Is this idea crazy and stupid or will it work?

Crazy idea- tell me I am nuts and if this wont work. I don't have a body rotisserie and I my back hurts to much to lay under my 57 body for days of stripping and painting. As I look at the body sitting on blocks in my driveway I keep thinking I could get a few people over and flip it up on the firewall. I may even bolt a few long 2X8s to the firewall to keep it off the ground and add some stability. Am I totally crazy? Have I lost it? Is my car gonna end up on its roof? Anyone ever do this? If anything this post may be worth a good laugh to you guys.

Better yet anyone want to rent me a rotisserie near Phila, PA?

Thanks for any and all info!

Jim

 

Just make sure it wont fall on its roof.Im doing that with my fibergl*** body to do the floors,Just make sure you tape the jambs with the doors on.............And enough people.

 

In my mind, that's just asking for a car that's either on it's roof, or on you. There are better ways. The firewall and forward areas are not designed to carry the weight of the rest of the car, so even if she doesn't go all pisa on you and kill you, you'll end up doing body damage in ways that would be very difficult to repair.

I've seen guys make rotos out of old engine stands- not sure if that would work here or not.

If it were me, I wouldn't.

 

We built a simple tool, two 10' long pieces of tubing, and welded angles and plates to them that match existing body or ch***is holes. First one we built we had a shop that allowed us to winch it up, so the car was sitting off the floor on its side, with the bottom about 2' off the ground. This time we can't winch it, so I'm building some legs for it so when we tip it up, it'll not quite go completely perpendicualr, but we'll have an "A" frame configuration. Makes it easy to work under the car, paint, weld, etc.
Hope that gives you some ideas....

 

Never stood one on the firewall,but I bolted 2x4's across the bottom of my '40 coupe body. Left a couple feet sticking out on each side to keep the quarters off the ground,and rolled it over on tires. It worked very well.

 

I saw a small race car sedan built one summer. After stripping it down to the OEM red paint, the guys rolled it up on it's sides when required (no doors, hood, trunk lid, drive train, either) and rested it on some old sponge / matresses that were covered with a canvas tarp for some fire protection. I don't recall what they braced it with. Then they modifed / strengthened the unibody for suspension bits and a roll cage. The also welded all the factory panel seams solid. It was a light unibody to start with and there was nothing (not one bolt, even) on it, so it was easy to handle. When it was back upright, they then added extended gl*** flares to all 4 corners and sent it to paint. The car turned out nice and fast. Gary

 

i have done this on a ot 70 chevelle we stood it on firewall to sandblast under car let it tangle from a winch cable out of a tree.

 

i had a go at making a rotissiere to paint and finish weld my ch***is.worked well for me .you have to spin it close to the centre of gravity.see my web site (www.hotrod.ie)

 

Sounds like disaster waiting.
A good portion you'll have to on your knees, some at normal height and most on w ladder. None of that will help your back.
Build one of the roll over deals or hire the neighbors kid to crawl under.

 

I changed my mind also .Roll it on it side ,Alot safer ,, sheetmetal might buckle or twist

 

No comment!...

 

I know people that have used tractor (tire) tubes to flip bodies onto with varying degrees of luck.

 

My pops and I stood a model A raodster body, (no doors or decklid) on its firewall to body and paint the floor. 31 Vicky is right. 1/3 was done on a ladder, 1/3 standing, and 1/3 done on my knees and even laying down. We live in earthquake prone California also. We worried about that car every day for a week untill we could set it back on the cart we had for it. Honestly it was not our brightest idea. The engine stand rotisseri seems like a gret option on the cheap. I personally would never stand another body on end.

 

Ok- I will ditch that idea. So whats a used rotiserrie worth? Northern Tool has one for $1100. Eastwood for $1500. Thats a lot of money for something I will use once. I would actually do it if I could re-sell it for $600-$700 after I am done. No one local rents them. I would build one but then there goes the use it once factor.

Thanks for all of the suggestions guys- and better yet- setting me straight.

 

Put the car on jackstands and dig a pit under the car so you can stand up under it.

 

That sounds like a good "Plan B"

Thanks!

 

Theres some designs out there where 2 large rings are bolted to the body and an engine hoist rolls it over. Cheap and effective.

 

Google engine stand rotisserie. I have seen it work. A local body shop I go to daily has one.

 

Here's a cheap one I built for a 67 Nova body shell. I used 1.5" electric conduit ells, welded to straights and some s**** metal for supports. I could flip it up on it's side by myself, although it would have been easier with two people.

 

Hey 31A - That looks like a winner. Way cheaper, and looks very do-able. Thanks for the pic. What a great idea.

Thanks,
Jim

 

look for some of the big rings that they wrap fiber com. tube around( the red tube they bury under ground) they are at least 6 to 7 feet across. make a jig inside one of those and you could roll it over with no problems.

 

I thought this guy was pretty inventive!

Rich