Body storage during build

[MB750]

I'm not sure how many others have done this but I've been thinking about this since I placed my order.

I've got a 3 car garage (two stall next to a one stall with a wall divider). My side is the two stall, my wife's is the single along with her car, my air compressor, the lawn mower, and a small "loft" I built just to get stuff off the floor.

My side has all my tools, two work benches along the side and back walls, fridge, motorcycle, wash basin, small mill, mountain bikes, garbage cans, etc... When I start the build I'll have one side of my garage dedicated to the frame and assembly with all the boxes of parts in our spare bedroom. My only question now is what to do with the body? Originally I was thinking about building some type of swinging or gantry crane out of lumber to hoist it off the floor and hang it from the ceiling. I can build something along the lines of a body buck, but make it so it's hoistable rather than rolling on the floor. The body itself can't be more than 30" tall so if I could get it right up to the ceiling I could still walk under it, or work on the car beneath it.

What have others done with the body during their builds?

[Jeff Kleiner]

Lots of guys have hung them. Or, you can simply store it outside.

Jeff

[JeffP]

Kayak Hoist – Overhead Pulley... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001EUL2DO?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=163514&d=1646614989

[edwardb]

For several builds, I've used an elevated cart like this one. Depending on where I'm working on the car, it can be left inside. Or rolled out onto the driveway.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albums/ab234/edwardb123/Factory%20Five%20Mark%204%20Roadster%20Build/Body%20Buck/.highres/IMG_1816.jpg?width=960&height=720&fit=bounds (https://photobucket.com/u/edwardb123/a/4543da18-f8d6-40c5-ad17-85114a3c9874/p/e8daf56b-8b67-4c0a-ba95-998b2d4bc901)

[hineas]

We used 4 small pulleys and connected them to the overhead studs in the ceiling with lag hooks. It took two people to raise and lower it. We just built the body buck like the manual says and then attached some 2x4s along the bottom to tie off the ropes. It worked well for us.

163954

[runamuk]

I have mine hung from the ceiling above the frame. I screwed in 4 eye hooks and ran pull style cargo straps down to each wheel well opening. I have plenty of room to work on the frame or I can roll it out of the garage for bigger work.

[zee]

Lots of guys have hung them. Or, you can simply store it outside.

Jeff

Hey Jeff,

I was thinking about leaving it in the backyard and just putting a cover on it. Is that okay? Should I skip the cover altogether? I assume snow / rain won't do any harm?

Thanks.
Z

[MB750]

Hey Jeff,

I was thinking about leaving it in the backyard and just putting a cover on it. Is that okay? Should I skip the cover altogether? I assume snow / rain won't do any harm?

Thanks.
Z

I know you asked Jeff this question but I'd like to give comment. My thoughts on putting the body outside are compounded by a couple issues. First, I'd need to move it every time I mowed the lawn. Second, Florida has some wicked sun and strong thunderstorms all summer and I'd be worried about damage.

If I were you, I'd at least cover it from UV. It's just like a boat (fiberglass). What happens to boats that are neglected outside in the sun?

[MB750]

Kayak Hoist – Overhead Pulley... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001EUL2DO?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=163514&d=1646614989

I really like this kayak hoist idea. I could put it over my wife's car, but it would have to be just below the garage door opening since my doors don't have as much space above them as yours do. Regardless, she could still easily park under it and walk beneath it. Thank you.

[JeffP]

I really like this kayak hoist idea. I could put it over my wife's car, but it would have to be just below the garage door opening since my doors don't have as much space above them as yours do. Regardless, she could still easily park under it and walk beneath it. Thank you.

It works great and i can raise it by myself with the pulleys and they're cheap. I think the body is about 29" and when the door opens I have about 3/4" clearance... Like. A. Glove.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Hey Jeff,

I was thinking about leaving it in the backyard and just putting a cover on it. Is that okay? Should I skip the cover altogether? I assume snow / rain won't do any harm?

Thanks.
Z

Here's how they are stored at Factory Five:

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=163955&d=1538649124

Put it on a buck with a cockpit brace and it'll be fine. Rain won't hurt it, snow won't hurt it, UV won't hurt it unless it's left out for years. However, as Dave Smith will attest to a tree falling on it will hurt it (about 4 years ago he and his son Adam were building one for Adam in Dave's home garage and the body was outside when a big tree came down and crushed it! Luckily Dave "knows a guy" and was able to get a replacement ;)).

Jeff

163955

[egchewy79]

how does FFR mow around those bodies? grass looks pretty well manicured.

[MB750]

how does FFR mow around those bodies? grass looks pretty well manicured.

LOL, seriously though, I've got St. Augustine in my yard (HOA rules) and in the summer months it grows about 3" per week.

Stuff just grows like crazy down here, especially in the summer. And one other concern with outside storage is animals. There's some gnarly snakes down here too. The last thing I wanna do is give them a home.

[chuckster]

Stored mine outside. Body buck, cockpit brace, tarp.

[steno]

I’m guessing interns are involved in that! Business from literally the ground up!

[Jeff Kleiner]

I’m guessing interns are involved in that! Business from literally the ground up!

I know for fact that Adam Smith has cut A LOT of grass :D

Jeff