[Gr8 '48 bow tie]

I have a big problem and need some help. I want to remove the body of my '48 Chevy Aerosedan. If I take all the front sheet metal off and leve the doors on and closed tightly, will that be enough support to keep the body straight? I do not have a welding machine and added to that I don't know where to put braces. Next question; If the above is OK, will four or five men be able to lift the body by hand and place it on saw horses so that I will be able to work under the body.

Thanks Al <img src="graemlins/sweat.gif" border="0" alt="[sweat]" />

 

[Halloweenking]

Al, It may be just enough, but to make sure using wood braces is fine, you just have to be creative with some 2x4's and plywood and C clamps. 5 guys should be enough but if you are in a position to use one or two "come-alongs" on a stable tree or maby garage ceiling do that, it safer and easier. just slide two 2x10's through the window openings and lift it with the come along. If thats not possible just be carful and safe and try not to blow a gasket

HK

 

[Kevin45]

Gr8,
Better make sure you have some heavy duty saw horses. Bewtter yet get 4 drums (the 35 gal type) and some 4x4's. Lag the 4x4's together to make a frame (2 in front and back to keep the sides from moving) and set the car on them. Been there done that.


Kevin

 

[38 special]

Yeah Gr8. You should be able to lift it. I used 4 men and a boy (my youngest son 14) We put 4 x 4's under it. Lifted up the rear end first then the front. Be really careful mine was heavier in the back almost lost it. I have the body sitting w/ the 4 x 4's on cement blocks. I have them set just wide enough apart that when I want to roll the chassis in or out from under it. It only takes 2 of us to do it. I go to each corner and lift that side of the 4 x 4 and have one of my boys either put in blocks or take them out as to weather I want to raise or lower the body over the chassis. It's been sitting outside for a year now. I cover it in the winter. The snow caught me by surprise this year. I wasn't done working on it yet. Don't have it covered. Hope to get the body back on next year. Always afraid a wind storm will knock it off and bend it all up. Been through a couple good snows and a near miss with the tornado and still there. Hope it hangs in there again this winter.
Hope to get the body back on next year.

[ November 23, 2002: Message edited by: 38 special ]</p>

 

[drgnwgn289]

When we took the body off my stude, I got 5 friends and me and my dad and it was over kill. We put the body on 3 sets of jackstands with 4x4s between them and it stayed plenty straight.

 

[46_stvblt]

Gr8: I just did what you are going to do. Only difference is I have a coupe, same wheelbase. what I did was jack it up as high as I could get it in the back and put tall jack stands as far back as I could, then I used a engine cherry picker and raised the front up until it was near level and let it hang there until I lowered the frame down and slid it out from under the body. used some furniture dollys and it came right out. Then I put tall jack stands under the body at about the firewall. Didn't have to use any bracing at all. these bodys are pretty strong and ridgid. I even cut out a big area of the trunk so I could tub it and it didn't move an iota..Good luck with your project.. GlennK

 

[fatfen48]

I used a method similar to 46_stvblt. A good floor jack and a cherry picker. Jacked up body and frame and unbolted body from frame with it all on jack stands. Then I raised the body off the frame with the cherry high ennough to put a 4X4 under the body in the front and back them I let he frame down and rolled the frame out from under the body. I have the body on jack stands( put them under the frame mount pads )while I work on frame. Mine is a 2 door it is a little longer. Leaving the doors on is a good idea they add a lot of strenght to the body. I was afraid to lift through the doors with pipe or 4X4 have heard of tops kinking and window openings being damaged. Good luck, be safe. fatfen48

 

[Kevin45]

USE CAUTION when setting the back on jackstands and raising the front with a cherry picker. Don't get me wrong, this is a fine way to do it and I have done this also, BUT, if you pick up the front of the body make sure it comes STRAIGHT up and does not want to roll forward. If it decides to go forward then it will tilt the jackstands in the back and possibly tip them over letting the car hit the ground. Best to have someone keep an eye out on the rear while you raise the front.

Kevin

 

[Weimer]

You should have plenty of support beings it is a sedan...I have a convertible and I had to weld in a few pieces of tubing in the door-area for support so the body wouldn't fold like a taco.
Later,
WEIMER

 

[Gr8 '48 bow tie]

Thanks guys, I thought it would be alright to do it like that but not sure because I have never done it before. As a matter of fact, this is my first project. I hope I can start on it in the next few weeks. Murphy and his crew have been hanging out at my place for the past couple of months and everytime I prepare to do anything they jump right in and start to make things go wrong.I <img src="graemlins/pain.gif" border="0" alt="[pain]" /> at Murphy and his stupid law I want to <img src="graemlins/boxing.gif" border="0" alt="[boxing]" /> <img src="graemlins/crash.gif" border="0" alt="[crash]" /> <img src="graemlins/spank.gif" border="0" alt="[spank]" /> Him! or is it Her?

Al

 

[46_stvblt]

48 bowtie; Just like every one said here, TAKE YOUR TIME just don't get in a hurry and it will go well. Give Murphy a swift kick in the *** Good Luck.....GlennK <img src="graemlins/boxing.gif" border="0" alt="[boxing]" />

 

[2oldster]

Go to Yahoo and ask for " car tilter" You can get a world of insight into doing frame off work just by looking at their machinery and how it works. It also gives enough pictures and information to build a tilter or rotisserie if you want to. Or you can spend big biucks and buy theirs.......