Body dolly with adjustable height?

[Dick G.]

Has anyone built or observed a body dolly that you can raise or lower the body once mounted? I have some ideas. Anyone?
Thanks
DG

[Steve L.]

Re: Body dolly with adjustable height?

I had to modify Nolands body dolly so that I could raise the body and additional foot so that I could swap out my rocker channels on the birdcage.

Initially, I build Nolands body dolly taller than his drawings so that I could get under it to replace the various reinforcements.

See posts in the last few wks on body dollies.

Why do you want to adjust the height?

[Brooks G.]

Re: Body dolly with adjustable height?

Dick, I would love to see your plans to build an adjustable height body dolly. I wrote a post a few weeks ago about my problems with the Noland Adams designed body dolly. I built mine 6" taller in order for me to be able to get under the body for cleaning and repair. The taller part worked out but the Noland Adams design doesn't fit the C-1 body as it should in addition to not supporting the rear of the body at all. I hope you are not basing your design on his. The only thing I can say is that it is a lot less expensive than a rotary dolly. Of course the low quality of something stays with you a whole lot longer than the low price you pay. Brooks Glover (2141)

[Dave C.]

Re: Body dolly with adjustable height?

c2/c3 Aluminum Body Dolly Revisted - I posted the design I made for adjustable height and it tips the car on the side to work on the bottom. I am currently doing a 1965 on it. It is made out of aluminum - might be overkill for a single car.

[Mike G.]

Re: Body dolly with adjustable height?

This is pretty basic but it was cheap and worked very well. Shown are the short legs used during body finishing. Initially, it had a "tall" set of legs bolted on, which allowed "easy" access to the underbody for grundge removal and other fun stuff. You can't see it, but the birdcage rails are resting on some raised 2x4's nailed to the side members. Found this design in an old Restorer article and liked its simplicity.

An improved version of this would borrow from Noland's concept, by narrowing the width from the firewall forward. This front "box" would be core support width. The advantage is easier access to the fenderwell areas.

Diagonal bracing is via EMT electrical conduit. Cut it to length, flatten the ends, drill and screw on. Cheap, light and really rigid.

Total cost including the casters (2 fixed, 2 swivel) was around $120.

[Paul J.]

Re: Body dolly with adjustable height?

Has anyone built or observed a body dolly that you can raise or lower the body once mounted? I have some ideas. Anyone?
Thanks
DG

Dick, I've thought about this a lot. I finally realized that the modifications that I was thinking about doing to my dolly sketches to temporarily raise it are over-engineered solutions to a simple problem.

Just put the dolly up on blocks or cross braces when you need to get under it.

Paul

[Stephen L.]

Re: Body dolly with adjustable height?

The body as shown isn't very heavy so just put the dolly and body up on some of those "milk crates" available at Wal-Mart. They stack nicely......

[Patrick T.]

Re: Body dolly with adjustable height?

Here is the rig I built 18 years ago for my '57 basket project. Very crude but way back then I had never even heard of a body dolly or the NCRS. PT

[Rich P.]

Re: Body dolly with adjustable height?

Unistrut, spring nuts, 3/4" threaded rod, 3/4" pipe steel plates and a welder. You can mount anything and adjust the height.

Rich

[Dick G.]

Re: Body dolly with adjustable height?

The overall height raising ability can only double your body dolly uprights. I also thought, when I need to have better access under car, simply raise dolly up with hydraulic jacks and set dolly up on jackstands. Thanks DG