Besides carefully, how do you move an A' with no rear axle?

[steve hackel]

I am in a situation where I have the rear axle out of the car for a complete rebuild; it's disassembled, some of it is cleaned, some of it is rebuilt, and none of it is repainted. Problem! I need to move the car from one shop/garage to another, and I can not figure out some sort of "safe" dolly or cart system to keep the body from falling on the ground (go ahead, ask me = damaged rear fenders!) Do any of you have pictures and or suggestions as to how I can build something that will support the weight and also be maneuverable enough to get it from point A to point B, and not become unattached from the cars frame while moving it? Welding is no problem, 2x4s or anything else is not an issue either - just looking for some solution to my situation and I know there is an easy answer out there... somewhere? Thanks, Steve

[MickeyT]

Assuming the front end is in place, get yourself a couple of the dollies made for moving furniture. Take some 2X6s and build a support (saw horse kind of support) for the rear end that can be strapped to the dollies and that should work if you have some help moving it.

[Y-Blockhead]

How far do you have to move it?

[russcochiolo]

Borrow a fellow Aer's rear end, install and your problem is solved without any jerry-rigged contraption.

[ModelAMike1930]

How about affixing a I-beam to the rear frame and use a heavy duty floor jack fixed to the I-beam. have somebody steer it while your moving it on the jack.

[steve hackel]

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I have no one to "borrow" a rear end from, the engine & trans are out of the car but the flywheel housing is installed so the wish bone has something to attach to for the front end to be stable. Short history; I am having the entire driveway & parking areas resurfaced and am also working on one of the shops at the very same time - distance between the 2 shops / garages is about 550' and I will need to do this transfer twice before all is said & done. Without a trans in the car there is nothing to attach a rear end / torque tube assembly to, although a complete rear axle would be much more stable than something home made, so still looking for any suggestions you might have.

[Fordfan29]

Do you know anyone that tows a car behind their RV? Those car dollies are maneuverable, stable to adapt your car to if it is a friend, the thing should be cheap or free.

You mentioned "resurfaced" so you already have a hard surface to travel instead of just a gravel surface. That can be a big advantage for finding a solution

Please let us all know what you come up with.

[1ton]

A couple of 10 foot 2 x 4's , with legs, lashed to the frame rails and make like a wheel barrow or a rick shaw. Two sturdy young men and a six pack.

[holdover]

the car dolly is a great idea. Some blocking, 6X6 and a few tow straps cinched down tight around the frame blocks and dolly and a SLOW move should get you there safely. and a big plus is the dolly has a hook-up to hitch. good luckl and if a friend doesn't have one U-HAUL does for rent

[steve hackel]

All great ideas and i am doing a fast run to someone's shop to check out a parts rear end. I don' need a spare but thr cost would be about the same $ as lumber for a cart or dolly and would take up less space and time. I will up date asap

[Cool Hand Lurker]

Here is something that would work. It is called "Auto Twirler" and you could buy it or make it. Just bolt it to your frame back near the rear bumper mounts.

https://www.bestbuyautoequipment.com...t-p/at-mpc.htm

[SteveB31]

Why not just bolt the differential back together, install it, move the car, take it back apart , restore it right, and reinstall it then.

[steve hackel]

great thought, but my axle bells are currently out having the outer bearing surfaces sleeved so I would be starting with new everything. My intentions were to only do this once, and the added cost of the bearings and machine work was minimal compared to what I was spending for the entire rear axle.
As far as the twirler goes. that was my first attempt at design and build but the fact that the frame rails are not parallel at that point, the twirler rails were too short and it put too much stress on the verticals I used for the casters and it ended up on the ground, crushing the ends of my rear fenders . Oh well......

[Cool Hand Lurker]

Maybe add a few more diagonal braces? It always pays to overbuild.

[larrys40]

Originally Posted by SteveB31

Why not just bolt the differential back together, install it, move the car, take it back apart , restore it right, and reinstall it then.

Agree with Steve . Find another rear end somewhere. Or get the other one back together quickly. You don’t need brake drums or backing plates. And you can bolt just the rear in without trans connection. Just be careful. Rear axles are out there. You would be foolish to use other methods. And whatever they are will not be safe or less time consuming.
Larry Shepard