C-3 Body Lift

[David W.]

Hello All,

Does anyone have experience using the body straps and lifting kit made to work with a engine hoist? I was looking at the straps sold by Ecklers and others and have read that this will work. But, I want to make sure before even thinking about proceeding. My preferred method would be to install a chain hoist above the car but that would cost more money and I have a new 3 ton engine hoist. By the way this is for a C-3 1980.
Thanks for any advice.

Regards, David

[Brandon T.]

Re: C-3 Body Lift

IMO the best way is to get a few of your friends together to do this. Years ago in the early 80's my dad did a body off on his 66 with nothing more than some friends to help set the body on and off. I think your risk level goes down using this method than with a lift, with a lift you can't feel the body in a bind and therefore you may crack it etc..

just my OP.

[Michael G.]

Re: C-3 Body Lift

David,

Have done it both ways. Yes you can get several individuals over to do the body lift, however using a lift like yours can can control the accent. Meaning, as you jack the body up you'll have the luxury of being able to see if all attachments are disconnected. Secondly, you can control the decent onto your body dolly, get it aligned and AVOID pinching any fingers. Again many have been done using "buddy power"....second option allows control over the process.

[Stephen L.]

Re: C-3 Body Lift

David,

You need some hook height to use the straps that an engine lift will not typically give you. I used a chain hoist and homemade spreader bars to minimize the headroom. The method of "lifting with your friends" is ok to get the body off. Putting the body back on requires some alignment etc. which may be a problem with someone holding the body up. Using a chain hoist allows you to lift slowly and reinstall very slowly... with the ability to check alignment preventing scratches etc. It also saves all the beer for yourself and a helper.
I made the lift straps as short as possible to minimize the headroom. The individual straps are available from Northern Tool or similiar for less money.

This thread discusses a lift with photos.
https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...69058&uid=3162

The body is fairly light (400-600#?)

I found that when reinstalling, to tilt the body rearward to make the rear bolt attachment first and then slowly setting the body onto the frame using the rearbolts as guides.

I made a dolly out of some 2X6's and casters.

Another neat idea posted by Chris Enstrom a few weeks ago was using camper jacks for lifting......

[David W.]

Re: C-3 Body Lift

Thanks guys,

Steven do you remember the title of the post by Chris using the camper jacks. Just trying to picture this in my mind, it seems like this might be a really good way to lift. Especially using the screw type where you could ease the body up.

Regards, David

[David W.]

Re: C-3 Body Lift

Sorry Stephen for the mis-spelling of your name.

Regards, David

[Stephen L.]

Re: C-3 Body Lift

Chris's Photo......

[Steve L.]

Re: C-3 Body Lift

I did a body lift with a engine hoist.
You need a long piece of steel running length wise so that you can wrap the sling around it to use up excessive length of the the sling. The Ecklers sling is way too long and you cannot get the height out of the engine hoist.

Also, you need to put the car on wheel castors, Once you get the body lifted, I don't think you want to move the engine hoist with the body hanging. With the wheel castors you can pull out the rolling chassis out from under the body.

Check the condition of your birdcage rocker channels and make sure they are not rusted to the point that they will collapse under the weight of the body.

I lifted like this with the seats doors and all glass in place.

[David W.]

Re: C-3 Body Lift

Steve,

Thanks. I am not sure I understand how to use the long piece of steel to take up the sling extra length. Would you mind explaining a little futher?

Thanks, David

[Bill M.]

Re: C-3 Body Lift

I just did my 66 convertible. I tried lifting with straps and engine hoist and could not get the height. Next I went from garage rafters ( 10 foot ) to strap with a 1 ton chain fall. Even this way i just cleared the engine.

[David W.]

Re: C-3 Body Lift

Thanks Bill,

I have the engine out and all suspension components have been removed. It is just pretty much the body sitting on a bare frame. The frame is sitting on RV jack stands which are about 20" off the ground. I believe I can use the straps and engine hoist to hold the body up then lower the frame. So far, that's my plan.

Regards, David

[Bill M.]

Re: C-3 Body Lift

Ah i see you are doing a chasis drop not a body lift!!! Why didn't i think of that?

[Steve L.]

Re: C-3 Body Lift

David,
I used a 2x2, 1/4 wall steel square section around 12 ft long. I put a hook on that about the middle so the hook was about where the windshield met the T bar. This is for balance front to back. The hook cannot use to much vertical distance since the engine hoist can only go to about 109" fully extended, if my memory serves be correct. The engine hoist beam needs to be fully extended. Make sure the the engine hoist beam is in good shape since there isn't too much safety margin left in the load capacity once the hoist beam is fully extended. I estimated my body including doors,glass, seats weighed around 800lbs

I then wrapped the 4 ends of the Ecklers sling around the beam to use up the sling slack. I didn't use the Ecklers sling hook at all.

This way the beam just clears the roof line. The front clip was also supported on the front part of the beam with another strap. The windows on the doors need to be down.

I also needed to get some extra height because I built Nolands body dolly with about and extra 1 or 2 feet added vertically so that I can get under the body easier. ( BTW, the Nolands body dolly for a C3 is a piece of crap...it's complicated to build, doesn't support the front clip and doesn't support the birdcage rocker channels properly. Plus, if you want to replace the rocker channels, they are impossible to get at. I had to do extensive modifications to the piece of junk design.)

Also, if its a convert., and no doors, you will want a brace in the door openings.

[David W.]

Re: C-3 Body Lift

Steve,

Thanks for all the great info! Do you have a plan for your body dolly? The extra room to get under the car would be great. My rocker channels and whole body in general are in great shape but there is a ton of grease and crap that I want to clean and the passenger footwell needs some repair. Looks like at some point the car was up on a big rock or curb and the floor pan has seperated where it is riveted to the firewall.

Regards, David

[Steve L.]

Re: C-3 Body Lift

David,
I spent a lot of time trying to figure out the angle of the straps, engine hoist height, etc. to figure out what the max height I could make the body dolly and still get the body on top of the body dolly using the engine hoist. Your engine hoist may be a different maximum height.

I'll measure the height of the body dolly tonight and let you know.

But again, Nolans body dolly is a poor design. Check out the other thread on this topic today.