Rolling a car onto its side using mattresses
Rolling a car onto its side using mattresses
Author
Discussion

grim_d

Original Poster:

765 posts

213 months

Wednesday 10th November 2010
quotequote all
Hope this is in the correct place!

I now have my Nissan to the stage where it is a bare shell with the exception of the windscreen and I am looking to roll it onto its side soon to work on the underside.

Now I have seen this done on forums a few times and they always use some old tyres for it, however I only have 2 old tyres but what I do have is 2 nice thick double mattresses.

I am thinking of putting one on the floor and one up against a wall (then covering them with old pvc banner material to protect from any welding spatter) and just going for it with the aid of a few pairs of hands.

The body isn't in perfect shape but obviously I don't want to damage it further or bend a pillar etc.

anybody have any experience of doing similar or any thoughts on why this method would be a bad idea?

GKP

15,099 posts

264 months

Wednesday 10th November 2010
quotequote all
What's the worse that could happen?


(Take lots of photos or better still a video to upload to Yewchoob)

TRUENOSAM

763 posts

193 months

Wednesday 10th November 2010
quotequote all
If you havent already I would take off all the panels to prevent damage. Should be ok as there wont be much weight in the shell on its own

Dr Doofenshmirtz

16,617 posts

223 months

Wednesday 10th November 2010
quotequote all
GKP talks sense...please heed his advice.


You've got a 'tube account right?

grim_d

Original Poster:

765 posts

213 months

Wednesday 10th November 2010
quotequote all
Dr Doofenshmirtz said:
GKP talks sense...please heed his advice.


You've got a 'tube account right?
Haha indeed I do but there will be no video! Pictures if there is a spare person.

Eggman

1,253 posts

234 months

Wednesday 10th November 2010
quotequote all
grim_d said:
covering them with old pvc banner material to protect from any welding spatter
I suggest you might want to keep a fire extinguisher handy at this point in the proceedings...

G-Lader

60 posts

200 months

Wednesday 10th November 2010
quotequote all
My fail-potential-ometer just went off the scale.

You need to make one of them spit things, safest way.

Waynester

6,495 posts

273 months

Wednesday 10th November 2010
quotequote all
Safe as houses.. You can sit right up against/under the car to work closely on the floor pan.

Just hold it on it's side with a bit of wood...sorted.

grim_d

Original Poster:

765 posts

213 months

Wednesday 10th November 2010
quotequote all
Eggman said:
grim_d said:
covering them with old pvc banner material to protect from any welding spatter
I suggest you might want to keep a fire extinguisher handy at this point in the proceedings...
Goes without saying! As far as I know there is only 1 spot requiring welding so may leave it until the highly flammable surfaces are removed hehe

G-Lader said:
My fail-potential-ometer just went off the scale.

You need to make one of them spit things, safest way.
Safety!? see above whistle

Waynester said:
Safe as houses.. You can sit right up against/under the car to work closely on the floor pan.

Just hold it on it's side with a bit of wood...sorted.
I was planning on just resting it against a mattress on a wall, less chance of slipping I figured!

Have you done it before then? Did you use tyres or mattresses? If the latter, was there any welding involved?

Stigproducts

1,730 posts

294 months

Thursday 11th November 2010
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I did this about 20 years ago with a Mini so I could do the sills.

It bent the front and rear wings. the fronts needed replaced anyway but the damage to the backs was a pain. I think it is the bang when it goes over rather that the weight. If you can lower it over slow then in my experience it will be OK. I only had a couple of small fires......

thinfourth2

32,414 posts

227 months

Thursday 11th November 2010
quotequote all
If you can weld and are doing a lot of work the make a car spit roast.

A frame attached to either end that supports the shell and let's you spin it on it's horizontal axis.

It may cost you a hundred in materials but it will save you that in time and ease of access. You can also leave the shell in it for painting etc.

redtwin

7,518 posts

205 months

Thursday 11th November 2010
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Why risk damaging the shell...or the mattresses?. A few lengths of 2X4 would do the trick.


OllieC

3,816 posts

237 months

Thursday 11th November 2010
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thinfourth2 said:
If you can weld and are doing a lot of work the make a car spit roast.

A frame attached to either end that supports the shell and let's you spin it on it's horizontal axis.

It may cost you a hundred in materials but it will save you that in time and ease of access. You can also leave the shell in it for painting etc.
If its well made and suits a popular model you could probably sell the spit once done and recoup most if not all of the costs as well.

Evangelion

8,367 posts

201 months

Thursday 11th November 2010
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I've never done this but wonder if you need to tie it to something to prevent it tippimg back unexpectedly and trapping someone underneath?