The body off has begun
Discussion
Actually I have a cunning plan - I discussed the body off with Ray S at the Rutland Rumble last october and he told me how he did his with straps which is what I intend to do - you can jack it up a bit at a time with total control.
I've got to remove the seats and undo the bolts holding the body on - though from an email conversation I've had with Steve (SEB400) the body won't come off with the exhaust manifolds on - so as I intend to remove the engine and gearbox I may have to do that first before the body is removed.
Ray's body off using straps is here
link
Chris
I've got to remove the seats and undo the bolts holding the body on - though from an email conversation I've had with Steve (SEB400) the body won't come off with the exhaust manifolds on - so as I intend to remove the engine and gearbox I may have to do that first before the body is removed.
Ray's body off using straps is here
link
Chris
Chris, that sounds good. As you know I'm not very practical, however I still think it could be a good idea to have a few of us around. If it slipped we could steady it etc. You may get peace of mind. Others may also give you good ideas (mine may be limited to 'right they're open then' 
)
Anyway, HTH if I can.
Dave
)Anyway, HTH if I can.
Dave
Chris
Do you belong to a local club? Here in Oxford I mentioned to the Oxfordshire TVRCC that I was in need of help to lift off the body and I had a fantastic response, with club members turning up for lunch and nibbles - followed by 'lifting' session. They were kind enough to give a hand to put it back on too! It does need at least 8 people to make it a comfortable lift. Lifting with straps and hoist sounds a practical solution but the more pairs of eyes to keep watch on things helps, and you will need to lift the body pretty high to push the chassis out from underneath. I would guess that the floor of the body would have to be about 4ft off the ground to clear the rear suspension mounts.
Steve
Do you belong to a local club? Here in Oxford I mentioned to the Oxfordshire TVRCC that I was in need of help to lift off the body and I had a fantastic response, with club members turning up for lunch and nibbles - followed by 'lifting' session. They were kind enough to give a hand to put it back on too! It does need at least 8 people to make it a comfortable lift. Lifting with straps and hoist sounds a practical solution but the more pairs of eyes to keep watch on things helps, and you will need to lift the body pretty high to push the chassis out from underneath. I would guess that the floor of the body would have to be about 4ft off the ground to clear the rear suspension mounts.
Steve
The problem I have is that the body and chassis have to live in the garage during the refurb - hence the plan to hoist it up using straps so its hanging from the roof.
I have a double garage, a drive for our two 'normal' cars and no other space - the house is at a higher level than the garage up some steps so I have nowhere outside to put the body.
OK it could go on the drive - but trust me that isn't going to happen (I am not even going to ask SWMBO).
The pic below may give you an idea of how much space I've got (I'm not that sad - I had to send this pic to the insurance to show them it in the garage).
I have the height and also have 9 x 5 ton straps that are 9 metres long.
Ray convinced me it worked well when he did his, so thats plan A at the moment.
The plan is to hoist the body off (with the car reversed in) then move the chassis across the front behind the 2 garage doors to work on it. (There is no dividing wall in the garage).
I've got a bit to do yet, not least removing the engine & box, and I'm not rushing as I don't want to start getting pished off with it. Hopefully will get a few more hours in at the weekend.
I'm going to see if I can blag an engine crane through the hire company we use alot at work.
Chris
I have a double garage, a drive for our two 'normal' cars and no other space - the house is at a higher level than the garage up some steps so I have nowhere outside to put the body.
OK it could go on the drive - but trust me that isn't going to happen (I am not even going to ask SWMBO).
The pic below may give you an idea of how much space I've got (I'm not that sad - I had to send this pic to the insurance to show them it in the garage).
I have the height and also have 9 x 5 ton straps that are 9 metres long.
Ray convinced me it worked well when he did his, so thats plan A at the moment.
The plan is to hoist the body off (with the car reversed in) then move the chassis across the front behind the 2 garage doors to work on it. (There is no dividing wall in the garage).
I've got a bit to do yet, not least removing the engine & box, and I'm not rushing as I don't want to start getting pished off with it. Hopefully will get a few more hours in at the weekend.
I'm going to see if I can blag an engine crane through the hire company we use alot at work.
Chris
Edited by Barkychoc on Thursday 3rd January 23:08
Chris
looks like you've got good clearance. With mine the body went away in the garage with the bonnet while the chassis lived on the drive. That way it was easy to move the chassis around for the sand blasting (gets everywhere), welding (hot molten metal/sparks flying around) and painting (red mist everywhere), carefully avoiding next doors cars and house windows!
Mine had to be finished in six weeks, as it's my daily car.
Steve
looks like you've got good clearance. With mine the body went away in the garage with the bonnet while the chassis lived on the drive. That way it was easy to move the chassis around for the sand blasting (gets everywhere), welding (hot molten metal/sparks flying around) and painting (red mist everywhere), carefully avoiding next doors cars and house windows!
Mine had to be finished in six weeks, as it's my daily car.
Steve
Well a bit more progress this afternoon.
