C1 Body Lift.

[Tyler T.]

I am about to do a body lift on my 55. I searched the arcives and found some good posts but I have a couple of questions. How long are the chaines you use when lifting using the radiator support and rear hatch attachment points? Any pictures would be greatly appreciated. Since one has to slide the steering colum out as the body is lifted is it easier to have the car on a small incline as you roll the car forward to clear the firewall?

Thanks.

Tyler

[Michael L.]

Re: C1 Body Lift.

Tyler, when I removed the body off my '55 I used straps under the drivers compartment, just two were needed, one under the dash area and one about where the gas filler is. I just threaded the strap under the body over the frame. The shims gave me room. Used a hoist to pull it up, had one person handle the steering column. I detached the box and pitman arm first. If I did it again, I'd use the same technique I used to put the body back on: 4 friends, 3 to lift with me, one to guide the column in place. So much easier and faster than a lift. The body is light with 4 people sharing the load. Putting the body back on took less than a minute.

[Dennis A.]

Re: C1 Body Lift.

Tyler...
Best to offer a few beers and use the buddy system... If you have everything disconnected, and have a dolly ready, time is about a minute or so.
If you do use the overhead hoist or cherry picker, run the chains or sling from the radiator support to the decklid hinges. The two chains should criss cross where the hoist hook can be placed in the middle where they cross. Trick to this method is adjusting the balance.
Be sure and record the number of shims at each location, knowing some may stick to the body during the lift..... Have a good time

[Gary C.]

Re: C1 Body Lift.

Tyler, I've used this process twice now with good success. Disconnect the sterring box completely from the frame. Cover the steering box with carboard or something to keep it from banging into the inner fenders. Slide the column upwards and tie off the steering box to keep it from moving. Get underneat the body on all fours and bow your back to push it up. Then put wood blocks underneath it to keep the body clear of the frame. This allows you to mark and record where the all of the pads and shims are before you take the body completely off incase some stuck to the underbottom of the car. Then I sat the body on 5 gallon buckets. If you have a 2 post lift you can then swing the arms of the lift under the body. Put 2 2x6 under the body as close to the rocker panels as you can get and put the 2 post lift points under the 2x6's. Then raise the lift gently. If you don't have a lift, then 4 buddies will do the trick. Four to lift and one to direct and guide. Good luck, Gary....

[Larry P.]

Re: C1 Body Lift.

I didn't remove the body because it was off when I bought it. I dropped the body by myself with 4 heavy duty ratchet straps. I used the radiator support and the trunk hinges. You can go slow and check things as you go. I had most of the weight off the body. Honest, I do have friends but whoever did lift the body off had a friend that grabbed a handfull of fiberglass rather then a reinforced part of the body. I had to have the handfull and the body rejoined.
Plenty off time to deal with the steering column and anything else that you need to deal with. This method worked well for me.
Larry

[Bob B.]

Re: C1 Body Lift.

Tyler,

I attached chains connected to Grade 8 bolts through the holes in the bracket for the convertible top. That carried most of the weight. I used an engine lift to lift the body off. It was off-balance in the front, so someone held the front up while I rolled the body over to the dolly. You'll be very proud once you've got the body on the dolly.

Good luck!

Bob