Technical Assembled car on a rotisserie?

I have access to a 3000lb rated rotisserie. This was just used on a '65 Mustang fastback.

I want to clean and restore the bottom of my 1964 Ford Fairlane Sports Coupe. It's a solid car with no rust damage to the structure. The curb weight of a '64 Fairlane is 3232lbs. I was going to remove engine, transmission, hood, seats, and of course the bumpers. This leaves the doors, front sheetmetal, suspension and glass in the car.

Is this a good idea?
It's such a messy job lying on my back.

 

That idea makes me nervous with a unibody car, but then again, i'm out in the country and would be more likely to hang a chainfall hoist to a tree branch and stand her up on her tail with the mill and trans out of it.

You'd probably be ok with the rear axle out of it, as well.


-rick

 

You should be way under the weight limit so I say go for it.

 

Will fit the weight limit.
As far as unibody, I’d trust a unibody on a rotisserie way before a full frame body.
Just mount it to the rotisserie where the suspension mounts

 

G for it.

If you’re concerned, pull the rear end and front suspension before you invert the unibody. Might be a good time to refresh them anyway

 

I've done a few times to F bodies. I support them at the firewall since that is a unibody car. The issue you will encounter is the weight. They are very top heavy when assembled.

 

From a guy who spent one whole winter lying on his back under a '51 Ford with a sandblaster and other cleaning appliances, it sounds like a good idea.

 

My Olds is waiting on a master cylinder so I have been freshening up and detailing the under car since it has been nearly 30 years since I built it. It is on my lift and I spent the morning today wheeling around on my stool brush painting the frame and rear axle, etc. I just spent the last half hour scrubbing the chassis black off my legs. Note to self: wear long pants next time. Rotisseries are a godsend.

 

No problem. You will be glad you did.

 

that is EXACTLY what they are made for.

 

Your Fairlane is quite similar to my ‘64 Cyclones in size and weight, I had my car on a rotisserie that I fabricated back in the early ‘80’s before commercially available units were available. I also used it during the last reincarnation when I fabricated all the suspension, frame connectors, and wheel tubs. The structure of the body did not distort at all, when I reassembled the car the doors fit exactly as they did when they were removed. I did not install any bracing, the body is structurally sound without it. You should not have any issues at all, this comes from experience not speculation.

before chemical dipping the body


After dipping and e coat



After dipping before e coat

 

I bought a homemade rotissarie for an OT project 5 yrs ago. Was top notch quality. Biggest issue was making my own supports. Front was bolted to some factory holes in the firewall, but initial attempt was no good as firewall was flexing. Had to spread load over a larger area. So, there was some guess work fabbing up the adapters to the body. I would suggest making it stronger than you think, or copy what someone else did.