I finally got the flexible coupling free from the top of the fuel tank - I undid the jubilee clip higher up the pipe to allow some movement as previously suggested by Mark (mep12345).
I've taken the seats out and I have removed all the body mounting bolts.
Steve (seb400) your drawing was ace - made it much easier. Steve has produced a PDF drawing of the body bolt locations which was really useful - it meant I could just tick them off as I did them.
I had one additional bolt which was at the back through the tank cradle - the bolt head was in the body cavity where the fuel pump lives under the boot - I thought it was going to be a real pig as access wasn't very easy - anyway one good yank to loosen the bolt off and it snapped straight off - the only one of the day.
The steel cradle under the aluminium trim at the back looks very rusty - and I'm going to need a new aluminium trim as its very tired - any suggestions / can someone make me one? (I'll pay / donate to charity / whatever)
Still left to do is disconnecting the handbrake (leaving till last), steering and clutch / brake pipes (I have already slackened them off once). Oh and the boot strut which I believe catches on the tank.
Slightly worrying is that the outboard passenger seat belt mounting bolt (not the reel, the one at the bottom) only had about 4mm of thread engaged - it seems that bolt was a bit short. I'll know if there is something amiss when the body comes off.
I managed to get a good pic of where the bolts are under the centre console (if you have them).
Didn't take any other pics as not a very exciting day really.
I finally got the flexible coupling free from the top of the fuel tank - I undid the jubilee clip higher up the pipe to allow some movement as previously suggested by Mark (mep12345).
I've taken the seats out and I have removed all the body mounting bolts.
Steve (seb400) your drawing was ace - made it much easier. Steve has produced a PDF drawing of the body bolt locations which was really useful - it meant I could just tick them off as I did them.
I had one additional bolt which was at the back through the tank cradle - the bolt head was in the body cavity where the fuel pump lives under the boot - I thought it was going to be a real pig as access wasn't very easy - anyway one good yank to loosen the bolt off and it snapped straight off - the only one of the day.
The steel cradle under the aluminium trim at the back looks very rusty - and I'm going to need a new aluminium trim as its very tired - any suggestions / can someone make me one? (I'll pay / donate to charity / whatever)
Still left to do is disconnecting the handbrake (leaving till last), steering and clutch / brake pipes (I have already slackened them off once). Oh and the boot strut which I believe catches on the tank.
Slightly worrying is that the outboard passenger seat belt mounting bolt (not the reel, the one at the bottom) only had about 4mm of thread engaged - it seems that bolt was a bit short. I'll know if there is something amiss when the body comes off.
I managed to get a good pic of where the bolts are under the centre console (if you have them).
Didn't take any other pics as not a very exciting day really.
Edited by Barkychoc on Sunday 6th January 18:59
Barkychoc said:
The problem I have is that the body and chassis have to live in the garage during the refurb - hence the plan to hoist it up using straps so its hanging from the roof.
I have a double garage, a drive for our two 'normal' cars and no other space - the house is at a higher level than the garage up some steps so I have nowhere outside to put the body.
OK it could go on the drive - but trust me that isn't going to happen (I am not even going to ask SWMBO).
The pic below may give you an idea of how much space I've got (I'm not that sad - I had to send this pic to the insurance to show them it in the garage).
I have the height and also have 9 x 5 ton straps that are 9 metres long.
Ray convinced me it worked well when he did his, so thats plan A at the moment.
The plan is to hoist the body off (with the car reversed in) then move the chassis across the front behind the 2 garage doors to work on it. (There is no dividing wall in the garage).
I've got a bit to do yet, not least removing the engine & box, and I'm not rushing as I don't want to start getting pished off with it. Hopefully will get a few more hours in at the weekend.
I'm going to see if I can blag an engine crane through the hire company we use alot at work.
Chris
Put 4 roll cage eye bolts at the 4 corners with spreader washers, or if you are lifting completely furnished make a 2 timber slings with 4 straps. screwfix sell an electric hoist which is £75 then you can get some joist hangers from the builders merchants and bolt to your garage walls to fit some 150 x 50 mm timbers to.I have a double garage, a drive for our two 'normal' cars and no other space - the house is at a higher level than the garage up some steps so I have nowhere outside to put the body.
OK it could go on the drive - but trust me that isn't going to happen (I am not even going to ask SWMBO).
The pic below may give you an idea of how much space I've got (I'm not that sad - I had to send this pic to the insurance to show them it in the garage).
I have the height and also have 9 x 5 ton straps that are 9 metres long.
Ray convinced me it worked well when he did his, so thats plan A at the moment.
The plan is to hoist the body off (with the car reversed in) then move the chassis across the front behind the 2 garage doors to work on it. (There is no dividing wall in the garage).
I've got a bit to do yet, not least removing the engine & box, and I'm not rushing as I don't want to start getting pished off with it. Hopefully will get a few more hours in at the weekend.
I'm going to see if I can blag an engine crane through the hire company we use alot at work.
