38-39 1/2 ton pickup cab lifting
- Thread starter decling
- Start date
Karl Wescott
Well-known member
If you can, pop the door hinge pins or unbolt the doors, it will make life easier.
Take the steering wheel off, or better yet remove the steering gear from the chassis, Its an awkward three foot lift to get above the column and a bit of a "thread the needle" if the steering wheel is there. Consider removing the shifter handle also.
If the lifting is with a hoist/forklift etc use straps, not chains... and NOT THROUGH THE DOOR WINDOW OPENINGS. If lifting with people power acquire two 8 foot long 4x4's. Lift the cab enough to be able to lash one to the front of the cab and the other to the rear of the cab crosswise. These make nice handles to lift with that is outside of the tires. Four reasonably strong people should be able to do it, though you might want to have some peanuts and popcorn available to sell to spectators.
Take the steering wheel off, or better yet remove the steering gear from the chassis, Its an awkward three foot lift to get above the column and a bit of a "thread the needle" if the steering wheel is there. Consider removing the shifter handle also.
If the lifting is with a hoist/forklift etc use straps, not chains... and NOT THROUGH THE DOOR WINDOW OPENINGS. If lifting with people power acquire two 8 foot long 4x4's. Lift the cab enough to be able to lash one to the front of the cab and the other to the rear of the cab crosswise. These make nice handles to lift with that is outside of the tires. Four reasonably strong people should be able to do it, though you might want to have some peanuts and popcorn available to sell to spectators.
oldandtired
Well-known member
decling...When I removed mine, I had already taken the bed off, which made the job a whole lot easier. To minimize the vertical height I had to lift the cab to clear I removed the steering column and shifter as recommended by Karl. We lifted the cab straight up, placed the lift boards on sawhorses which put the cab around 30 inches or so off the ground, and rolled the chassis out from under the cab. Don't ask me how I know but be sure you have disconnected everything before trying to move the cab vertically or move the chassis out from under it. There is wiring, throttle linkage, emergency brake, fuel line, speedometer cable, and other things I am likely forgetting. I did not take off the doors. Before I took off the cab, the toeboard had been removed to take out the steering column, the steering column was out, the floorboard was out, I removed the rear glass, I removed the windshield, and I removed the seat. I also made a dolly to put the cab on so I could move it around.
V8COOPMAN
Well-known member
What is the best way to lift the cab off the frame? Doors on or off? How many neighbors do I need to buy beer for?
TIA
Couple of 2 X 4s cobbled together....don't get any easier! DD
Wow! That looks great. That does look easy. Thanks!!!
Couple of 2 X 4s cobbled together....don't get any easier! DD
GaryU.
Well-known member
Another approach on my driveway. When I did this on my '39 pickup all the parts were off, bed, fenders,running boards, hood,engine and transmission etc. Doors and all interior cab parts were off as well. By myself I rolled the cab backwards onto scrap carpet on the frame being inside the cab to do the roll. Steering wheel and column etc. still in place, couldn't believe it worked! Next, had some saw horses on either side and with long planks and my neighbor lifted the cab up enough to clear the frame which I rolled into the garage. While the cab was still on it's back I installed 4x4 and 2x4 cut to fit with casters where the cab mount holes are and with my neighbor picked the cab up and rolled it into the garage, it was amazing how light the cab is without parts on. Was very careful with all movements and after years of work "Ol Bessie" is back on the road.
V8COOPMAN
Well-known member
What is the best way to lift the cab off the frame? Doors on or off? How many neighbors do I need to buy beer for?
TIA
decling ......This is one more picture that I could not find when I originally posted the others. These engine hoists/cherry pickers have made hobbyists lives much easier to manage, WITHOUT having to beg the neighbors for favors. DD
