Body weight

Domino

Domino

Senior Member
I need to mount a coupe body on the frame by myself. Any suggestions about how to do so? I thought about suspending it from the rafters of the garage with a come-along. It has the.nterior, windshield, doors and deck lid removed so should be a bit lighter then a full body. I wonder what the weight of the body body is? Thanks in advance.
 
In primer or finished? There are a lot of ways to do this a '35 Plymouth Coupe is the biggest I'm done alone. Two 4x4's a stack of concrete blocks and you should be able to getthe body on four stacks and then roll the chassis under it and start the removal of the blocks. Bob
 
Depending on how the rafters are made, you might get by with using a long 4 x 4 to span at least 4 rafters, then use a winch from the center of the 4 x 4.
 
Just remember if Trusses were use to build the roof structure they are designed to carry weight pulling down on them Floor trusses are a little different.
 
Hey Domino,
I put my A body on my frame myself. It wasn't hard to do , but took patience...something I had to work on:) for this job !
I put the body up sufficiently , a little at a time, on blocks and 2x4s. When high enough, I rolled the frame under the body and then worked the body back down in reverse of putting it up. Labor intensive, but worked slowly and it worked for me ! I'd have preferred to suspend it with a chain/pulley setup, but a guy has to work with what you have,eh ! I think that your body, as described, shouldn't weigh more than 300 lbs +/- few.
 
When your ready put a add on craiglist about a week ahead for help!! Pizza and beer will do wonders!! If I was closer I would gladly help!! Pete
 
I would help you if I was in Texas, well not more than three hours away, cause everything in Texas is at least three hours away. Right?

Seriously, ask the nearest club if a couple of members would help, refreshments provided.

Ted
 
Here are some pictures of how we put my huckster body on. I used a motor lift to lift the rear with a "hook" type thing I made out of angle iron and my neighbor's lifter for the front also using a homemade hook.
 

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I lifted my coupe body via the rafters, lifting point of the body was a 2x4 through the quarter window opening's. This provided a good center of gravity. Also as Tom Wesenberg mentioned 4x4 through the rafter's. The weight of the body is about 600 pounds ,but can be lightened up some.
 
I used an engine hoist or "Cherry Picker" and some straps around the bottom. Slicker than snot, but a little tricky trying to find a balance point.
 
Used 4 stacks of concrete blocks and landscaping timbers to support the body after jacking it off the frame with bottle jacks. Lowered it to small utility trailer to take to painter and then lifted again to proper height after painting onto the 4 stacks of blocks and landscape timbers with the bottle jacks and multiple wooden blocks. Lowered it back onto the frame again with the bottle jacks. Slow process, but worked and no scratches. Did install two long bolts at opposite corners of the body to get it centered on the frame. Did all the work myself.
 
If you have a cherry picker you can go through the door opening using chains & an engine balancer to pick it up & roll your frame under it. Been there before. Its a little harder to balance out a sedan though lol.
 
I have his shock kits on two cars but no a/c. Thinking about installing one but can't decide which car to put it in. Decisions, decisions, decisions.
 
It is easier if you remove the wheels and set the hubs on wheel dollies. You can maneuver the chassis anyway you need to get it aligned. Try setting the body on blocks or jack stands at the rear and suspend the front from one side with an engine hoist. This method works for a one man operation if you don't have help.
 
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