Where do I start to do a frame resto with the body on? I don't have a lift. But I can get lots of 4X4's from Home Depot for good separation. Any thoughts here fellas?

I used a harbor freight engine hoist to pull the body off my model A 2 door sedan. She's pretty long and heavy but it came up no prob. You have to be able to get the boom all the way out.....should work. Our cars are very low. Roll the chassis out, put the body on blocks.




______________
My Christmas present to ME! Bought Sat 11-30-2013. 72, 350 4 spd, Silver with blue interior...Can't you just hear Pablo Cruz playing in the background?

Here some pics how I solved the separation







______________
Regards from Hungary
Peter

I did the chassis rebuild/ detailing on my '74 wit the body on. It's tedious, but not to terribly difficult. Not too sure about the 4x4 deal, tho. You need a good floor jack, and 4 good jack stands to get the car off the ground high enough to safely crawl around under it. After it's in the air, start with a good inspection first, looking for any problems that need to be taken care of first, then look for any markings, tags, or anything else that you may want to preserve. Take plenty of pics, too. From there, it's just a good cleaning with a soft brush, soapy water, or something like a little Simple Green. A brass wire brush works on the heavier, caked up gunk.


______________

Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Peter I love the body stand. I have seen an engine hoist I hear may work. I have one of them. Any idea appx. how much it weighs? I wouldn't want to make something to weak to hold it. Thinking of putting some coasters on it to make it mobile too.

Thanks for the info. I've done engines before but not frames.

I also lifted my body off with my pal's engine hoist.  Took me a few hours (by myself).  You just need to work slowly and carefully.  I was also going to do the "body on" frame restoration, but I couldn't stand not taking it all the way off.  Here's a pic of my body stand - built on wheels for just under $100 bucks - works great!  Not great pics - but you get the idea. Good Luck!

______________

Bill, I don't know how much the weight of the body is. But as I know even 4 to 6 people would be able to lift it up by hand. So I guess it will be around 150 to 200 kg.

I have seen also other stands (like the one from Olddragger, but I was rethinking it and wanted as much free space as possible below.
The body is actually then fixed by screws at the Body mounts no 2 and 3.

The radiator bracket I left only to have some additional support, but actually there is no weight on it.

I have wheels below it, but the next time I would use bigger ones.

At the beginning I was also thinking first about a frame on work, but.........



Just some parts after sanblasting. You need a lot of space



This is the actuall status of my "little" project.

I would say, just do it.


______________
Regards from Hungary
Peter