Removing the body from the frame - question

[Polishmeatballpizza]

Still have a long way to go...

[Polishmeatballpizza]

Not much room for parts.

[elagache]

Dear George and mid-60s Buick "travelers down the road of restoration."

Still have a long way to go...

Perhaps so, but it is still progress!  After all any journey starts with a single step and you are well ahead of that! 

Cheers, Edouard 

[cwmcobra]

The challenge of creating space for the restoration process is half of the fun!   

Looks like a nice project car.  Enjoy!

Chuck

[Polishmeatballpizza]

I'm at the point where I need to know what items I will need to get the body lifted and supported for an extended period of time. It will probably take me some time to gather these items and prepare the rest of the car. I am a bit anxious!

For example, once I loosen/remove all the bolts from the fourteen mounting points, how and where do I lift the body?
Will a 4x4 be required to support it?
Will I need four bottle jacks? or scissor jacks?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[cwmcobra]

Here's how we did it.  Two engine hoists, a couple of straps, four sawhorses and two 4x4's.  See pictures.

Chuck

[Mark Ascher]

George,

Loren & I did it a little different than Chuck. This was before rotisseries became the way to do the body.
Raised it with stands and 4x4s to roll the frame out. I was able to borrow a body cart made for a-bodies
so it could be moved around. Not as convenient as a rotisserie by a long shot, but worked.

Mark

[35chevcoupe]

I'm at the point where I need to know what items I will need to get the body lifted and supported for an extended period of time. It will probably take me some time to gather these items and prepare the rest of the car. I am a bit anxious!

For example, once I loosen/remove all the bolts from the fourteen mounting points, how and where do I lift the body?
Will a 4x4 be required to support it?
Will I need four bottle jacks? or scissor jacks?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I did mine very similar to how Chuck did his , except I only needed 1 engine hoist because my car is a hardtop and I just used a strap thru the quarter window area .
You could just lift one end at a time and rest it on 8 foot 4x4s supported by saw horses or something equivalent .
Whatever method you use just be careful , I,m not a fan of bottle jacks . That sounds kind of scary .

[35chevcoupe]

Mark and I were typing at the same time , the way he did his is exactly how I was trying to explain it .

[Buick_65]

It's been a long time, but seems to me there is a lifting point just behind the doors that is nearly the perfect balance point. We lifted by vert off the frame with one engine host off of these pick points. Maybe they're called out in the service manual?  I will see what I can find.

[Polishmeatballpizza]

It's been a long time, but seems to me there is a lifting point just behind the doors that is nearly the perfect balance point. We lifted by vert off the frame with one engine host off of these pick points. Maybe they're called out in the service manual?  I will see what I can find.

That would be great - Thanks!

I can't lift it from the top with a hoist, need to do it from below.

[Loren At 65GS]

It's been a long time, but seems to me there is a lifting point just behind the doors that is nearly the perfect balance point. We lifted by vert off the frame with one engine host off of these pick points. Maybe they're called out in the service manual?  I will see what I can find.

That would be great - Thanks!

I can't lift it from the top with a hoist, need to do it from below.

George,
 One of the first body off restorations I did, I used a floor jack from underside and used a length of 2X6 to distribute  the lift point out as far as possible.

 Loren

[gs spoken here]

I prefer the levitation method.

[Polishmeatballpizza]

Can you guys identify the body mounting points?

There's three up front, one near that middle, and three more in the back? Seven on each side?

[Rollaround]

George,
I'll confess, I was some what intimidated having never removed a body from the frame before. However once I got stater it was easier than I thought it would be. Just take your time and be careful; your mechanical skills will get you through it.
Here’s the ‘A’ body frame to body mount locations. This one is a 66 Olds but yours will be similar.
Hope it helps.