1967 Body Lift for Chassis & Frame Restoration

[John H.]

Re: 1967 Body Lift for Chassis & Frame Restoration

'63-'65 had the rearmost frame VIN directly above the rear shock upper mount bracket, and for '66-'67 it moved to directly above the forward edge of the #4 body mount frame bracket. For all '63-'67 the forward frame VIN was about 12" forward of the kickup, about where your wallet would be when seated in the car.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1967 Body Lift for Chassis & Frame Restoration

That Eastwood Internal Chassis coating is what I used on my split window that you worked on Rich. I'm a big fan and I used 6 cans on my car....I soaked every conceivable nook and cranny with double coverage. It converts and encapsulates rust and provides a nice protective coating. I'm gonna do my '61 this spring as well.

One trick is to put some blue painter's tape on the hose about 4" or so on from the nozzle end. So -- when you pull the hose extension out of the frame you have a "flag" to know to get off the button on the can and you can avoid spraying yourself in the face.

Ask me how I know!!

Yes I remember we talked about that when you were here Frank, and when I had your car on the lift I could see the inner coverage you got with it. Nice product. I'd like to coat the birdcage sills with it as well. They're very nice on this car and zero rust, except a bit where the mounts touched.

Rich,

Great thread and keep the pics coming as you move along in the resto. Is it originally a black car and is it an L71?

Dave

Dave, There will be many photos as I progress. I have about 200 already and not even started into the meat of the task yet. The trim tag data shows it to be all black. Yes it is a L71. It also has F41 suspension with the right pieces......0.9375" front sway bar, 7 leaf rear spring, etc. Factory St Louis built with sidepipes with the original notches in the horizontal birdcage sills, etc. Even power windows.

'63-'65 had the rearmost frame VIN directly above the rear shock upper mount bracket, and for '66-'67 it moved to directly above the forward edge of the #4 body mount frame bracket. For all '63-'67 the forward frame VIN was about 12" forward of the kickup, about where your wallet would be when seated in the car.

Thanks for clarifying this John. On the last 2 '65's I helped with, owned by a friend, I recalled the vin stamps at that rear shock upper area on each, and at the area forward of the kickup.

That photo I posted above....
P1010001.jpg

showed that forward area where I recalled it was, and I looked closely but the pitting on top of the frame made it hard to find. After media-blasting some of it may show up.

----

Today I spent some time modifying my C1 body dolly for use on this one. I made some wooden supports to hold it by the sills. I'll post some photos of that work when I'm done with the mods.

Rich

[Richard M.]

Re: 1967 Body Lift for Chassis & Frame Restoration

Here's the dolly and the mods. All I did at the suggestion of a friend is make 2 support beams and tie to the existing C1 center supports. This is a side exhaust car so nothing in the way under the sills. I can cut notches in the beams for a undercar exhaust if needed next time.

I also made supports for the nose. Those attach to the radiator support sides using stock mounts in the skirts, and are height adjustable via the threaded rods, which also work for my C1 bodiy off needs. I snugged them up a tad to get the weight off the nose and from hanging unsupported.

The doors open and close with ease on this dolly.

Rich

Mods done. Ready for lowering.
P1070040.jpgP1070041.jpg

Fits fine. Up on the lift for now.
P1070044.jpg

Front supports.
P1070045.jpgP1070047.jpg

Adjustable front struts.
P1070049.jpg

Beams notched for #3 mount bump-outs in the birdcage sills.
P1070051.jpgP1070052.jpg


P1070058.jpg

[William H.]

Re: 1967 Body Lift for Chassis & Frame Restoration

Rich. Great photos and thanks for the education. Did you remove the seats or not necessary because the way you have the body supported? Thanks. Bill

[Richard M.]

Re: 1967 Body Lift for Chassis & Frame Restoration

Rich. Great photos and thanks for the education. Did you remove the seats or not necessary because the way you have the body supported? Thanks. Bill

Thanks Bill.

I was thinking of removing the seats to lighten the load, and because I need to remove them anyways to replace undercar reinforcements.......but I did not remove them for the body lift. I will do that later for the undercar work.

