The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs 1953 panel truck 3100, body removal? Idea's?!

Hi guys, ive got my truck stripped down and almost ready to lift the body off.

still got to remove the doors, am going to leave front glass in?

chassis ive still got engine in, but all removable metal work has gone...from fenders both front and rear,bonnet ect.

im really worried about lifting the body off, ive got the use of a fork truck..so was going to put that in the opening of the back doors (and lift with protection and wood across the folks)..

then through the front door opening..span a large piece of wood and jack it up pushing against the top of the door openings??

any thoughts on this!. ive the week of work to tackle it...!

I used a two post car lift at a friends shop. Easy as pie. Rolled out the chassis and rolled under my car dolly.

Patrick, I was just looking for this information in your album, but your album does not work.

Dano&rose, I know if you do a search you can find this topic including pictures of what others have cone.

Red58 has covered panel truck body removal with fork lift on this forum. Search for it, it is very helpful.

It's not that difficult. Do you have a 4 speed? You need to twist off the gear shifter. Fork lift through the back works well.

See my link below to see how I did my Burb!

yes easy, put some narrow pallets on the forks to take up the curve to the roof ribs, rope from the mast thru the front doors to keep it from tipping forward, Bob's yer uncle

Bill

thankyou very much chaps...will try post some photos to show you what im up to for the winter!

we supported the underside
lifted at the bodymounts with a floor Jack (2)4x6" and few sparetires.

thanks Dogs, will have a look in the morning about trying this. how did you start the lift (to get the wood in?) and did you do the same on the rear end?

Dano & Rose,
I did similiar method as Dogs but use a "cherry picker" used to remove motors as you can get couple feet of lift. If you jack up body couple of inches form underneath then you can use chain or straps bolted to the body mounts. Just go slow and think safety first. Good luck

we used lots of little blocks and some jackstands welded a metal 4x4 to extend jacks reach

back end
front end up

also
Look at my progress Pics link:

PS. anyone doing a frame change, we made a plywood drill template that worked. Frame to frame the body mounting bolts dropped right in.

Hi;
Here is what I did in a small garage. I had no rotisserie so I built a floor to ceiling 2x4 frame work as a box. I bought 4 jack alls to place in each corner bolted top and bottom to a vertical stud. I then used to 4x4 fence posts to span across front and back. I used hydraulic jacks to get the body started upwards and then shoved in the posts. I can now jack one at a time by the click up or down until the chassis and underbody are ready to jack downwards for the finale. Costs were about $250. for the jacks and $50. for lumber and bolts. Cheers

When I took the main body off my panel I had 3 or my friends come over and help me. When we picked up the body my grandson slid the home made supports under it and we set it down on them.
Its really not THAT heavy if you have all the stuff stripped off of it.
Since Lowe's will cut and thread pipe to length, free. I made my support with cheap wheels and some pipe and elbows.

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r19/LutherParris/52Panel/PanelBodypics027.jpg

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r19/LutherParris/52Panel/PanelBodypics030.jpg

well chaps, thanks all again for your help...got it done today and god it was a struggle on my own buts its safe and sorted!

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af75/hootschc/14thNov2012098.jpg

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af75/hootschc/14thNov2012108.jpg

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af75/hootschc/14thNov2012104.jpg

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af75/hootschc/14thNov2012116.jpg

Wow.
Good job!