Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

Hi, I am about to take the body off of the frame. I have seen several pictures of other people doing this and most of them have a bar that goes across the door frame. I'm guessing this is for support sense there is no longer a frame to keep everything straight. Is this bar required and is it something I can just buy or do I need to make them. I'm building the wood frame that's in the wiki to store the body above the frame. How many people do you think I will need to lift the body? and where do I grab the body so I don't bend or crack anything?

If anyone has a set of the door frame bars (or whatever they are called) can I borrow them or buy them from you, if I need them? Also, anyone in the area down to help out, I'll provide beer and hot dogs.

My car is a '66 (if it makes a difference) and I live in the Sacramento, CA area.

Thanks,
Todd

I would advise you custom make the door bars.
Measure, cut, weld and fit them as soon as you have the doors off.
Make them snug, not over or undersized.
I certainly would advise using them, at least the door fit will be no worse than it is now.
I made the mounting plates so that they had a small footprint behind where the door catch and hinges are mounted.

This leaves the minimum area to be finished off once they are removed.
Also I would advise using jack stands and trolley jack to do the lifting.
Free hot dogs and beer are not good enough payment for a back injury

Thanks for the info. I'll get to work on the door bars. I've heard of several people who took the body off with only 4 people, but if there is an easier/ safer method I'm all for it. I have lots of jack stands and a few trolley jacks. Also, if you drink lots of beer first you can't get hurt right?

When jacking up the body alone, where should I put the jack to not dent/ damage the body?

Thanks again.

I used a short length of steel tubing to bridge across the engine bay, between the body and chassis.
Try to spread the weight being lifted across the chassis mounts as much as possible.

You can see the jack stands supporting things here.

The body is a tough nut even when free of the chassis.

I had the chassis on some spare 13" rims and gradually wheeled it out from under the body.

I also used the platform of my car ramps to support the body for a while.

I do it by myself



Harbor Freight shop crane, one ton chain hoist, and a 1000 lb strap around the door braces.

You have to find the balance point - after that , it's easy.

Hers's another view

Not trying to hi-jack the thread, but do any of you take off the front clip when you take the body off? Sorry if it's a dumb question, I'm still new to these cars.

Cherry picker and straps, easy one-man job. Pat

we have two sets of door supports, one for high screen, one for low. We weld old door hinges to support the front of the bar. We also have braces from rear door post top to top of windscreen on late cars. Both types of cars get a side to side brace which helps pick body off frame. Its best to make the car as light as possible so front fenders , hood , and trunk lid come off before extracting body from frame. Don't forget to remove handbrake linkage, grounding strap at starter, brake lines, speedo and tach cables, bolts in front of rear wheels. 14 bolts hold frame and body together.

Ross
sports imports

Also don't forget gas lines at tank and various electrical. Three of us lifted body off frame after doors, hood, fenders and deck lid were removed

Thanks everyone for the info, tips, and pictures. Seems like its not too hard.

Me and a buddy lifted it off our selves. Pretty easy, and I'm not a big guy. I then placed it on some sawhorses for a bit. 4 people aren't necessary.

If the doors, hood, windshield, and trunk are still on the car I would recommend 4 ppl. lol

Ya, I figured it can be done with enough people, I can get as many people as I want (i was thinking 6 or even . I am planning on leaving the body pretty much together minus the doors and hood. I have jacks and stands just in case its to heavy. Are there any weak spots I should avoid lifting from that might bend when lifting?

Weird, there is a smiley face where the number 8 (eight) should be in my last post. Oh well.