All moved in to the new garage, smack-dab in the middle of beautiful Crackheadville, Everett, WA. I have two questions for all of you Yodas of resto out there, and would be much obliged, as always, for any advice lent. As I mentioned in my previous posts, and my intro, this is my first restoration/custom, so I don't really know what I should do next in certain areas. The car in question is a 1953 Chevy 2-door Sedan post. 1.) I have the frame on jack stands, the wheels off, and the front suspension all torn out. The body mounts, especially on the left are all rotted out, so I need to life the body up, aside from the rest of the work I have to do: body work, rebuild or replace the steering/suspension, brakes, etc., etc., etc. My first question is, what should be my next step? My next two or three steps. Is there a general process to the order in which you guys do this, or is it just whatever seems like it needs to be done next? 2.) How can one man (me) lift the body off the frame safely? Safe both for me, and the car. Also, should I have the doiors off, and firmly shut when I do this? Do I need to make any support bracing in the cabin to keep the body from warping? Thanks very much for any and all help! - Tom
Here's a couple of links on how to do the body-lifting job. Someone else on the HAMB did a post also on lifting a Plymouth coupe body which would probably be more in line with your 50's Chevvy body whereas the links apply to smaller bodies. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18249 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=78260 http://www.****osgarage.com/tech/****o/cablifter/index.html I am in the process of using ****os idea for lifting my 32-5W back onto my frame without the help of 3 mates. Best of luck. swifty
Yippee! ****o's 4x4 attachment for the engine hoist looks like the ticket. Maybe I can get going on my Dodge now. The body off is has been the showstopper.
Hmmm, good questions, so I'll speak to the sequence of "events". Lets say you wished to bring the project to a point of completion, and wished to sell...not that this IS the case, mind you! I would build/restore/customize, as though the car was being built at the factory. Yep, you want a rolling ch***is, as soon as possible. Does this mean that you get the interior custom made first? Or buy a set of irresistable mag wheels and tires, just to make it look good? Nope. Each step should fall into place, and not severely limit the next stage. A complete and rebuilt engine has a certain value, but when placed into a ch***is, and all is ready to go, then you've got an ***embly of greater value. (to you or a buyer, hopefully) In the days past, many of us spent 3-5 years building a project car, so the stage-at-a-time concept made sense. (I should mention, that trading off tasks, getting experienced help from others, working on their projects-as you will have certain skills/proclivities, all make it a more meaningful experience. The stories on the HAMB of "build-help" are legion!)
I lifted the body of my 50 Chevy myself using a cherry picker/engine hoist. I put a 4X4 inside the car in the trianles shaped hole that are right behind the door. It lifted straight up with no problems. Look at my Photbucket page there are some pics of the body on the stand I made for it. Todd
Wow Tugmaster - you just game me a whole ****load of ideas for lifting the body off my 50 ... thanks - and nice pics and great progress.
I call it friend-less body removal, and I've used the cherry picker many a time. Pick it, block it, pick other end, block it. Repeat as necessary to roll or slide the roller stuff out from below. and yeah, keep it safe... handle it like an IED. conclusion, vintage has no friends cause I'm too dang obstinate and particular for anyone else to tolerate me... especially in the shop.
Actually I cannot take credit for the idea. Someone one Chevytalk turned me onto it. My original ideas usually result in a trip to the E.R. or time in a holding cell. The "smartest" thing I think I did was to make my body dolly high enough and wide enough to allow me to roll the ch***is underneath it when I wasn't working on it. I also put it on casters so I could move it around. Todd
Awesome tips, guys! Thanks a lot. Tugmaster, two questions: Where did you attach the engine hoist? Also, what type of paint did you use on your ch***is? I looks great!
I attached the hoist around a chain that was centered on the 4X4. The paint is Inernational marine epoxy. I "found" it at work. Todd
I just brushed it on. A little more gloss than I wanted but it is tuff stuff and you can't beat the price. Todd
Here are some other ideas for you. I did it all by my lonesome too. It took about 1/2 hour once all the "prep" work had been done. Used Camper Jacks to be able to lift the car up and down (many times, as I needed to trim and fit things). I got the idea from Lefturn here on the HAMB. Scroll down on the first link to get to the body removal of the Merc: http://landyachts.homestead.com/open1.html http://landyachts.homestead.com/mercresto.html
Years ago, when I had few tools, I did a frame swap on a GTO. I used 2 bottle jacks, and a bunch of blocks of wood. Held it in the air with some 55 gallon drums and some 4X4's. Did the frame swap in about a week, every night after school.
I routinely move the cab offen my '50 PU around the shop alone: I used the same method on my '55 Merc to pick it up and put it on the rotisserie....one end at a time. Works great.
Lots of good ides in this thread and the previous one on this subject. I just did a craigslist search for camper jacks and found this. Maybe he can help. Can't beat the price. http://austin.craigslist.org/grd/2176433612.html
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