Getting Cab off frame....Help
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Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,101
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From: Bristol TN.
Getting Cab off frame....Help
OK, next saturday I have a free day to work on my truck. I have to take the cab off of the frame. thats the only thing left to do before I start taking of the old rear end and springs and front end parts. I have unbolted the cab from the frame and everything BUT.....How the crap am I going to take the cab off by my self?!?!?!?! All I have to help me is a engine hoist/cherry picker. The trucks outside not in the garage so no help with strong cealing hoists or any thing where all I would have to do is strap it up and lift it up and roll the chassis out from under....that would be to easy. Any suggestions fellas?
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 739
Likes: 1
From: Murfreesboro, TN
I asked this same question... got some good info on using the cherry picker..
try this link????
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/6...?highlight=cab
try this link????
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/6...?highlight=cab
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,355
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From: I live in Mustang, OK
The best way is to have 4 of your buddies come over and lift it off. That's what I did. Or my son did, They were his school buddies. This was a few months ago. They're coming over again tomarow to put it back on so I can see if the engine is set right. It it is they will take it back of so I can do the body work on it. Nice to have a son with friends.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,591
Likes: 14
From: Pflugerville, tx
I used my engine hoist to get it off (with a tow strap thru the door windows).. and 3 friends to get it back on..
And I conciously looked at the hoist total lift height when I bought it, 2 years before I pulled the cab..
Sam
And I conciously looked at the hoist total lift height when I bought it, 2 years before I pulled the cab..
Sam
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,094
Likes: 654
From: Brentwood, TN
Like Rusty said...get enough of your buddies to man each corner and lift. I bought 4 large casters with air tires at Harbor Freight and built a 4' x 4' cart out of 2x4's to set my cab on after I removed it from the frame. It's unbelievable how nice it is to be able to roll that cab around the garage while I'm working on it and the chassis. Best $50 I spent in awhile...
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 5,776
Likes: 2
From: springfield il
i and my son in law are practiced at this as the cab , and the complete body come off and on the 55 on a reg basis when i am working on it . we took a couple of 2x4's and slide them under the cab in aposition that is comfortable to us then lift away and we will sit the whole thing up on a set of sturdy sawhorses to ease pickin' it back up . these ol' cabs aint quite as heavy as one would think compared to some of the newer stuff . thats my .02 .
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 739
Likes: 1
From: Murfreesboro, TN
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Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 8,813
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From: Littleton, New Hampshire
I removed a 29 Ford sedan body from its original frame years ago to replace it with an aftermarket one. With no help and using a combination of jacks, concrete blocks, and 2x6s I jacked up the body, rolled the old frame out, and rolled the new one underneath. The new frame was Z'd at the rear so I also had to cut out most of the rear floor while I had it sitting on the 2x6s. It can be done if you take your time and be careful. 
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 453
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From: Cocoa, FL
If your cherry picker is long enough it's a one person job.
I put it directly on a 2x4 cart like CharlieLed said
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...166432&width=0
easy to move around that way
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...166434&width=0
I put it directly on a 2x4 cart like CharlieLed said
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...166432&width=0
easy to move around that way
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...166434&width=0
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 910
Likes: 8
From: Mustang ,OK
I pulled the cab off my '56 as a 17 year old kid. I took the doors off, and the seat out. I bolted a chain to the seat mounting points (criss-crossed) and picked it with the cherry picker hook as close to the center of gravity (front/rear, side/side) as possible. I'd lift it just off the frame, check my balance, set it down, shift my chains, re-lift. Mine had the windshield still in it so it was very nose-heavy. I have a spare cab w/out a windshield and it's still heavier toward the firewall, but much less so. My only helper was my little brother. I spotted the cab and barked orders to my then 13 year old brother at the helm of the hydraulic piston. Once lifted as neutrally as possible, and high enough to clear the frame, we rolled the cherry picker away from the frame and as soon as possible, lowered the cab WAY down. Still nerve wracking seeing that cab suspended that high. I'd recommend at least one more pair of hands, if at all possible.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,669
Likes: 13
From: San Jose, CA
Originally Posted by frankcowan
If your cherry picker is long enough it's a one person job.
I put it directly on a 2x4 cart like CharlieLed said
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...166432&width=0
easy to move around that way
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...166434&width=0
I put it directly on a 2x4 cart like CharlieLed said
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...166432&width=0
easy to move around that way
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...166434&width=0
However, either way would work.
Just my 2 cents...
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,172
Likes: 1
From: Oakdale,Ca.
I just pulled the cab ahwile ago on my '36, but removed the doors first, then took a 2x8 up inside the cab and used my cherry picker to lift it up (from inside), balanced pretty well too...then rolled the frame out from underneath it.
When I pulled the cab off the '48 I had, still had the doors on it...what I did was jack it up on both side, lay some planks legthwise on the frame a few pices of pipe on them, then another set of planks on top of the pipe...then just rolled it off the back and down to the ground. Just have to keep moving another pipe back every 3 or 4 feet.
When I pulled the cab off the '48 I had, still had the doors on it...what I did was jack it up on both side, lay some planks legthwise on the frame a few pices of pipe on them, then another set of planks on top of the pipe...then just rolled it off the back and down to the ground. Just have to keep moving another pipe back every 3 or 4 feet.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,591
Likes: 14
From: Pflugerville, tx
well, this topic helped me today.. I have a new 54 truck to work on, and we sent it to the blaster this week, and pikced it up at 3pm.. oops.. they didn't put the cab back on the frame, but set it on the end of the trailer.
I have to drive it to Dallas tomorrow to drop it off with my son.
Anyhow, not to comfortable with it strapped to the trailer like that, and the weight imbalance.. used the engine hoist and 2-2x4 thick front to back thru the windows and hoist thru the front window and lifted the cab off the trailer and set it down turned around..
then rolled the chassis off the trailer, then lifted the cab back on and bolted it down.. then loaded the 54 back onto the trailer with the power winch.
3 hours start to finish, including unloading the cab of the rest of the sheet metal and loading it back up..
My wife even cranked on the hoist to lift/lower while I put the bolts in
Sam
I have to drive it to Dallas tomorrow to drop it off with my son.
Anyhow, not to comfortable with it strapped to the trailer like that, and the weight imbalance.. used the engine hoist and 2-2x4 thick front to back thru the windows and hoist thru the front window and lifted the cab off the trailer and set it down turned around..
then rolled the chassis off the trailer, then lifted the cab back on and bolted it down.. then loaded the 54 back onto the trailer with the power winch.
3 hours start to finish, including unloading the cab of the rest of the sheet metal and loading it back up..
My wife even cranked on the hoist to lift/lower while I put the bolts in
Sam
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,906
Likes: 82
From: Oregon
I have always just gutted the cab, and then unbolted it, and then tilted it back so I could let it rest on my back, and then put hands in the rear window opening and then just heeved it up on my back and walked it to the back of the frame, and then turned it around and bear hugged it to the ground. Never had any trouble doing it like that. Most recently (only because I had access to it) I have been using the bucket on the tractor.