How easy is it to get the body off?
Discussion
No photos needed!
The quickest and easiest way is to cut through the outriggers (oxy-torch or metal cutting disc), jack the body up and cut through any wires, pipes, tubes, cables, etc. between the body and the chassis (wire cutters, tin-snips, metal cutting disc). Remember to have a cup ready to catch any fuilds that might leak out as a result of this operation.
Someone will have an alternative method that takes longer but does ease the task of reassembly.
Streaky
PS - sorry, woke up feeling silly - S
The quickest and easiest way is to cut through the outriggers (oxy-torch or metal cutting disc), jack the body up and cut through any wires, pipes, tubes, cables, etc. between the body and the chassis (wire cutters, tin-snips, metal cutting disc). Remember to have a cup ready to catch any fuilds that might leak out as a result of this operation.
Someone will have an alternative method that takes longer but does ease the task of reassembly.
Streaky
PS - sorry, woke up feeling silly - S
Taking the body off does involve lots and lots of work (the above method is very tempting). Having removed mine on a 1981 wedge and assuming they are all similar this roughly the/a way:
Disconnect fuel lines from tanks.
Disconnect fuel gauge.
Disconnect handbrake cable.
Disconnect reversing light switch.
Disconnect brake lines at G-valve and master cylinder.
Disconnect all lines from fuel distributor to engine.
Disconnect engine wiring.
Disconnect coolant hoses.
Disconnect steering upper UJ.
You may need to remove rear silencers if hung from body.
........and probably lots more!
The bolts holding the body to chassis:
2 at front low down at ends of tubes.
2 above suspension mounts in engine bay.
Roughly eight behind each sill - sill removed by drilling through rivets. Will also require the removal of some interior trim.
2 in boot above rear spring mounts.
2 low down in boot.
If the body doesn't move you've missed some!
The body is unbelievably heavy for a piece of fibreglass, totaly stripped bare can just about be lifted with 2 people, would recomend 4 people min - one at each wheel arch.
In my experience once seperated the body and chassis are best left sitting in the garage for the next few years - you don't want to rush these things.
Have fun
Disconnect fuel lines from tanks.
Disconnect fuel gauge.
Disconnect handbrake cable.
Disconnect reversing light switch.
Disconnect brake lines at G-valve and master cylinder.
Disconnect all lines from fuel distributor to engine.
Disconnect engine wiring.
Disconnect coolant hoses.
Disconnect steering upper UJ.
You may need to remove rear silencers if hung from body.
........and probably lots more!
The bolts holding the body to chassis:
2 at front low down at ends of tubes.
2 above suspension mounts in engine bay.
Roughly eight behind each sill - sill removed by drilling through rivets. Will also require the removal of some interior trim.
2 in boot above rear spring mounts.
2 low down in boot.
If the body doesn't move you've missed some!
The body is unbelievably heavy for a piece of fibreglass, totaly stripped bare can just about be lifted with 2 people, would recomend 4 people min - one at each wheel arch.
In my experience once seperated the body and chassis are best left sitting in the garage for the next few years - you don't want to rush these things.
Have fun
Would be worth leaving the doorframes in place, together with the A and B pillar reinforcements. Otherwise the body will flex about the door openings and may end up with some unpleasant cracks... I have a pic of the factory lowering the shell onto the chassis and that's what they did too.
Ian
Ian
I've taken the body off mine recently, not an easy job, jacked the car up as high as possible on four axle stands,then supported the body in as many places as i could, with more axle stands (spread the weight with wood) and very slowly dropped the chasis. The most difficult thing was that the clearance at the front of the transmision tunnel between the Body and the chasis is not good and the body needs to come back as the chasis pushed forward, you do have to make sure that all the cable ties are cut because at this stage, when you have the body hanging off the chasis, you cannot afford any problems. It is deffinately a four person job otherwise as mentioned before you may cause damage. Good luck if you do it.
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