How to lift Ultima from dolly?

[BenGTR]

I wanna lift the Ultima from the dolly with a hoist. Which points would you use for the round slings? As the cockpit is already attached, the rollcage can't be used .

[3Dee]

bearing in mind there is no engine (weight) I think you would be safe using the thicker frame/braces that support the wheels pretty-much as you have indicated (outer ones). most of the weight will be at the front at the moment.

[spatz]

could not resist

[dandare]

spatz said:

could not resist

The only reason to buy a Can Am?

When I was at that stage, four people lifted the GTR off its stands by gripping the chassis extremities (two at the front on the radiator "box", and two at the rear). It wasn't particularly light, but the chassis didn't bend. If it had, I think I would have bought a different car.
Where you've marked the photo looks ok. Either of the rear markings will do.

[BenGTR]

Thanks for the info .

Actually the picture is from the Ultima-Website and I need to lift it as well with the engine installed.

I guess I have to figure out where the centre of gravity is with/without engine. Without engine where the driver sits, with engine between engine and cockpit?

[dandare]

If you have a load balancer, that will simplify things. I bought one new from EBay (Chinese, no doubt) for about 15 Pounds. It is also useful for lifting motors etc in and out, so is quite handy.

Using points "2" will load the chassis less, but it may be easier to balance using the rearmost points "3", or even further back.
Just try it, carefully. As my mates from Norfolk say: "a faint heart never fd a pig".

[BenGTR]

For the engine I have a load balancer, however it is only allowed up to 400 kilogramms ... I had only the engine in mind. Maybe I should spend some money on a better one ...

[dandare]

BenGTR said:

For the engine I have a load balancer, however it is only allowed up to 400 kilogramms ... I had only the engine in mind. Maybe I should spend some money on a better one ...

Ah, good point. I didn't think of that. I doubt a balancer that can take 1000kg will be cheap.

Can't you put it on trestles, slide the dolly out, and then lower it in stages using your crane? A bit complicated, I know.

[mt308]

The way I did it (but without an engine so lighter at the back) was to use my engine lifting crane at the front, and 2 trolley jacks on some stong shelving at the back (to get them high enough). Gradual lifting at both ends until clear of the dolly.

Thats the easy bit. Lowering involved slowly lowering the front then the back. To get the jacks off the shelves I used axle stands and some blocks to hold the weight, then took the trolley jack out, removed the shelves so the jack was on the ground, then lifted with the jack to get it off the stands, so I could lower the last bit.

At the front I used a sling around the main chassis rails by each upper suspension mount. At the rear the main cross rail (either the rear most one or the one in front of it - don't think it will matter).

I took it all very slowly!

[Storer]

I used a large timber through the cabin to lift using the roll bar centre section and a strap on the back of the chassis. Then lifted it clear of the dolly with a telescopic forklift that I just happened to have lying around.

This post is probably not much help if you don't have a telescopic forklift!!!!


Paul

[macgtech]

Any of the 38mm (1.5" for you Imperial folks!) tubes would be fine.

[Steve_D]

Storer said:

I used a large timber through the cabin to lift using the roll bar centre section and a strap on the back of the chassis. Then lifted it clear of the dolly with a telescopic forklift that I just happened to have lying around.

This post is probably not much help if you don't have a telescopic forklift!!!!

Paul

I use a two post lift but again I expect that's regarded as cheating.

Steve

[Storer]

With the engine you must have over 0.5 tonnes to lift so I don't know how you will get it off the stand without either a two post lit or a forklift.

3 or 4 engine cranes maybe!!!

Much easier with the engine out though.


Paul

[macgtech]

We use a large trolley jack and do one end at a time - we have the trestles rather than a 'dolley' though so maybe not possible.

[BenGTR]

Thanks for all your ideas . Storer, using a timber through the cabin sounds like a very easy solution, however I guess too insecure for me ...


I came up with a new idea: Use two hoists. One more hoist is cheaper than a load balancer capable of 1000 kg.



I like the idea of being able to lift and lower millimetre by millimetre.

[mt308]

If you have 2 cranes to hand thats the simplest and safest option. If I had 2 cranes I would have done that.

My method would work if you only have 1 crane, but its more precarious!

[Storer]

[quote=BenGTR]Thanks for all your ideas . Storer, using a timber through the cabin sounds like a very easy solution, however I guess too insecure for me ...


And there was me thinking it would be the forklift that was the problem for others!!!



Paul

[GTRMikie]

BenGTR said:

That's my car having its body pre-fit in 1999!

[AlexCim]

2 lifts are definitely the way to go.

[dandare]

How many straps?
Is that a pair of braces I can see?