taking body off?
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 8,147
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From: Joppa, Maryland
taking body off?
I'm thinking about taking everything off down to the frame to clean up the frame and paint it so I don't have to worry about it in the future and to have some room to do some suspension work, but I'm wondering.. how much does the body on a '78 weigh? Is there somewhere I could mount some chains and hook it up to a bobcat to get the body off? How much disconnecting is there going to be?
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Edmonton, AB Canada
I think there are 6 body mounts, unfortunatly they might need the help of torch. Shifter, engine wiring, and any wiring that goes from the body to the frame, like tail lights and back window. We did one at a friend of my dads body shop with about 6 guys. Take the front clip off serperately so you only have to deal with the cab itself. That way if you have some slings you could sling the underside and then attach your chains to the slings and not risk damaging it. I was thinking about something like that with two of mine, but I havent got the money or the space at the moment to start messing with it. Let me know how it goes.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 8,147
Likes: 1
From: Joppa, Maryland
So am I going to get lucky and have one big wiring harness connector I can unhook or something a little more complicated? I know there isn't much to these trucks (ignition, lights, radio...) but I'll probably find a way to not hook it back up right. I'll definitely take some pictures along the way and let you know if I end up doing it.
I also wonder if its worth doing with the shape my body is in (fenders shot, both doors bad), but I plan on keeping this truck for as long as have an interest in wheeling, so I don't know, I have to weigh out the time/cost vs the benefits.
I also wonder if its worth doing with the shape my body is in (fenders shot, both doors bad), but I plan on keeping this truck for as long as have an interest in wheeling, so I don't know, I have to weigh out the time/cost vs the benefits.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 448
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From: Edmonton, AB Canada
Unfotunately I dont think you are going to get that lucky with one gian connector. The nice thing is the wiring on these trucks is very simple. From the door post forward the body is fairly easy to fix and all unbolts, from there back though is a major endeavor. I started restoring one about 3-5 years ago, and has been sitting there for atleast 3 now with the quarters just hanging on it. I would like to finish it though since i did put a 460 in it and have some nice plans for the rest of it. Time and money, unfortunately it seems that time is needed to make money, which leaves not much of either left for playing.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: SE Texas
To save from having to completely remove the body of my Bronco from the frame, I just raised the body 4" on one side at a time to work on the frame. Unbolted the body mounts, and used a floor jack and 4x4 wood block to raise it. This is sometimes called a "frame-up" restoration, as opposed to a "frame-off" , where you take the body away from the frame. To do that, you can use two or three 4x4 beams under the body and supported on each side by some pipe sawhorses or similar. Once you raise the body a few inches off of the frame, you can roll the chassis out from under the body. As for wiring, I unplugged everything at the ends, marked the connectors, and rolled up the wiring into the cab. There's also shift linkage, steering shaft, radiator, and gas filler neck to unhook. Similar to doing a body lift. I think I have a post on the restoration in the Body and Paint forum here, and there's a few other resto's posted that may give you some tips. I think it would take at least 4 very strong people to lift the body tub off of the frame by hand. JSM84
