Starting a fram off restoration without a lift on 442

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tobyp

Royal Smart Person
Jun 12, 2011
1,708
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Cincinnati, Ohio
I bought a numbers matching 85 442 and will start the process of frame off restoration\

It has just enough rust in the wrong places to take the time and remove the body from the frame so the restoration can be correct. I have a question.

I do not have a lift in my garage. What have others used in their arsenal to seperate the body from the frame to be able to leave the body in the air?
 
There are several ways to remove the body from the frame, the easiest of which is obviously the use of a lift. Regardless of the method, take your time so you don't end up creating more work for yourself. Take as much weight out of the car before you start the removal i.e. doors, seats, etc.

You can use a cherry picker with a strap around the body raising it up just high enough to get your 4X4 between the body and the frame sitting on blocks or jack stands on either end. This works both front and rear.

You can use a floor jack and a 4X4 short enough to sit against the floor between the frame rails. This works better in the front than in the rear but on a two door you don't have the spare tire well to deal with so I would say it would work equally as well. Same deal, as you jack the body up, your goal is to gain four inches of clearance so you can stuff the 4X4 (actually 3.5X3.5) under the body held up by blocks or jack stands on either end.

From my perspective; Always do the most difficult end first. On a wagon that's the rear, I suspect its the same on a two door. Once you have it stable, the other end will be much easier. I have done several of these but have to confess, the last few have been with a lift.

Regardz, ...Scott
 
DO NOT REMOVE the doors you will twist and bend the body.

If you do remove the doors make sure you weld in bars in there place to keep the body straight.
 
Its not that hard
With a floor jack, a piston jack, and a good friend. You can do it in a couple of hours.
Just take your time, jack slowly and pay attention to what is going on.



Do not forget about the E- Brake cable.

Alot of people overlook it when lifting off the body.



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A small hose clamp will help you remove the cable easily

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Remove gas tank

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Here are the locations of the body bolts.

Heat them up good before you try to remove them.

You will still break some.

g-bodydrawing.jpg
 
the last frame off i did i used a chain fall and the beams in my barn and lifed one end at a time and supported it with a metal stands i made out of pipe and some old rims, worked well
 
TURNA said:
Its not that hard
With a floor jack, a piston jack, and a good friend. You can do it in a couple of hours.
Just take your time, jack slowly and pay attention to what is going on.



Do not forget about the E- Brake cable.

Alot of people overlook it when lifting off the body.



DSCF0169.jpg



A small hose clamp will help you remove the cable easily

DSCF0170.jpg



DSCF0171.jpg


Remove gas tank

DSCF0175.jpg


DSCF0176.jpg


DSCF0179-1.jpg


DSCF0178.jpg


DSCF0180-1.jpg


DSCF0181-2.jpg
Where did you get that portable garage?
 
pep boys

if u get one get the 2 inch pipe frame most have a 1 inch frame now

The legs come with feet that can be bolted down

So i bolted them to a 2x10x20 then took 50lb bags of rocks to weight down the 2x10's

I also called the manufacturer and got an another zipper door and put that on the back so that both ends could be opened.

lasted 4 years until we got hit with a bad hurricane.

had to run out and cut the canvas in the middle of it
 
TURNA said:
Here are the locations of the body bolts.

Heat them up good before you try to remove them.

You will still break some.

I must have been lucky! All of mine came out in one piece although a few were a little thin. I did the same thing with the 4x4's too.
 
Have a look at the link in my signature. It only took about an hour to lift the body and roll out the chassis using a engine hoist and a length of chain.
 
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