[tharkun8]

hey all,

Im close to the point of removing the body of
my 66 Ventura from the frame. I searched the
forums and read a bunch of posts about diff methods.

The one I was planning on doing was the engine hoist
into the cabin connected to the front and rear
seat belt mounts using graded bolts then lifting and sitting the
body on 4x4s on cinder blocks while i get the frame
stripped , blasted and powdercoated. Then install
all the new gas and brake lines and new suspension
parts before remounting the body to take to my body guy
for the 1/4 replacement.

Will the seatbelt mount method be sufficient ? the
body will be pretty much stripped to the bone so I dont
think the weight would really be a problem...

Feedback ?

Thanks .. Ill be posting an update to my resto thread soon
with pics

John

[63gpman]

That is my plan. I hope to do that in a month or so. Thought I would have been there by now. Who knows exactly when i get there.

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=294130

[65WJ]

I did that method for my GTO convertible. Top down made it real easy.
For my 2+2 I bought an Auto Twirler. Put one lift on each side raised up, rolled chassis out then supported body, return lifts to front and back Secure with bolts.

patrick

[tharkun8]

Originally Posted by 65WJ

I did that method for my GTO convertible. Top down made it real easy.
For my 2+2 I bought an Auto Twirler. Put one lift on each side raised up, rolled chassis out then supported body, return lifts to front and back Secure with bolts.

patrick

Thanks Patrick

My problem is I'm working out of my garage and dont have room to
get a hoist or lift in front of the car to do an end to end lift.

Id heard about the single lift method using the seat belt mounts. Frankly
upon hearing that the first time I thought they were joking. I really never
thought that that would support the body weight without ripping out.
Turns out it is a serious method. My Ventura has real solid floor pans
and body shell so thats why i am planning on using that method.

Thanks
John

[indymanjoe]

Just do not use cinder blocks,my buddys car came down almost on top of him.we used 4x6x8 so the jack stands would be centered and secure on the 6 side.

[Ragtop Man]

I like the sequence you outlined -- be sure to take lots of pictures! I will be doing something similiar if I can get off my @$$.

[65WJ]

Originally Posted by 63gpman

That is my plan. I hope to do that in a month or so. Thought I would have been there by now. Who knows exactly when i get there.

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=294130

when I did my GTO this way I used the engine level. So it connect points for chains front and back.
I remember I was off and the back weighed a bit more than the front. So I just used the level. big car may be a tad heavy in the rear. Go slow have a friend you should be fine.

If upon removing the body bolts and they break. just cut a small relief hole where the broken bolt is, remove and weld in new castle nut.

patrick

[joeg]

When I restored my GTO's and Corvette I built a balancing bar, it is adjustable in the x and y axis to fit any car. The idea was to put minimal stress on the body as it will lift it straight up.. I attached it to the lock striker holes and the the hood mounting holes on the cowl. I could adjust it to get the center of gravity so the body was perfectly balanced, a one man operation.
Please forgive me for the Vette pictures.

[tharkun8]

Originally Posted by Ragtop Man

I like the sequence you outlined -- be sure to take lots of pictures! I will be doing something similiar if I can get off my @$$.

Thanks all for your responses..

I will be taking pics of the process..

Yeah.. i dont own a hoist but i did buy an engine
leveler.. so I was planning on using that for the lift.
I havent checked yet to see if the chains reach the mounts
but I will prob tomorrow.

I already have a resto thread for the whole project
in this forum.. I havent updated in a while but I will
soon. All the doors are coming off next.. then
the headliner and windshield.. then the steering column,
dash and the remaining firewall stuff...
( brake booster, wiper motor etc.)

I was planning on doing some work and getting pics last
weekend but I ripped my back up pretty good and was down
most of the week. (building a new fence facing the street
with a 13 1/2 foot gate.)

John

[64catdroptop]

You will come to find out that the "bare-bones" body doesn't weigh that much. If you have just a shell - maybe 4-500lbs (a 16 penny nail will support 500lbs as an example). You need to keep in mind that you need to lift it high enough to have the rear wheels clear the body as you roll the frame out from underneath it. So remember that lifting it is easy - making sure you have clearance on both sides of the car to clear the frame out is another story - just something to keep in mind.

On a hard top, the door openings aren't an issue, on a convertible, I'll run some angle iron from the top door mount post nuts to the door lock pillar nuts to keep the convertible body form buckling.

I have a couple of 2x10's (making a 4x10) stretched across the trusses in my shop (spans 5 trusses) - a chain hoist attached to an eye-bolt that goes through the 2x10's. For a hard top - I'll strap ratchet tie-downs to the A and C pillars and then lift.

To mount the body back on the frame - cut yourself some all-thread about 8" long and insert into the body mount nuts to use the all-thread as guide pins as you lower the body back down - then just unscrew the all-thread and insert the body bolts and torque them down.

Easy-peasy-japaneesie.....

[tharkun8]

Originally Posted by 64catdroptop

On a hard top, the door openings aren't an issue, on a convertible, I'll run some angle iron from the top door mount post nuts to the door lock pillar nuts to keep the convertible body form buckling.

Thanks.. actually that's the whole reason I'm doing this Ventura..

My 64 convertible is what REALLY needs the frame off resto..
but the thought of taking that monster off of the frame for my
rookie job gave me the willies.

I looked around for another project and Josh (Fat Cat 2+2) was
selling this Ventura for a great deal. Seemed like a good
'get my feet wet' project .. only problem is it will never be worth
what Im putting into it.

My solution is just to make it my daily driver when Im done.
After 20 years with no car payment maybe Ill have broken even.. lol
It lasted 40 years to begin with.. if I do it right it should last
another 40..lol.. Then Ill have the Ventura for everyday and the
Bonneville for those awesome mountain cruises..

Once this Ventura is all done then the Bonneville resto will start
right after that..


John