Body dolly
Body dolly
Author
Discussion

caduceus

Original Poster:

6,126 posts

295 months

Saturday 14th February 2015
quotequote all
I'm going to be separating the chassis from the body tomorrow, in a standard size single garage. This means I have to support the body (planks under the arches) and lower the chassis. Then lower the body onto a dolly that can be moved outside while the chassis work happens.

I've had a quick look at Wikes, and the biggest bits of wood I can find are what look like 4x2's. Will these be sturdy enough to support a chim body? What does the body weight out of interest?

Need to get some castors too. Hopefully B&Q will have some.

CHeers
Cad

jojackson4

3,049 posts

166 months

Saturday 14th February 2015
quotequote all
I hope you have some more eyes and hands for the big lift
The photos I have seen its a 6-8 man lift


Good luck

ChilliWhizz

12,422 posts

190 months

Saturday 14th February 2015
quotequote all
caduceus said:
I'm going to be separating the chassis from the body tomorrow, in a standard size single garage. This means I have to support the body (planks under the arches) and lower the chassis. Then lower the body onto a dolly that can be moved outside while the chassis work happens.

I've had a quick look at Wikes, and the biggest bits of wood I can find are what look like 4x2's. Will these be sturdy enough to support a chim body? What does the body weight out of interest?

Need to get some castors too. Hopefully B&Q will have some.

CHeers
Cad
Fence posts Cad, Wickes do them in 100mm X 100mm X 2.4m.... dunno if they'll take the weight tho....


EddyP

882 posts

249 months

Saturday 14th February 2015
quotequote all
To get some decent casters try machine mart, they are open on Sundays too. Or if you're in no rush there's always loads cheap on eBay.

caduceus

Original Poster:

6,126 posts

295 months

Saturday 14th February 2015
quotequote all
jojackson4 said:
I hope you have some more eyes and hands for the big lift
The photos I have seen its a 6-8 man lift


Good luck
Well I don't know that many people in a position to help lift it. So no one will be. The plan is to jack the whole car up to the highest setting on the axle stands, support the body and lower the chassis. Then slide the dolly under body and lower it onto it.

That's the theory.

If you don't see any more posts from me after tomorrow, it'll be because I've been squashed by a Chimaera.

caduceus

Original Poster:

6,126 posts

295 months

Saturday 14th February 2015
quotequote all
ChilliWhizz said:
Fence posts Cad, Wickes do them in 100mm X 100mm X 2.4m.... dunno if they'll take the weight tho....
Time will tell... Cheers.

caduceus

Original Poster:

6,126 posts

295 months

Saturday 14th February 2015
quotequote all
EddyP said:
To get some decent casters try machine mart, they are open on Sundays too. Or if you're in no rush there's always loads cheap on eBay.
Good call Edd. Thanks. Busy day tomorrow smash

jojackson4

3,049 posts

166 months

Saturday 14th February 2015
quotequote all
No joke just eyes big help
No mean feat on your tod

ch427

11,875 posts

262 months

Sunday 15th February 2015
quotequote all
They do sell sleepers but length may be an issue.
http://www.wickes.co.uk/search?text=sleepers

Sardonicus

19,442 posts

250 months

Sunday 15th February 2015
quotequote all
4 x 4 timber beams front and rear across wheel arches will easily support a chimaera body.

Badgerchim

149 posts

164 months

Sunday 15th February 2015
quotequote all
I have previously used 100mm x 100mm fence posts bolted together with threaded rod to create a crude dolly. Screwing on shopping trolley type wheels available at the usual diy outlets makes it pretty manouverable on a drive or garage.

I do not know how heavy the elan +2 is compared to a chim, but it can't be that much different. The fence posts were well up to the job.

Hope this helps

[url]

Picture of the chassis refurb whilst body was on the dolly.

|http://thumbsnap.com/MuhMauHu[/url]


Cokes

475 posts

143 months

Sunday 15th February 2015
quotequote all


http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=...

If a wooden frame was built, do you think these would support the body ?

Chuffmeister

3,597 posts

166 months

Sunday 15th February 2015
quotequote all
Scaffold. Get some cheap poles and clamps.

If you erect some scaffold around the car, you could jack it up and then clamp and support bit by bit, until you have it high enough you can get the chassis out from underneath. Just loosen the clamps, before you jack, then tighten again.

Just a thought.

Badgerchim

149 posts

164 months

Sunday 15th February 2015
quotequote all
The wheels look similar but without the locks. 100mm diameter make it easier on a rougher surface

Cokes

475 posts

143 months

Sunday 15th February 2015
quotequote all
I'm in the lucky position to have a smooth garage floor to roll it on biggrin

My plan is to use some sort of system with block and tackle to raise the body off, roll the chassis out and lower the body onto a movable dolly.

TJC46

2,198 posts

235 months

Sunday 15th February 2015
quotequote all
Chuffmeister said:
Scaffold. Get some cheap poles and clamps.

If you erect some scaffold around the car, you could jack it up and then clamp and support bit by bit, until you have it high enough you can get the chassis out from underneath. Just loosen the clamps, before you jack, then tighten again.

Just a thought.
Worked a treat for me. Jacked the car as high as possible, then supported the body, turn the thread on the scaffold at each corner till the body was high enough, then rolled out the chassis.

I left the body supported on the scaffold frame on my driveway, whilst i worked on the chassis in the garage.

Same method in reverse to reinstate the chassis, and all easily done, single handed.






caduceus

Original Poster:

6,126 posts

295 months

Thursday 19th February 2015
quotequote all
After a few days of cussing in the garage smile


gmw9666

2,739 posts

229 months

Thursday 19th February 2015
quotequote all
I borrowed this dolly from a local TVR specialist......even had wheels to move it around..........also height adjustable = genius

the planks are scaffold boards and plenty strong enough (EH Smith or the like, they even cut them to the length I needed)





[url]

|http://thumbsnap.com/edHD060i[/url]

Edited by gmw9666 on Thursday 19th February 13:58


Edited by gmw9666 on Thursday 19th February 13:59

Cokes

475 posts

143 months

Thursday 19th February 2015
quotequote all
caduceus said:
After a few days of cussing in the garage smile

I'm just about to start my body off resto and will need to build a dolly. I Hope you don't mind a couple of questions.
Is that 2x2 you've used to build the frame ?
Do you have any measurements or dimensions of the frame ?
I was hoping to have this built and ready and any help or hints would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Cokes.

Discopotatoes

4,101 posts

250 months

Thursday 19th February 2015
quotequote all
caduceus said:
EddyP said:
To get some decent casters try machine mart, they are open on Sundays too. Or if you're in no rush there's always loads cheap on eBay.
Good call Edd. Thanks. Busy day tomorrow smash
I got some big casters from there, they were about £75 I used 4x2 timber and 18mm ply to construct the dolly.
Don't skimp on the casters as my first lot fell apart