Body removal from frame.

I am planning to remove the body of my '51 Ford Shoebox from its frame in the near future to blast/ paint and fix a few other items that need to be addressed. I know this is a pretty straightforward task, but I have one issue that I could use a little advice on. The front sheet metal (fenders) are welded to to the body near the A pillars and lower rockers. Of, course I plan to remove the hood, grill, and other components before separating the body from the frame. My main concern is whether or not the front sheet metal can hang from the body unsupported while lifting the body from the frame. I'd really prefer to not find out the hard way and any advice or pointers are appreciated. Thanks.




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You may need to fab a couple of "X" braces from the firewall to the front of each fender, to keep the whole affair from moving left to right. I'd for sure have the radiator out and any other stuff you can unbolt. Good luck.

 

Build some type of bracing similar to what Stu suggested and you should be OK. HRP

 

As always, H.A.M.B. to the rescue. I may not have thought about the braces you guys suggested until it would've been to late. Thanks for pointing that out.


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I'm looking for advice on how raise the body from the floor (I cannot lift from above in my garage) and suspend in the air. Anyone have a procedure and pictures on how they swap chassis out safely?

 

Friend with a Backhoe or forklift and good set of straps would be the quick safe way to lift things. Bob

 

A long wooden stud, 2"x4" across the body under the rear wheel arch area and a floor jack will raise the rear however as you front is welded on there is no strength there and not recommended as damage to the front panels will result. Can you slip a jack with timber under the transmission area to raise the front? You might be able to slip some wooded blocks under the sills and raise body slightly off the ground. Keep doing this front and back until there is enough room to slip the 2"x4" across the front and rear, bolting them to body? I then supported the body and substituted the timber for longer 2"x2" RHS so the stands could be positioned outboard enough to allow the chassis to be rolled out on the brake drums after the wheels were removed. SAFETY (Stability) is paramount. No rush, do it slowly.

 

I one removed a 40 ford coupe body with a camper jack on each side. Took forever but it worked.

 

Here is a real cheap approach...I took the body off of a 72 ElCamino once using (4) bumper jacks and some 4x4's. It was pretty easy getting the 4x4's between the frame and the body and then the bumper jacks at each 4x4. Once it was clear of the frame I just pulled it out and slid in the better frame.

Disclaimer...bumper jacks are widow maker, but they do have their purpose at times.

 

Take the rear wheels off, cuts down on the lift height,and use a floor jack to roll the chassis out. Bob

 

I've removed the doors and ran braces through the body between screw poles, let some air out of the tires, jack stands at the rear with some success. The screw poles had over 2 foot of lift and cost about 75.00 a pair back then.

 

Six of us lifted and held a '63 Parisienne body while two more rolled the frame away and placed cut in half 45 gal. barrels and 4x4's under the body. The front clip, trunk lid and doors were off.....still was heavy though.

 

If it were mine I would cut through the welds with a very thin cutting disc so that the front fenders, grille,hood, etc. could be unbolted a piece at a time. Cover the windshield with cardboard and tape so the sparks won't "burn and scar" the glass. Yes, you would have to reweld it upon assembly, but that's a lot easier than restoring the sheet metal damage that can happen if you try to remove the entire front sheet metal as one unit - even with braces. To raise the body off the frame, unbolt the body to frame bolts, lift each corner of the floorboard up a little at a time and slide in 2x4's or 4x4's until the body clears the frame. Then slide a long 4x4 across the width of the car at the front and rear and support it with concrete blocks. It takes a while. Here's how I did my 40 way back in 1973. Be sure and lay the concrete blocks properly - hollow side facing up. The blue thing is a 4 x 4 piece of hollow square tubing. There are better methods, but this was all I had at the time as there was no one else to help.

 

I think you should remove the front fenders too.Because its easier to lift the body off when there isnt any extra stuff hanging and you dont fuck up the fenders,if something goes wrong with the body lifting.
I've done this with my '51 and it wasnt a bad job after all.I braced the body,had 2 engine hoists and couple of friends helping me.

 

Guys, thanks for all of the advice and ideas. I do like the idea of cutting the welds near the a pillar and rocker that are currently holding the fenders to the body. Although not having a visible seam in the bodywork at those locations is visually appealing, it's not very practical when you plan to to jobs such as this. I do have access to a 2-post lift and will probably go that route to lift the body off of the frame. May end up doing it "manually" though with jacks, jack stands, blocks just to try and have better control of the whole procedure. Again, thanks for all the ideas and suggestions.


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I too want to say thanks for the advice and pictures. I'll be doing this in the next few weeks.