I am considering undertaking a frame off resto on my 71 GS Stage-1 coupe after driving for one more summer season. I have several questions please feel free to repond to any or all. I have had most parts and engines/trans apart on these cars before just never a whole body. I have a good solid used trunk floor I want to have welded in and the rusted one cut out, Should this be done with car on frame or off? Strangely enough I found this trunk in a Skylark in a New England Junkyard. Also what are different Ideas for lifting body off the frame? I have a small 1 and 1/2 car garage so something has to go outside. Anyone ever build a body dolly that the frame can roll under? Or use rottiserie rigs. I would like to blast the frame and paint then get body back on as soon as possible then start body work. Any experiences or mistakes to avoid appreciated. I know i am in for a couple years of work. I am sure this post could help many others as well so fire away. I plan on doing as much as possible myself except welding and body paint otherwise it will break the bank.
We have all this info on our site. You can also check my pics on the body-off restos on the site to give you some ideas. Not difficult to do but very time consuming.
Take the amout of time & money you think the project will take and double it. That is about how it's working out for me.
Thanks for the website George. Also thanks for the advice on price. I Know that it will be expensive lucky I have most of the parts I need most work will just be labor paint supplies and some bumper reChroming. I have been stockpilling stuff ffor years.
Good luck with the resto. and enjoy your summer driving the car. It was a sad day when I disconnected the battery prior to starting my frame off. Only 2-1/4 years later and still no driving. I probably have another 2 years before I am done. If I only had some extra cash...... :grin: Len
If I only had some extra cash...... Thats a biggie :rant: :rant: Mine is going on three years.I do have it back home with a shiny paint job,and everything underbody-chassis wise is new[gas tank,fuel/brake lines,front/rear suspension,etc].I just finally installed the glass in it this week,except for the windsheild.I`m going to sell my GN so I can get it done hopefully this year.This is what your car might look like in a few months ou:
Its amazing the way the factory slapped these cars together in a few hours when it takes us years! Cool pictures of your resto. It never ceases to amaze me of how many different ways guys come up with to take the car of the frame! I may be limited to trying this outside as my garage ceiling is only 8 feet high. Hope you finish soon and good luck spanking Hemis in FAST.
"If" you had all the parts present, refinished looking like they did new you could put one back together pretty fast too. But the word if is the biggest little word in the English language.
Generally speaking, it is best IMHO to get the majority of the metalwork done before lifting the body off the chassis. This adds strength if the body is rusty so it won't shift, also, do you really want to do all that with a nicely painted frame under it? By the time its done the frame will be covered with primer, dust,dirt and debri. Get the worst of it done, take the body off, do the chassis, do the bodywork that requires separation, and then put it together with the bottom of the car completed and masked off for paint(good) or better yet paint body off the chassis (best but also more work). It is a lot of work, but also very satisying. Take your time, don't cheap out on the things you can't access later (fuel lines, etc), have fun and be prepared for a lot of little issues. My ragtop is documented on my website. Going on 5+ years since I started but I took a few breaks. Also I'm just a working stiff so doing a nice resto takes a while to pay for. later Tim
Thanks for that infor Tim I am only in the position to pay as I go Myself. I have most parts saved and engine trans and rear end all new so here goes the last and toughest part