Chris
Edited by Barkychoc on Thursday 3rd January 23:08
lift the body controlably with the sling then fit the timbers to the joist hangers and lower shell onto them
pic posted to give you an idea. my timbers span a long way so I still have the body supported by the hoist but you should get the idea
If you don't have a dividing wall then bolt your hangers to 1 wall and knock a timber support frame up for the other side. That way body above chassis and still room to work.
Neil.
Edited by heightswitch on Sunday 6th January 21:08
Neil - what a great garage.
I don't have as much height as you as I have horizontal rafters in the garage.
I'm planning to do something along the lines of what Ray S did, pic below.
I've got 9 x new 5 ton 50mm lorry ratchet straps, and I planned to hoist it up with those, Ray said it worked really well and you can do a slow controlled lift. If it doesn't work I'll think of a plan B.
I don't have as much height as you as I have horizontal rafters in the garage.
I'm planning to do something along the lines of what Ray S did, pic below.
I've got 9 x new 5 ton 50mm lorry ratchet straps, and I planned to hoist it up with those, Ray said it worked really well and you can do a slow controlled lift. If it doesn't work I'll think of a plan B.
Edited by Barkychoc on Sunday 6th January 22:25
Barkychoc said:
Neil - what a great garage.
I don't have as much height as you as I have horizontal rafters in the garage.
I'm planning to do something along the lines of what Ray S did, pic below.
I've got 9 x new 5 ton 50mm lorry ratchet straps, and I planned to hoist it up with those, Ray said it worked really well and you can do a slow controlled lift. If it doesn't work I'll think of a plan B.
Place a timber or a scaffolding pole above your rafters spanning them, then fix the hoist to the timber at the centre point of the car. then you can lift and lower the bodyshell to your hearts content by yourself spreading the total load accross the rafters rather than a few. use the straps to secure in place as extra supportsI don't have as much height as you as I have horizontal rafters in the garage.
I'm planning to do something along the lines of what Ray S did, pic below.
I've got 9 x new 5 ton 50mm lorry ratchet straps, and I planned to hoist it up with those, Ray said it worked really well and you can do a slow controlled lift. If it doesn't work I'll think of a plan B.
Edited by Barkychoc on Sunday 6th January 22:25
The electric hoist is really good value and takes the strain out of lifting anything, plus you can work safely alone. I live out in the sticks so it takes a lot of organising to get mates round.
N.
Edited by heightswitch on Sunday 6th January 22:54
Hi all
direct link to body/chassis bolt illustration.
http://www.tvrccoxford.co.uk/images/chassisbolts.p...
direct link to body/chassis bolt illustration.
http://www.tvrccoxford.co.uk/images/chassisbolts.p...
Edited by seb400 on Wednesday 9th January 20:46
Barkychoc said:
Neil - what a great garage.
I don't have as much height as you as I have horizontal rafters in the garage.
I'm planning to do something along the lines of what Ray S did, pic below.
I've got 9 x new 5 ton 50mm lorry ratchet straps, and I planned to hoist it up with those, Ray said it worked really well and you can do a slow controlled lift. If it doesn't work I'll think of a plan B.
Those straps, look like the 1 ton ones, and not designed for lifting, in the past I have stapped one, and also on another broken the ratchet, so I would deff use the lorry 5ton ones, a bit more expensive but worth it.I don't have as much height as you as I have horizontal rafters in the garage.
I'm planning to do something along the lines of what Ray S did, pic below.
I've got 9 x new 5 ton 50mm lorry ratchet straps, and I planned to hoist it up with those, Ray said it worked really well and you can do a slow controlled lift. If it doesn't work I'll think of a plan B.
Edited by Barkychoc on Sunday 6th January 22:25
Also be very carfull not to lift one corner too much as you can cause stress cracks, in the fibreglass.
I've got some brand new 5 ton jobbies, very heavy duty so they should do it.
As an update - not much progress this weekend.
Removed radiator & housing, then spent some time reassembling the secondhand engine crane I've bought as the
I bought it off had assembled it incorrectly. It all seems complete anyway, and ready to go now.
Going to try and get a couple of evenings in this week.
Engine & gearbox are ready to come out, and body is pretty much there too so without too much effort hopefully I'll have some significant progress in the next week or so.
As an update - not much progress this weekend.
Removed radiator & housing, then spent some time reassembling the secondhand engine crane I've bought as the
I bought it off had assembled it incorrectly. It all seems complete anyway, and ready to go now.Going to try and get a couple of evenings in this week.
Engine & gearbox are ready to come out, and body is pretty much there too so without too much effort hopefully I'll have some significant progress in the next week or so.
ketvrin said:
Come on Chris... you know how we (I) like pictures... wheres your website recording every point along the way ? if not a website, use Myphotoalbum or photobucket or similar...
K
I've heard about you, the internet and pictures....... K
I'll post loads when the body is off, at the moment pics are just for my benefit to record how it goes back together.
Edited by Barkychoc on Monday 14th January 16:54
Barkychoc said:
ketvrin said:
Come on Chris... you know how we (I) like pictures... wheres your website recording every point along the way ? if not a website, use Myphotoalbum or photobucket or similar...
K
I've heard about you, the internet and pictures....... K
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