Body Removal

[84dragcutlass]

Can anyone give me any ways to get the body off my cutlass? Have it unbolted just dont know how to get it up in the air or keep it there to get the frame out from under it. Any hints or methods would be appreciated

 

[madmaxstyle]

I have pondered doing this and I would think the best thing would be to lift it slowly with jack stands (or the wood equivalently until the frame is able to roll out from under it.

 

[joe_padavano]

I have pondered doing this and I would think the best thing would be to lift it slowly with jack stands (or the wood equivalently until the frame is able to roll out from under it.

Most folks use a floor jack to get the body high enough to run 4x4s through between the rocker panels and the frame. At that point, jack up on the 4x4s and support them with heavy duty sawhorses or cribbing until the body is high enough to roll the chassis out from under it.

 

[pontiacgp]

and take the wheels off and set it down on wheel dollys..

 

[84dragcutlass]

Yeah thats what i was noticing, id have to lift the body about 2 foot to get the wheels to clear so i guess the wheels will go. I might use spare donut tires since i dont have any wheel carts. Ive got the steering unhooked and e brake and brake lines. idk if thats all i need to unhook or not

 

[joe_padavano]

Yeah thats what i was noticing, id have to lift the body about 2 foot to get the wheels to clear so i guess the wheels will go. I might use spare donut tires since i dont have any wheel carts. Ive got the steering unhooked and e brake and brake lines. idk if thats all i need to unhook or not

I would suggest that lifting the body two feet with a floor jack and blocks of wood is a LOT easier than trying to move the chassis without wheels...

 

[gpguy]

I hung mine on chain from cieling then lowered the frame

 

[84dragcutlass]

that would work. Gotta make sure ur ceiling is strong enough though

 

[Silent viewer]

i did mine with a striped shell, lifted up the back end and had my buddy slide 2x6s under, same for the front and then lifted it up and stuck concrete blocks under it then rolled it out. mine was striped bare though

 

[Bonnewagon]

Ooops, I misunderstood. I was going to suggest some guys in Brooklyn to remove and dispose of the body for you....Anyway have you ever seen a stop sign post? It is 1/8" steel and shaped like a "W"? When I see a stop sign knocked down I grab it and remove the pole. I use two of them to get my boat off the trailer. I jack the boat clear of the bunks and slip the stop sign poles under the boat and rest them on two foot long 1' X 1' blocks of wood. Then I just jack the poles up and add more wood blocks until it's clear of the trailer. Then I just roll it out from under the boat so I can paint the bottom. This is an 18 footer that just came out of the water, minus the barnacles, the only thing uglier would be the old lady at 6AM. A stripped car body must weigh about the same so it should be doable. Here's a pic of the stop sign posts and 1x1's. It's very strong and I can work inside while it's up there too, or lower it with jacks if need be.