The Ford Barn

Domino · 08-05-2014, 07:15 AM

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.

Roadster62 · 08-05-2014, 07:54 AM

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

whirnot · 08-05-2014, 08:21 AM

I would be careful about suspending it from the rafters, might have a cave in.

Tom Wesenberg · 08-05-2014, 09:10 AM

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.

Marvin/TN · 08-05-2014, 11:21 AM

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.

hardtimes · 08-05-2014, 12:22 PM

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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.

prpmmp · 08-05-2014, 03:55 PM

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

Ted Duke · 08-05-2014, 07:27 PM

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

tbirdtbird · 08-05-2014, 07:56 PM

good point Where in TX

bart78 · 08-05-2014, 08:29 PM

Where are you in Texas?

Fred K-OR · 08-05-2014, 09:39 PM

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.

Drive Shaft Dave · 08-05-2014, 10:23 PM

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.

Domino · 08-06-2014, 11:33 AM

Kingsville, Tx. 37 mils south of corpus christi mon the coast.

tbirdtbird · 08-06-2014, 11:48 AM

wow. hope you have a Ken Davis AC setup

Farrell In Vancouver · 08-06-2014, 12:28 PM

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.

Domino · 08-06-2014, 01:57 PM

Kingsville. TX. 37 miles southof Corpus.

jrelliott · 08-06-2014, 05:37 PM

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.

Bruskie · 08-06-2014, 07:42 PM

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.

Domino · 08-07-2014, 09:37 AM

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.

desotoguy · 08-07-2014, 03:45 PM

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.

08-05-2014, 07:15 AM	#1
Domino Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 412	Body weight 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.

08-05-2014, 07:54 AM	#2
Roadster62 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ridgefield, Ct Posts: 3,441	Re: Body weight 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 __________________ They don't have to run to be enjoyed. I'm here to enjoy the hobby, and enjoy the cars no matter what they look like. Most of the worlds problems are electrical.

08-05-2014, 08:21 AM	#3
whirnot Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Bend Or. Posts: 1,057	Re: Body weight I would be careful about suspending it from the rafters, might have a cave in. __________________ Bill Worden 1929 Roadster 1929 Briggs Town Sedan 1930 Closed Cab pickup Smith Motor Compressor 1951 Ford F1 High Desert Model A's

08-05-2014, 09:10 AM	#4
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Body weight 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.

08-05-2014, 11:21 AM	#5
Marvin/TN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chattanooga, TN area Posts: 832	Re: Body weight 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.

08-05-2014, 12:22 PM	#6
hardtimes Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South California Posts: 6,188	Re: Body weight Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) 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.

08-05-2014, 03:55 PM	#7
prpmmp Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: west grove Pa. Posts: 238	Re: Body weight 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

08-05-2014, 07:27 PM	#8
Ted Duke Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fairfield, Virginia Posts: 615	Re: Body weight 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

08-05-2014, 07:56 PM	#9
tbirdtbird BANNED Join Date: May 2012 Location: inside your RAM Posts: 3,134	Re: Body weight good point Where in TX __________________ '31 180A

08-05-2014, 08:29 PM	#10
bart78 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Stephenville tx Posts: 1,019	Re: Body weight Where are you in Texas?

08-05-2014, 10:23 PM	#12
Drive Shaft Dave Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: New hope Minnesota Posts: 742	Re: Body weight 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.

08-06-2014, 11:33 AM	#13
Domino Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 412	Re: Body weight Kingsville, Tx. 37 mils south of corpus christi mon the coast.

08-06-2014, 11:48 AM	#14
tbirdtbird BANNED Join Date: May 2012 Location: inside your RAM Posts: 3,134	Re: Body weight wow. hope you have a Ken Davis AC setup __________________ '31 180A

08-06-2014, 12:28 PM	#15
Farrell In Vancouver Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Pitt Meadows BC Posts: 1,003	Re: Body weight 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.

08-06-2014, 01:57 PM	#16
Domino Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 412	Re: Body weight Kingsville. TX. 37 miles southof Corpus.

08-06-2014, 05:37 PM	#17
jrelliott Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Pine, AZ Posts: 794	Re: Body weight 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.

08-06-2014, 07:42 PM	#18
Bruskie Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: LaPorte, In. Posts: 67	Re: Body weight 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.

08-07-2014, 09:37 AM	#19
Domino Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 412	Re: Body weight 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.

08-07-2014, 03:45 PM	#20
desotoguy Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Greenwood SC Posts: 294	Re: Body weight 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.