I will support the rear of the body before I prepare to change the decklid springs and #4 mount hardware and reinforcements to change the captive caged square nuts. I'll be inside the car in the rear compartment.

Rich

[Gene M.]

Re: 1967 Body Lift for Chassis & Frame Restoration

Rich
Thanks for sharing. Looks like you are doing a very profession job. The car is a very good starting point especially being from north east. I've had far lesser quality to start out with go thru my garage over the years. My body cradle is similar but lower to the ground so my short legs can reach the coupe's roof. I attach at the mounts at both ends of the bird cage (4 - 8" high round tube off base caped off with 7/16 internal welded nuts) and use adjustment rods to rear and core support mounts. Pipes or not fits. It accepts c2 and c3 body.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1967 Body Lift for Chassis & Frame Restoration

Today I managed to get the tank drained and the fuel line removed. I also uncovered a little tidbit of curled paper from the Tank Sticker, which helps confirm at least one option when St Louis built it.

First, the Sticker......Hmmm, "DUAL" . Anyone? (note smirkface)
P1020030.jpgP1020036.jpgP1110017.jpgP1110018.jpgP1110019.jpg

Here's somewhat of a sequence of the fuel line removal. Bend the end back straight using a tubing bender or pipe, then out front it comes. Notice the heavy scale on the line where it was hidden inside the frame.....nasty.
P1120021.jpgP1120022.jpgP1120023.jpgp1120024.jpgP1120025.jpg
p1120026.jpgP1120027.jpgP1120028.jpgP1120029.jpgP1120030.jpg
P1120031.jpgP1120032.jpgP1120033.jpgP1120035.jpgP1120036.jpg
P1120038.jpgP1120040.jpgP1120045.jpgP1120046.jpgP1120048.jpg
P1120049.jpg

More fun to come...
Rich

[Edward J.]

Re: 1967 Body Lift for Chassis & Frame Restoration

Rich, side dual exhaust??

[Richard M.]

Re: 1967 Body Lift for Chassis & Frame Restoration



Yes that's what I think it is also. I researched this morning and found this photo from a archived thread.

TankStickerExample_mod4x.jpg

[Edward J.]

Re: 1967 Body Lift for Chassis & Frame Restoration

Rich, about 8 years ago I restored my 72 and had a similar situation with the tank sticker, and thought It would never be found, Until one day while restoring the frame I took a air blow gun and starting blowing out the debris in the frame and I noted that a small piece of paper flew out one of the holes of the frame, I went to look at it and it ended up I could see some writing on it, as you guessed it was a bit of the tank sticker, So I stopped at that point and the next day I brought my video scope home from the shop and took a look inside the frame and noted that there was a mouse nest in the internals of the frame, I Then took my mechanical fingers and started removing the pieces and by the time I finished I many pieces in a baggie, and put them aside for a winter project of piecing them all together. I was pleased that I had about 3/4 of the sheet when finished. and a lot of info was confirming this car. and the dealer number, zone number. neat piece of history, Later when the shipping doc.s came out I tried to get the one for my 72 and it ends up the micro fiche was unreadable for my car.

Don't give up for the owner just in case it is the scenario.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1967 Body Lift for Chassis & Frame Restoration

Wow what a great story Edward. First thing in the morning I'll get my inspection probe camera in there too. Now that I think of it there a pile of debris in the right hinge pillar drain. I'll check there too.

Rich

[Richard M.]

Re: 1967 Body Lift for Chassis & Frame Restoration

Well, I couldn't see anything inside the frame.

Next up was engine removal. Straightforward extraction with no problems. Just need to swing the assembly a bit towards to driver's side for the fuel pump to clear. When I took the driveshaft out one u-joint had a bind going on. They look new. Both will be replaced. Parts are piling up to be restored or refinished.
P1140050.jpg P1140051.jpg P1140053.jpg P1140054.jpg

P1140055.jpg P1140061.jpg P1140062.jpg P1140063.jpg

P1140064.jpg P1140067.jpg P1140071.jpg

Looks like rear main leaking along with front intake seal. Reason for that is a helicoil in the head that will need some attention. The intake bolt there was a bit mushy when I put a wrench on it. I didn't like seeing it there hanging down like that either. Wouldn't be very pretty falling down into something moving around.
P1090009.jpgP1090011.jpgP1090012.jpg


Frame is now ready for complete disassembly.

