Body Storage

[SCFFR]

I did a forum search and really didn't find an answer, so thought I would ask.

My MkIV roadster is scheduled to be delivered next week and after the drool has dried up in a few days, I will want to remove the body and start work on the chassis.

I know there are plans for body bucks if you want to store your body over your chassis and such but was wondering if it was just okay to set the body on the floor for long term storage. I have the space in the garage and since I won't be doing any work on the body for some time, just need it out of the way.

I assume that the laminations have cured enough by the time the car arrives that it will safely support its own weight.

Would appreciate any feedback.

Thanks!!

[AC Bill]

It has been suggested that in fact the bodies are not completely cured when rec'd. Many builders leave them outside on a buck exposed to sun and weather, with no ill effects. I did..I think for about 18 months.
There is always a chance that the body left unsupported over time, could cure in a shape that will lead to issues later on. There is a good reason for using the buck.

[billybobracing]

I've hung two from the ceiling of the garage for 10 months or more with no ill effects. I put a brace in the cockpit opening and ratchet straps through the wheel wells to hooks on the ceiling.
HTH
Bill

[SirAustin]

I noticed with my body buck the body actually sags a little since there is nothing supporting it in the middle. Is that an issue to worry about? Will it form that way if left long?
Glad someone started this thread = )

[riptide motorsport]

If you leave it in the Florida sun for over a year or more you will very likely see delamination,but most places you can leave it outside for a couple of years..Steven

[jlfernan]

I would put a brace across the cockpit, front to back, to keep it from sagging in the middle.


I noticed with my body buck the body actually sags a little since there is nothing supporting it in the middle. Is that an issue to worry about? Will it form that way if left long?
Glad someone started this thread = )



http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/2561/jorgec.jpg (http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/private.php?do=newpm&u=111)

[emac]

I put a couple of vertical braces in the middle of car on the body buck.

[cwrandolph]

Don't just set the body on the floor - it will get distorted. Build a buck and use the brace to hold it in the proper position. Outside is OK.

[SCFFR]

Thanks for all the feedback.
One of my previous jobs was building custom sailboats (in Florida) and one thing you avoided was creating a "hard spot" next to a new lamination (less than 6 months old). Hard spots were created when you had a plywood bulkhead or some other hard structure contact the fiberglass skin.
I was thinking that sitting the "fresh" body on a wood buck would create a few hard spots and possibly distort the fiberglass although now that I think more about it sitting it on a hard surface would do the same.
I would assume based on the volume of kits sold that bodies are made in advance and stored until shipped since FFR has a dedicated lamination group. Maybe the bodies aren't as fresh as we think........................just guessing.

Maybe I'll support it in the wheel wells with a couple of wide saw horses and but a couple of braces in the middle of the car to keep the door openings fixed.

[Jeff Kleiner]

I've set bodies on the floor a couple of times while moving them from buck to chassis. When doing so, with the body setting on the rockers, the nose and the tail droop so a cockpit brace will do nothing (cockpit brace only comes into play when picking the body up from the ends). If you want to store it this way long term I'd block the front and rear up into their natural position. Or you could just do what has worked successfully for a few thousand of these things and make a buck...

Jeff

[SCFFR]

You are absolutely correct Jeff...........................if a body buck has worked for all these years and bodies, I will go with that. No need to create potential problems for myself when I go to fit the body. Off to Lowes to get some particle board.

[rpc47]

I cut the the front and rear contours and screw nailed them to two saw bucks. One 3' brace across and down to the floor. After I completed the roaster simply fold up the bucks and store flat the front and rear contours.

[emac]

I was in the same situation as you, and just needed something to hold the body. Make the legs very short....like one foot or so. I dont think the body hangs down past the bottom of the plywood. I put casters on the bottom to roll it around. I also made a little shelf to store the doors and hood scoop on. I used all screws and no glue, so when this is done I can take it apart. The body can easily be moved by two people.

[AC Bill]

I put a couple of vertical braces in the middle of car on the body buck.

My buck had these added as well, four in total. Two just behind the cockpit on either side, and two on the front approx at the windshield post holes. Just cut and screw some 2x4's, to the main cross braces running between the front and back plywood bucks. I used some foam at the ends for the body to rest on, similar to what you should use for the main bucks.

You can see one of the rear ones in this picture (right side). The horizontal brace isn't really needed with these additional supports, but it doesn't hurt to leave it on.
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m141/12GAGuy/IMG_3097.jpg

[Brian Z]

The body buck is a temporary stand for a very strong body. Using the Mk3 body buck will not hurt an Mk4 body in any way. It does not have to be perfect. The body buck could be 4 posts in the fender well and it would serve it's purpose. The important thing is to have the body up off of the ground.

Best regards,

[3kcarbon]

Mine stayed on a Mk 3 buck for over a year with no problems. The trunk which was in a temp controlled basement seemed to have changed shape by pulling to a tighter radius. I was able to weight it with 2 25lb shot bags and force it back to shape over a 2 week period.

[jkeast]

I'm getting my Mk4 in a month and will also need to store the body for at least a year. Is there any detail on making the contour of the buck that contacts the body or do I need to break out my compass and trace the underside when the kit arrives?

[jlfernan]

jkeast, PM me your email address and I'll send you the diagram on how to build the buck.


http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/2561/jorgec.jpg (http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/private.php?do=newpm&u=111)

[scottns]

Links to plans, etc. in this thread.
http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?4786-Body-buck-plans-for-MK-4-%28Link-please%29&highlight=body+buck