Hi Guys,

I'm almost at the point where I will be hoisting the body off the frame of my 1986 El Camino.
For those of you that have done this procedure:

- How did you accomplish the task?
- If straps or chains were involved, what did you use for lifting points?

TIA,

Mike

Once everything was disconnected ( fenders, radiator support, wiring, etc.) I lifted the body where the firewall meets the floors and in the back, do not remember exactly where, supported the body, took off the body mounts and let the chassis drop. Once the body was loose from the chassis I lifted it high enough to roll the chassis out the back. The engine was already out of the car when I did it, also the interior had been removed. Use caution and you should be ok. This should give you an idea, I am sure you are going to get more suggestions. Good luck

I did it like this:

tractor at rear, crane up front, but a couple of cherry pickers would work.
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z300/1BadElky/El%20Camino/01-13-08_1525.jpg
note the 2x4 used to brace the rear while the gate is down. it is just wedged in


http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z300/1BadElky/El%20Camino/01-13-08_1535.jpg

I pushed the frame out from under it, and backed a trailer underneath it. using a tire to support the area under the floorpans, and a large peice of lumber to support the rear under the wheelwells. it is actually resting on the structure under the bed, not the quarterpanels.

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z300/1BadElky/El%20Camino/01-13-08_1634.jpg

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z300/1BadElky/El%20Camino/frame-off001.jpg

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z300/1BadElky/El%20Camino/frame-off003.jpg

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z300/1BadElky/El%20Camino/frame-off004.jpg



for the front lift points, I used a strong rope and tied it around the upper door hinges for the front. For the rear I just used the tailgate latch points.

also, I took out the seats and heavy interior parts like the spare tire, jack etc.

I have done 2 of mine with just floor jacks but pretty much stripped done to make it as light as i could. Have seen it done with engine hoist and if I do it again going to try making a sling for my hoist. I use 4 dount tires to keep the body as low as possible to roll the frame out from under it and twice did it all by my self !:nanawrench:

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the photos and ideas!
Keep 'em coming!

Mike

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/187/440257242_170425e909_b.jpgHere is mine coming off with an engine hoist in the front and a couple of buddies in the back.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/187/440257242_170425e909_b.jpg

Thanks for the info guys, I'll let you know how I make out...

Mike

4 buddies, and a case of beer. just make sure everything is disconnected before you start... you'll look pretty dumb to your friends if you (hypethetically speaking) miss the e-brake cable... :???:

Well I actually did mine by myself with my 1970 (hard as hell!), all I did was take everything out of the interior, take the body mounts off and then jacked up the back of the car by the wheel wells and put a 4x4x10 on jack stands holding it up off the frame and then did the same to the front and just pulled the frame out from underneath the car.

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_images/3/3208/4181/33019590029_large.jpg

-Neil

Great post!! I just bought a 81 Caballero... Going to do a Frame off on her... I think this post and others you submitted are a great help! Thanks... Any additional tips would be greatly appreciated!

Links to history, collectible, interchangeability of parts and so on would be nice if you have them.

Nose and tailgate off the body / frame to start.

I made reusable brackets for front and rear for using cherry pickers to lift the body. Front brackets use all of the rear fender bolt positions and have a cross-bar with a threaded cross-rod through them to stop them from bending the fender brackets in and the pull is straight up. The rear brackets have flat hooks that grab under the cross-brace in the back of the bed area and bolt through the tailgate holes. Two cherry pickers to lift and the frame will slide out the side with the wheels off and a couple floor jacks. Pics attached hopefully (haven't posted with pics as of yet) including on the body dolly.

http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/j390/danhicks1/Body-1.jpg

http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/j390/danhicks1/Body-2.jpg

http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/j390/danhicks1/Body-3.jpg

http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/j390/danhicks1/Body-4.jpg

http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/j390/danhicks1/Body-5.jpg

http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/j390/danhicks1/Body-6.jpg

http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/j390/danhicks1/Body-7.jpg

http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/j390/danhicks1/Body-8.jpg

Great post! I will have the benefit of a Autocrane on one of my service vehicles. But really appreciate the mounting areas and method, will save some brain cells thinking about how to do..

I pulled the front clip off and gutted the interior...used the hoist to lift the body....



http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/1773/bodyoff.jpg

You guys that have done this have a ton of my respect. I've got a lot of equipment at my shop, and I don't know if I'd ever try it. Great pics guys!bowtie smile

I like the idea of the 2 x 4 brace in the tailgate opening. There is no triangulation in that area and with the flat bed floor, it seems like a good precaution.

I used two cherry-picker type hoists. I used an old set of tail gate hinges on the back, by heating them to bend angle an in them, to match the angle of the chain to the hoist. On the front I used eye-bolts, screwed into the holes where the hood stops go, on the cowl in front of the windshield.

Luckily I have a rotisserie, so that made working on the body easier.

There's a few pics of this arrangement on my photobucket link below, if that helps any.

This is how I did mine as well only I used square steel tubing under the front and through the rear wheelwell opening. All my body mount bolts came right out. I'll post pics tomorrow.

Well I actually did mine by myself with my 1970 (hard as hell!), all I did was take everything out of the interior, take the body mounts off and then jacked up the back of the car by the wheel wells and put a 4x4x10 on jack stands holding it up off the frame and then did the same to the front and just pulled the frame out from underneath the car.

http://www.elcaminocentral.com/images/statusicon/wol_error.gifClick this bar to view the full image.http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_images/3/3208/4181/33019590029_large.jpg