---

[Richard M.]

Re: 1967 Body Lift for Chassis & Frame Restoration

Frame work began yesterday. I had to swap out the body/dolly assembly with the rolling frame to get it on the lift for disassembly.

Body all covered up after I reinstalled the hood and rear valence. Best if they're back on the car for now to keep out of harms way.

BTW, The remove/install a hood, when the grille and bumpers are removed it's a one-man job. Lay towels around the surround hood gutters and front surround. Grab the hood with hands on both sides, lift it and lay it in the hole. Reach in from the grille area and attach the inner bolt on each hinge and snug up tight after some gap alignment checks. Push the hinge rearward before tightening to keep the hood from moving forward when raised. Slowly, while checking corners, raise the hood, adjust from underneath if needed, when set attach the other 4 hinge bolts, then attach the hood support.

Here I started removing the front suspension. Someone was in there before and replaced and cleaned up the spindles and knuckles. Both front wheels had too much play on a safety test when I got the car here. The wheel bearings were not set properly.

P1150001.jpg P1150002.jpg P1150005.jpg

edit....These are not original hubs and rotors as I first thought. See later post.
P1150006.jpg P1150007.jpg P1150010.jpg

P1150011.jpg P1150013.jpg P1150018.jpg P1150019.jpg

Note the rotors are still riveted to the hub. A spring compressor was used to remove the tension for parts removal.

I didn't bother to check rotor runout as I will be either getting the assemblies cleaned up on a brake lathe if enough material present, or replace with new rotors. I would prefer to stay with original rotors if possible. If not, the rivets will be drilled out and new rotors will be used. If that occurs, the hub and rotor assembly will be orientation marked and checked for runout. If I can't get runout spec on 1 of 5 orientations(rotate rotor around each lug stud and check runout each time), then those brand new rotors may need turning. Even with upgraded o-ring piston calipers, I feel that minimal runout spec is the best for longevity of the brake system.

After the front end is completely separated I'll get to the rear end for that task.

However, when I removed the rear wheels I noticed something. I know there's a wives tale regarding rear hubs and if the Sp Hi Perf cars had these "features" or not. We've talked about it a lot. For the record, these trailing arms and hubs appear to be original to the car, however, obviously the rotors have been removed as the rivets are gone. Since this car is 48 years old now and no lifetime service records are available, it's ALL speculative.

Here is what I see on both sides. These are the features in question.......the infamous cast "O"'s allegedly only on the Sp Hi Perf BB car hubs. Never documented, never shown as a unique hub in the Parts Books. Maybe hearsay, but here they are.

Left
P1150024.jpg P1150027.jpg

Right
p1150028.jpg P1150030.jpg

----
Rich

[Mike E.]

Re: 1967 Body Lift for Chassis & Frame Restoration

Rich,
You might have already realized it but I don't think those front hubs and spindles are original style to a 1967. They look like the larger '69-82 parts. '63-68 hubs are more tapered. Note my dust cap is a repo which is not really the correct shape either. Great pictures and threads I took similar pictures when separated the body from the chassis, I never posted all the pictures in one thread keep up the good work.




Mike

[Richard M.]

Re: 1967 Body Lift for Chassis & Frame Restoration

Good catch Mike, thanks for noticing that. I didn't realize it in the thick of parts removal.

I have to see the right side for comparison also. So they were likely service replacements?

I recall the slope in the hub now that I saw your photo. These are from another '67 I had here a few years ago.

PC110034.jpgPC110035.jpgPC120001.jpg

Notice the reliefs for race removal, different on these 2 hubs. One has 4, the other has 2. Not sure if original or not, or service replacements.
PC120002.jpgPC120003.jpgPC120004.jpgPC120005.jpg
PC120006.jpgPC120007.jpgPC120008.jpgPC120009.jpg

PC170009.jpgPC170011.jpg

Thanks,
Rich
p.s. We only had a 4 photo limit up until a few months ago when John Wagoneer raised the limit. Without that it would be impossible to do a thread like this. I keep saying it but Kudos to John and the IT guys here for making it a great place to share.