How do I lift a body off of frame?

[kcombs]

I need to lift a stripped body and place it on a frame. I cannot figure out how to get a hold of the body without damaging it and still have room for supports such as wood beams (4x4's). There must be a good way to do this without my neighbor's backhoe and doing serious damage to the body of the car. Help! By-the-way, I purchased the body on a trailer and then purchased the frame later. I would now like to mate the two together. Thx, Kurt

[StriperSS]

You'll be amazed at what you can do by yourself with a floorjack, some 4X4 posts, and a selection of blocks. You'll have to really think it through to minimise wrong moves, but the satisfaction after you're done will make it all worthwhile.

John C

[Graham]

Kurt, Here's a link for the procedure: :Smarty: http://www.buickperformance.com/body-off.htm

[GStage1]

You can also use two engine hoists. Once you have the body in the air, you can man-handle the chassis to get it under the body. Invite a few friends over.

See the last few pics of the car I am doing now to see how I do it with one hoist. Just take your time and make sure you feed the ebrake cable thru the frame as you lower the body.

www.buickperformance.com/GSConv.htm

[xhp734]

I seem to remember one board-member (Oklahoma something???) who is teaching a shop-class on automotive restoration and showed his students all together and carrying the body on to (or off of) the frame. I'll see if I can find that thread.

===Later===
Ah... I think this was it.

http://www.v8buick.com/showpost.php?p=667257&postcount=42

You might want to check with Oklahoma! himself to be certain that it's not a slight-of-hand image. For all my eyes could tell, that body could be hanging by a crane and the students are just steadying it.

[GStage1]

I think his username is Oklahoma.

Better off to use a hoist so you can carefully inspect and control the body placement.

[1970GS455]

You can also use two engine hoists. Once you have the body in the air, you can man-handle the chassis to get it under the body. Invite a few friends over.

See the last few pics of the car I am doing now to see how I do it with one hoist. Just take your time and make sure you feed the ebrake cable thru the frame as you lower the body.

www.buickperformance.com/GSConv.htm

George,

Having issues with your link. No workie for me......... :Do No:

[GStage1]

Ooooops, typo on my part!

http://www.buickperformance.com/70GSConv.htm

[kcombs]

I think I am making too big a deal out of this. I was going to put the body on the frame so I could replace the quarter panels....seems from the pictures that I can do that with it setting on blocks, without distorting the body. In a previous life I was a fabrication welder and from that experience I would have wanted everything tied down solid. Seems car bodies are more forgiving and ridgid than my previous projects. To make me even more nervous, I am used to working with stainless steel and it warps just by looking at it.

Thanks everyone for your replies. I am rethinking the process I am going follow because of your replies. You guys are great!

Kurt

[buickjunkie]

I used a set of four $18.00 ratchet straps to raise it. Reinforced the roof trusses and used 3/16 chain and eye bolts to secure it. After you get over the phobia :eek2: of it just hanging their you can work on the frame underneath. I needed to get the most out of my floor space. The underside of the body is about 6 ft off the floor. :TU:

[65specialconver]

boy,that would scare the :moonu: out of me.leaving it hangin there.i wonder how much a shell weighs?wonder if my roof could hold it :shock:

[GStage1]

A gutted coupe rear clip weighs about 300-350 lbs. Not much too it.

[65specialconver]

ok,somewhere in one of the mags,i saw an article where they pulled the body with a cherry picker by using the seat belt bolt holes :puzzled: since mine is a convert,this would be quite simple access.i would leave the doors on for support,would this be advisable,or isnt there enough support on a convert?

[buickjunkie]

Hi,
The roof trusses don't actually support the body. There's a frame built into the truss structure. 4 independant columns and 2 independant beams (these clear above the trusses by 1/4"). The body's hanging on 4 ratchet straps rated at 800lbs each and four 1/4" chains, eyebolts and shackles also rated at 800 lbs each. :)

[GStage1]

You can use the seatbelt holes but if your floor pans are weak, you are asking for trouble.

See the link I posted above for lifting the body using an engine hoist. It is a one-man job once you review the pics. I do this all the time by myself and never had a problem.

[GS1]

I would support George's site as a great place for many tips including the link to lift the body off. I followed it almost exactly as written and found it very easy. I used chains instead of rope. Here I am!

[GS1]

Here is the link to George's site that I followed:
http://www.buickperformance.com/body-off.htm

[GS1]

To help encourage your progress - here is the frame after sandblasting and repainting:

[70aqua_custom]

I'm sure there's a 100 different ways to pull a body off a frame. Like the others, I used what I had. A chain hoist connected to a large beam in my garage and 2 large ratchet straps. In the rear I put the straps through the speaker holes and hooked around the big support brakets inside the truck. A one man job, off and back on ....twice

[70aqua_custom]

a front view

[Dan K]

Jamie, a convertible door won't provide any support to the body. Take them off and bolt diagonal bars between the hinge and rear latch on each side. Dan