Front end removal necessary for frame off?

[autonaut]

Im about ready to lift the body off the frame on my 79 malibu coupe using a 2 post lift

Im wondering if i can leave the front end intact or if i need to remove it. ie Fenders, hood, lights and radiator support etc. Im working alone so it would be alot easier for me to be able to not having to remove the hood for instance.

Whats your take on this?

 

[Opie Knievel]

The fenders bolt to the body. I'm pretty sure you'll have to remove the front end to lift the body.

 

[axisg]

x2. Its a PIA but needs to be done

 

[V8 Rumble]

From experience, yes you will have to. Get tons of zip lock bags and a sharpie to keep everything in order.

 

[pontiacgp]

take pictures of the bolts and shims before you remove them

 

[pontiacgp]

another thing, if your doing a frame off are you not changing the body bushings?. There are two where your rad support is attached to the frame.

 

[autonaut]

Great advice

Yes i will be changing all bushings. Including those between the body and frame(poly) and every possible suspension one as well(mix of rubber and poly)

I gather there is no way arpund it. I have to renove the entire front end as well. Will have to get creative with the hood or call in backup(my wife)

Many thanks to you guys.

 

[autonaut]

Since tve last photo the entire steering and suspension has been removed as well as the inner fenders. But this is my new toy bought 3 weeks ago in completely original condition. Im the third owner!

 

[ssn696]

I wonder if you can lift the body off using a car lift, while leaving the front clip attached? Put the fender wells back on the reinforce the fenders? Maybe take off the hood to reduce the weight on the six fender bolts? Disconnect the master cylinder, steering and shift linkage, parking brake cable, speedometer cable, remove the radiator and bumpers, drop the gas tank, disconnect the brake pressure switch wire and body grounds, then the 10 or so body bolts. While you are under there, replace any damaged body bolt nuts and rotten sheet metal. Once the chassis is out, strip, derust and paint it, replace all the brake a fuel lines, then re-mate the body and frame. This ties up a lift for a while. Which is why I want one in my garage...

 

[ck80]

I wonder if you can lift the body off using a car lift, while leaving the front clip attached? Put the fender wells back on the reinforce the fenders? Maybe take off the hood to reduce the weight on the six fender bolts? Disconnect the steering and shift linkage, parking brake cable, speedometer cable, remove the radiator and bumpers, drop the gas tank, disconnect the brake pressure switch wire and body grounds, then the 10 or so body bolts. While you are under there, replace any damaged body bolt nuts and rotten sheet metal. Once the chassis is out, strip, derust and paint it, replace all the brake a fuel lines, then re-mate the body and frame. This ties up a lift for a while. Which is why I want one in my garage...

Unfortunately, in order to do this my opinion would be you need to lift the body slightly (jack and blocks or hoist and blocks, etc) then place a support, something like a 4x6 beam that runs from the radiator suport back to the body mount locations so when the lift pushes the body up the core support is being supported.

From cutting cars apart, and seeing what is inside or near those mount points, I'd be concerned with weight and fatigue having negative effects with as long as that front clip would dangle in the air while the frame and underbody were worked on. The mount points weren't designed for that kind of weight and stress in that direction. Not worth the risk in my opinion, at least unless you support some of the weight off the front.