The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs I got the '49 panel body off of the frame!

Here's a few shots of my son and I taking the body off of the frame of my '49 panel...

1. The body is relatively light--just awkward.

2. I decided to drill a few holes in the rear, lower floor panel
to mount eye bolts. I used two fender washers underneath to
keep the nut from pulling through when I lifted the rear
of the body with my cherry picker. (not an issue at all!)

3. I think the angle iron supports I welded between the door
jambs was a good idea, especially since my floor up front is
weak.

4. I cut small pieces of angle iron and bolted each in place of
the hood hinge on the firewall. This gave me a good place to
bolt a chain to hook a come-a-long to lift the front of the
body.

5. After the body was up in the air, I simply rolled the frame
out from underneath the body and rolled the 4 wheeled dolly
underneath. The dolly was built using ideas from other posts
elsewhere on this site.

I hope this helps someone... Here are some pictures...

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e381/rockettruck/Picstobesorted054.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e381/rockettruck/Picstobesorted060.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e381/rockettruck/Picstobesorted056.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e381/rockettruck/Picstobesorted063.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e381/rockettruck/Picstobesorted066.jpg
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e381/rockettruck/Picstobesorted069.jpg

You killed me when I saw the holes in the rear panel.........

Thanks for the pictures, I will be doing mine in the summer.

GMONIZ, How did I "kill" you with the holes? By the way, I bought this panel back in April from a person in Indianapolis. I found his information from your "for sale" list that you put together--thanks.

The PO told me that the windows in the rear panel were original (!) (Ha!) because the glass had FOMOCO etched into the lower corners. At least they weren't portholes! A little sheet metal and my trusty MIG will take care of the rear "windows"!

Rockettruck

rocket. The rear panel is very hard to find and you drilled some pretty big holes in it. I don't weld, so they look bad to me.

The windows could have been a specialty shop install for a florist or a jobber that wanted to be able to see inside of the panel. I have seen many panels with this style window and in this placement. Too bad you were not closer to me, I know where there is a pristine panel body in the junkyard, it was stripped years ago and that's all he has left.

In case you or the PO is interested in some useless information, FOMOCO (Ford Motor Company) is a different Ford from the Ford in L-O-F (Libbey-Owens-Ford) that made GM glass from the early 30s onwards. Just to confuse things, the (Edward) Ford in LOF did make glass for (Henry) Ford vehicles until the early 30s (when Ford Motor Company started making its own glass).

I wouldn't be worried about those holes for the eyelets that "rocket" drilled in the rear panel. Just weld them up when your done putting the body back on the frame. My old autobody teacher used to always say,"it's only sheet metal, you can weld it back up". You wouldn't believe the amount of "slicing and cutting" that's done on bodies in restoration shops to get all the door, hood, trunk, etc" lines" to be "perfect" looking.

Welding up small holes is something I've done many times while working on the firewall of my '51 1/2 ton pickup. I'll bet that firewall had over 50 holes in it from me and others over the years--not to mention factory holes that were no longer needed!

"A man and his MIG--It's a wondeful thang!"

Rockettruck

The rear can easily be jacked up and put on stands if you don't want to weld up holes. The chassis usually comes out the front anyway. I just use jacks and stands for the whole "out of body experience". But the hang method is fine also depending on the equipment you have. Now the fun begins, what ever you do, powder coat the frame instead of paint if you can afford it. It's bullet proof when re-assembly happens. Nice project, bitchin body. If it was mine I would weld up the window holes. Even though some say it could be "factory like" it always looks like some hippy did it. Bartamos.

Yep, I'm definitely going to fill the side windows in. I've already removed the window from the right side, squared it off to make it easier to cut the patch piece of sheet metal, and have recorded the exact dimensions.

The truck was too good of a deal to pass up, even if the windows were in the sides of the panel. I figured I could weld them up--and I can. I just have to be careful with any excess heat as I weld. I want to keep any warpage to a minimum.

Rockettruck