The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Lifting the cab in a one man garage....

My 3600 is rust hole free, so I'm thinking of just lifting the cab enough to paint the frame, under the cab and to replace any bushings. Only problem is I'm by myself in the garage. I will have removed the front clip by then, and tips/advice? Photobucket3

You're not the only one...
Being alone in the garage isn't the problem.
Not thinking safety first when lifting and blocking things up is.

I always try to knock the truck off the stands before I get underneath it... If I can rock it I don't

The way I did it was to pass a length of 4x4 through the cab (my doors were off), put holes near either end of the 4x4 for a length of chain to pass through, then lift the cab up by the chain with a come-a-long attached to the rafters.

I like it Tom. I wonder if I could use a stout tow strap to do the same thing as the 4x4 and hook it to my come along. That way maybe I could leave the doors on. Any idea what the cab weighs?

I did a search a while back and came across an adaptor that attaches to an engine hoist. Something to try

First make sure your overhead beams(rafters) can safely support the cab. Another option since you say you only need to lift it a
little and I assume not rolling the frame from under the cab is to just use a floor jack raising each side a little at a time and support the cab with four jack stands.

A cab without the doors and seat weighs about 300 lbs. My son and I lifted this one on the trailer last week just the two of us.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/12141662616/in/set-72157631870734114
This is how I moved mine during restoration.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/advance-design_parts_co/8129078346/in/set-72157631867396207

I did mine pretty much the same way as Tom did. Used a 4 x 4 timber and a tow strap to pick the cab up with after removing the doors ect.... I used a chain block hooked up to the H beam.

John

I installed my cab by myself, ...pic...
. I don't recommend it but wife needed her parking spot back.

Wow Brad! Now I wish I hadn't sold my picker at that garage sale. Dagnabbit!

New wife here, hav'nt given her a spot yet! Yet...

use a engine hoist . Build a frame from door to door & out both windows if they are off .hoist in one of the doors (use the top of hoist) .... worked for me ...If I did it again I would drill hole in floor 4x4 under floor and hoist inside the cab ....

Also build a frame for under cab, use floor jack ...

Do not lift on the pinch welds through the windshield opening and rear window like that. Lift like the factory did through the door openings on the upper sill. You could do like the one fellow that said he lifted using garage beams, or with the cherry picker, I used the cherry picker deal and 2x6 s bolted together and to the cherry picker I wish there was a way to post pictures here I'd give posting them a go.

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If I had a hoist I would of used Brads method
If I had 3 friends I would use Bigtonkas method

...Bigtonka's Video...

Woody just rolled his back on some braces and foam pads
...Woodys picture...

How would one go about that?

Trusses, by design, support loading from the roofing surface. So all the upright truss memebers are in compression. If you use the lower truss cross timber to try to lift objects in your garage you are effectively putting the upright truss memebers into temsion, which is now trying to pull the truss members apart. Depending on how the members are fastened together this may actually tear the truss members apart.

Have folks done this? Yes. Have I done this? Yes (For a Jeep hardtop, which is very light.)
The last thing you want is to have to do structural repairs to the roof trusses of your house, when what you really wanted to do was work on your truck.

Using floor jacks or an engine hoist is a much safer and more logical method.

By far the least expensive way is to get (3) folks over to help and simply lift the cab off the frame.

Have fun and be safe out there!

I installed mine recently using camper jacks and boards under the cab. Scott

I built a gantry crane for engine and cab hoisting. I use a chain hoist for the engine and a wood frame placed through the door openings and ratchet straps for the cab.

Here is the crane setup for engine hoisting. I am now with crane and I broke it completely down and stored it under the house for future use.

Scott- I think the camper jack solution is great, I wish I still had my Dads set. darn.

I use a gantry crane, come-alongs and straps to lift my cab
http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac228/66rollback/project%2066%20rollback/PB160058.jpg

Without the front clip attached I used two 2x4's and two ladders and raised it one side at a time, rolled the chassis out and then lowered the same way.

I did have blocks on the steps of each side so I was only moving 6" at a time. Worked fine.

Good luck.

I would like to chime in with some technical feat of amazement, but the way I figure it, that is what friends and relatives are for. The cab is on a cart that I use to go from Sandblasting right to the basecoat/clearcoat, so when the time comes its all ready, the PLAN is to make a few phone calls with a beer incentive.

66 rollback - Is that a HF g crane? Looks to be working fine. Any feedback on it, I don't think I can buy the steel and parts for the same price.

Wow what a set up, I especially like the extended forks on the lift (just in case).

It is from Harbor Freight. I don't have any complaints other than the paint faded badly when it sat out in the sun for a year or so. I have used it quite a few times - multiple body removals and engine swaps.

I would second what several have said....beer. Also toss some ribs or steaks on the grill. Call up 2-3 friends/neighbors/etc. and invite them over to sample the meat and have a few cold ones. Once you get them there, "hey, could I get you guys to help me with something real fast". Works every time. Just be all set to go when you get them there so all they have to do is walk in, lift, and get to drinking beer. It also helps if you have buddies that are interested in your project. Sometimes they get to participate by proxy. Just be careful, sometimes, they end up coming around too often to participate.