Body off Support Techniques

[pwd95]

Planning a body off job on the Chim starting August. I've got a very strong set of beams in my garage so just wondering if any of you experienced chaps had any pics of how you supported the body while the chassis was out.
I think I'm going to drop the chassis out the bottom so to speak, so just starting to plan the whole process.
Cheers.

[dbv8]

I removed the bootlid and bonnet.
A couple of pieces of 2x4 in the boot and i made a framework for the engine bay locating under the front wings. The engine was stripped down to the block so i had the room.
Used 2 chainblocks and raised the body.





To lower the body over a more complete engine i had to remove the framework and ran a piece or rope like this....

[pwd95]

Marvellous, thanks Derek. Chain blocks, of course. How's the beast running then?

[dbv8]

pwd95 said:

Marvellous, thanks Derek. Chain blocks, of course. How's the beast running then?

really badly at the moment.

It has some issues and is at TrackVRoad getting sorted. I hope to pick it up this weekend ready to be made road legal and to start getting some miles on it.

[mep12345]

depends on the room you have - I made a set of doolies for my s series that meant I could just wheel the body around the garage and driveway to go where I wanted it to work on. The body just screwed into the wood with small coach bolts and washers

[pwd95]

Thanks chaps, keep em coming.
Spoke to these people earlier........

http://www.swpowdercoating.co.uk/

so that's all sorted. Just got to find a decent welder.

[Barkychoc]

pwd95 said:

Just got to find a decent welder.

Fleabay - sort on distance as they are too heavy to post.
Buy a decent Clarke MIG or something - 150A is about as high as you can go on a normal 13A plug. (Clarke call most of their 150A welders 160 something, I have a 160EN, £120 quid on ebay).

If you need a mask buy something reputable - I don't trust all the cheap ebay stuff - you only have one pair of eyes.

I bought this and can recommend it.

http://www.thewelderswarehouse.com/Welding/Welding...

Can you already weld or is this a learning exercise?
Good tutorials here if you're learning.

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk

Edited by Barkychoc on Monday 23 May 22:46

[Barkychoc]

On the subject of supporting the body - mine had to go in the garage as the house is at a higher level.

I used 5 ton lorry straps - 2 at each lift point - you raise it on one strap then when the reel is full use the other one.

Similarly when you let it down adjust one strap slightly longer than the other and release the shorter one.

Works well and does not mark the body at all.