Lifting the body off the frame
 

Ok this may or may not be a dumb question but I need a knowledgeable answer so I am here... I have a 69 Lemans and at the moment it is just a shell (with solid floors) on the frame and I am wondering if I use my cherry picker through the door opening and attach it to the seat belt holes in the floor to lift the shell am I going to damage the body ? I want to get it off the frame and onto my rotisserie but I don't have access to a forklift or anything like that so this was something I thought might work but, I'm terrified I may damage something in the process.

66-67 Chevelle. From Team Chevelle
https://www.chevelles.com


https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...8&d=1734626896

I’ve used an engine hoist to lift the body off the frame on a few cars. I used a chain between the front belt bolts and one between the rear. I connected them both with a chain between the two so I could balance the front/rear of the car. Works great.

I used my cherry picker style engine hoist to lift the body off the frame but with the boom over the roof ... the boom just cleared the roof enough to lift it off the frame and roll the frame out from under it. Big straps went under the body at firewall and rear wheel openings.

The seat belt mounts seem a better choice.

I did mine just like OG68 has pictured.

OG68 that is exactly what I had in mind!!
Thank You for some reassurance that it will work and I'm not just being stupid.

tstroud thanks for the input I was actually fairly concerned that I was going to mess up for real but knowing others have done it with good results I will definitely keep on this path.

Dataway I was considering that route to start with but my ceilings aren't tall enough to allow it and during one of my "brain-storms" I thought the seat belt mounts might work

TinIndian68 I appreciate the feedback with the verification that this will work I have been stalled for a while trying to figure out how I was going to do this and you guys have helped cement a path for me .

If for some reason this doesn't work for you- another way that works (I did it earlier this year) is with 2x floor jacks, 4x jack stands and 2x bed frame rails (L shaped metal) I lifted my car up and them suspended it with the jack stands underneath the outer rocker panels using the bed frame rails between them and the rockers, then used the floor jacks to lower the chassis.

Thanks Tuske427 I will add that to my notebook as I definitely need to have a back up plan before I dive into this adventure