[Chevelle-list] Body off Frame How-To?

[Karl Groves]

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:dslwizard at yahoo.com] 
> Sent: Wednesday, November 22, 2006 11:46 AM
> To: karl at karlcore.com; 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 <karl at karlcore.com> 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:TJ.Noelle at sbcglobal.net]
> > 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
> > 
> > 
> 
> 
> 
>  
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