I've found a shop that will rent me their rotisserie for an indefinite period for $200, but I need to figure out how to mount it. He'll let me modify it pretty much any way I need to, but I need to know the best way to safely and securely mount the shoebox body to it. Does anyone have pictures of how they did it? Any tips on getting the body off the frame would be appreciated as well. Thanks!
To remove the body, remove the bolts attaching it to the frame. To attach it to the rotisserie, use bolts.
I'm guessing you're being funny? I know to remove the body bolts. How does one get it off the frame? Where can the body be safely jacked up without denting/damaging anything? Use bolts to attach it to what? The front and rear body mount locations don't seem sturdy enough to support the weight of the body when on its side or upside down.
Just make damn sure that you're lifting from the bottom of the body, DO NOT LIFT THE BODY OFF THE FRAME FROM THE ROOF!
To remove the body from the frame, jack the body up then lower the frame down (take the wheels off and lower it onto wheel dollies). You can pick up the body with an engine hoist/cherry picker, but brace it first. I welded steel side-to-side across the doors, and front to back between braces. To lift it I bolted a 2x6 on the outside of the firewall and under the floor between the rear wheelwells. A couple of big eye bolts, sturdy chain and Bob's yer uncle. Here's a thread with some info... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=634362
The very best way I use is to make a very sturdy pair of brackets that attach to bumper bracket mounting holes on body, connect theses brackets with a piece of 2x2 or bigger with an adaptor that lets you attach it to pivot point on rotisserie.....sounds like a pain but it is the safest way a s the body is already made to take stress at the bumper bracket point. You will need to jack car up pretty high....think real tall jack stands to get the height to get rotisserie to pick it up. Above all, think everything thru......and by the way make SURE all doors are well latched prior to rotating car onto its side.....ask me how I know!
You need to separate the front clip, body and rolling ch***is (3 separate items). Then mount the body onto the rotisserie. I ***ume you don't have a big lift, if so I would do it differently than described below. I put my shoebox on 2 4x4's sitting across jackstands. If you go this route, I think you could then fairly easily attach the rotisserie to the firewall and to the rear of the body. I didn't use a rotisserie, but the following might help you get started. To get the body on jackstands: 1. Remove radiator and wiring, etc. attached to inner fenders and firewall 2. Remove front clip all in one piece using an engine hoist 3. Find/remove the 20 or so bolts that hold the body to the frame 4. Using an engine hoist raise and secure the front of the body across a 4x4 on 2 jack stands, put straps around the 2 body mounts sticking out from the firewall to lift the front of the body. You'll have to raise the body high enough to roll out the ch***is later. You can raise the height later if needed, don't go too crazy at first, just raise the front a few inches off of the body enough to get the 4x4 across the jacks. 5. Find the four body mount holes in the trunk and put some eyebolts in these 4 holes. Use 2 basic ratchet tie-downs crisscrossed from these 4 eyebolts to raise the rear using an engine hoist, and place the rear of the body onto the other 4x4 across 2 jack stands. I would put the 4x4 under the rear inner fender support so that the fender doesn't bend (just behind the rear wheel well). 6. I got my body about 27 inches above the ground and was able to roll the ch***is out. You can use dollies and also use tiedowns to compress the rear suspension leaf springs to flatten out the rear of the ch***is. There might be a simpler/easier way to get a body directly onto a rotisserie by using 2 or 3 engine hoists as 55Dude suggests? Be Safe! Good Luck! X
Thanks for all the input, guys! Still trying to figure out how to get it safely on the rotisserie, but at least I can get it off the frame. My media blast guy was going to lift the body off the frame by the roof, I guess I'll have to rig something to help him lift it with his gantry. Gotta get my pea-brain working on that one... Wish I had some 1/4"x3" square tube laying around, this would all be easier!
What do you plan to do once on the rotisserie? I wouldn't use or recommend engine stands as they are not designed for that weight, plus I doubt that you'll get full rotation that is required to do it properly. The base is not wide enough to safely support the weight. I have my body mounted to thick wall 2" RHS tubing, front and rear, similar to **zzy999. When I mount the body on the rotisserie, the brackets bolt to front and rear body mounts where the RHS currently is bolted. I have a centre bar that ties in both ends of the rotisserie, adding to stability
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