottom 2 bolts that connect the radiator support to the frame. That way I figure I can lift the radiator support up with the body and use it for support when I sit the body down on the body dolly.

mark

zwede

Did this on a 72 a while back and had to lift the body about 3 feet off the ground. Then we took the wheels off and rolled the chassis out on dollys. No engine.

Big Fish

That should work just fine. Had mine all assembled to the frame and found the body wouldn't go on with it in place. I wanted to test run the engine before putting the body back on, but no big deal. I was at a dis-advantage on this entire project as I have never seen this car in one piece.

NHvette

Mine came out in a 7ft garage - WITH the engine in place.
You should have plenty of room.

How are you lifting it ?

:seeya

81vette

I'm using the straps from Ecklers. My orignal plan was to build a support structure in the garage over the body, and lift it with a chain hoist. Hopefully one man could use the chain hoist to lift the body, because I don't have much help.

The other idea I've been kicking around is to lift the body using my engine hoist. The boom will go to 8 feet. I'm beginning to wonder if I can pull the body of from the side if I drop the gas tank, and I'm able to lift the body 2 feet. My lift will support 1000 lbs. fully extended.

What do guys think?


mark

Big Fish

You could maybe use your engine hoist under 2 conditions: 1. The hoist fully extended will handle the weight. You may want to remove the doors and seats to lower the weight. 2. If you can get enough lift. you probably better figure about 3 feet of lift to be safe.

I used large tie down straps when I did mine. The straps were adjustable which helped get the weight and angle right. Lifted from a single point using my chain ratcheting comealong. I don't know how strong the ceiling structure is in your garage, mine was plenty enough (2 X 12's on 16" centers) and I spanned across about 8 of them from above with heavy channel to support the chain. You can also rent A-frames from many rental places. :steering:

NHvette

You're doing it in the garage - right ?
The lift strap that is sold commecially may be too long for an 8ft garage.

I also used 4 tie-down straps - each suspended by a 2x2 piece of angle
iron that spanned 2 joists. I tied a loop in each to use a HD come-along
to lift with. I can get detailed pics - if you want to go this cheaper route.
come-along: $30
tie-downs: $5 ea (4)
6ft length of 2x2 angle iron: $10
3/8x6 lag bolts/washers (8) $5

So - $65, and you have a nice come-along to use when your project is completed.

I'm worried about the stability of your engine lift with the body hanging.
I certainly wouldn't try to roll the lift with the body weight on it.
With the doors and interior installed - it may be close to - or over 1000lbs.

Mr.Spock

A couple of things to consider:

The thing about the engine hoist is that the boom must be long enough to keep the hoist itself off of the side of the car (it didn't work for me).

The straps will probably stretch/tightne several inches, so that will have to be calculated in the lift height.

If you have electric windows...make sure that your windows are down.
:auto:

81vette

OK, you guys have talked me out of the engine lift. I'll either use the rafters or build an A frame. I have the 4 straps to a single hook already, and the plan is to tie knots in the straps to shorten the length.

Mr. Spock did you build your frame out of 2x4's (legs and all)? Do you have any others pictures? I was planning on having to use 4x6's if I go that route. The problem is that I live in a residential area that would probably upset some people if I had an A frame up for very long. I might bolt one together so that I can take it down and put it up as needed. The rafters over the garage would be the cheapest route though with a lot less assembly, but I may not have enough room to lift it. I guess I'll do some more measuring tomorrow.

mark

Chris@VetteFinders

Sounds like what we are doing with "project vettefinders". We are going to pull the body sunday. We used three 2x6s, which of course works out to be a 6x6. Plenty of strength there. I think we spent $60 total. Then a 2 ton chain hoist for $79. We can use that for other stuff.

Big Fish

Looks like that will carry it just fine. Could have used a glu-lam or micro-lam beam as well, sometimes you can find one that was a "goof" (too short for the job it was ordered for) and get it cheap. :cool:

71vettman

When I lifted the body off mine it was in the garage. I think its an 8 foot but mabey a 9 foot ceiling. anyway the engine was in and I used the lift straps your using along with an engine hoist. leave the rad support in. I hooked the come along to the rad support and to the eye of the straps to support the nose also. I was able to lift the body off this way and then roll it off to the side while hanging from the hoist. Had plenty of clerance for the hoist so it didnt hit the body and it was not tippy either. you should leave your doors on for support and take the t tops off if its a coupe. I put the body back on the same way and had no problems. good luck with the lift
Kevin

Simul8

I'm looking into starting this also. But my garage has drywall on the ceiling. So there is no way to attach anything safely. Has anyone built a frame or other structure to accomplish this task?
And all I wanted to do was change the bushings out. Found the frame rotted out. Now comes the real fun. The wife is lovin it!

Chris@VetteFinders

We left the t-tops and doors on. Just lifted the body today:
http://vettefinders.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=79part5

81vette

Coming along nicely Chris. Looks like you've got a lot of work to do with the frame. My wife and I finished disconnected everything today on our car. There was some rust on the bolts, but all of them came out without incident. Hopefully we can lift the body off next weekend.

mark


[Modified by 81vette, 9:36 PM 3/2/2003]


[Modified by 81vette, 9:38 PM 3/2/2003]

Chris@VetteFinders

Yeah, it is pretty rusty. Not a big deal when you have power tools though.

you said "my wife and I finished..." :eek: Man, your wife is helping you? Even doing dirty work!!! Man, too bad she's already taken!!! :D