I'd like to reiterate something everyone has said: THIS IS DANGEROUS. During my first attempt, I was rather naïve in thinking it would be easy. The body came up so effortlessly, but then that first sawhorse buckled and the car fell and I spent the next several minutes thanking God there wasn't anyone underneath the car. It really set me straight. BE CAREFUL
Karl Groves Master Certified CIW http://www.karlcore.com Grayscale Content Management System: http://www.grayscalecms.com > -----Original Message----- > From: mike f [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Wednesday, November 22, 2006 11:46 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; The Chevelle Mailing List > Subject: Re: [Chevelle-list] Body off Frame How-To? > > T.J, that is just about "exactly" the way I did it. If you > look carefully at the body of the car, the bottom sheet metal > has additional bracing located in the trans tailhousing area, > and further back. Find these sections and put your 4x4's > there. Jack it up from inside the frame first carefully. If > you can get under it, you can make the necessary block > arrangements to lift the body. Once it's up from the frame, > you replace the 4x4's and blocks and jackstands to the > "outside" of the frame. That way, you can just pull the frame > out from underneath it. For goodness sakes, be carefull! > This lifting and do this will kill you if you are not > careful. It scared me and I was so careful. > > mike > --- Karl Groves <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > First thing you need to do is remove EVERYTHING you can > from the car. > > Chevelle bodies are HEAVY. > > > > Now, others may have different tricks & tips to share, but the end > > goal is the same: Take the body off the frame and roll the > frame out > > from under the body. > > > > My method is this: > > 1. Place 1 saw horse at each corner of the body. > > 2. Jack up the body > > 3. Place pieces of wood (4x4s at least) between the saw horses, so > > you're supporting the body 4. Roll the frame out > > > > Seems simple, right? > > Well, I've demolished 2 sets of saw horses (that's right, 8 saw > > horses) this way. > > The first set was metal, and the manufacturer claimed they > supported > > 800lbs each. I think they got their lbs and grams confused because > > the legs buckled on the two front ones causing a chain > reaction an the > > car fell The second set was (seemed) more substantial, with > a claimed > > capacity of 1000lbs per pair. I'm guessing that the Chevelle body > > weighs more than 2000lbs because one sawhorse completely > shattered and > > 2 of them buckled, but did not break. > > > > I've now constructed my own saw horses out of 4x4 wood, > held together > > with > > 1/2 inch threaded rod, bolted up nice & tight. > > I have a 4x4 top piece, 4 legs that are 4x4s and braces > (front & back, > > and each side) made from 2x6s. > > > > I do not know for sure that this will hold, but I'm almost > positive it > > will. > > If it doesn't, the next step is welding some up! > > > > I'll let you know how it goes > > > > Karl Groves > > Master Certified CIW > > http://www.karlgroves.com > > <http://www.karlgroves.com/> > > > > Grayscale Content Management System: > > http://www.grayscalecms.com > > <http://www.grayscalecms.com/> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > _____ > > > > From: Thomas Ringlein > > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Sent: Tuesday, November 21, 2006 12:25 AM > > To: 'The Chevelle Mailing List' > > Subject: [Chevelle-list] Body off Frame How-To? > > > > > > > > I know, there are no stupid questions, only stupid answers. > Hopefully > > we won't get any on this topic. > > > > I know the classic "A-body" cars we love have some problems > that need > > to be addressed occasionally on cars that have not been apart in > > 30-plus years. > > One of those happens to be the frame - notably, the frame > mounts that > > are prone to rusting. I want to inspect my frame for rust, > and in the > > process, put some POR-15 on it to prevent it rusting for > the next 30 > > years or so. I plan to pull the car apart starting in > January, but I > > don't have any high dollar tools or access to a local shop. > Is there > > an easy way (or not too incredibly hard way) to pull the body in my > > garage? > > Can I use an engine > > hoist to lift the front, support it on some concrete blocks > and a 4x4, > > do the same with the back, and roll the frame out from > underneath it? > > Without buying some special tools and/or shop time, I am > not sure of > > any other way. > > Any local guys know a place that can help me with this > endeavor? My > > body shop of choice will only work on the body when it is on the > > frame. The ideal situation would be a good body guy that > would work > > on the body while it was on a rotisserie so I could have > 6-8 months to > > work on the chassis. > > There are at least a few guys here that have done this - > what did you > > do? > > > > Now if I can only prevent the "if you give a mouse a cookie" > > routine... > > > > T.J. Ringlein > > > > 72 Chevelle in shambles (but it still runs and > > drives) > > > > Clovis, California > > > > > > > > > ______________________________________________________________ > ______________________ > Sponsored Link > > Online degrees - find the right program to advance your career. > www.nextag.com > >
