approx. weight of Mk IV roadster body?

[Grubester]

I'm barely a week into my build, but I could take the body off any time.
I have a thoroughly sufficient body-buck constructed, but before I corral a couple of neighbors into helping,
I'd like to tell them the approximate weight w/o doors, hood, trunk lid.

Any reasonable estimates out there? Thanks!

[danmas]

No idea on the weight but it is pretty light. Two people can easily move it.

[Wayne r mckee]

Factory five parts website says mk4 body shell weighs 110 lbs

[JohnK]

I agree, it's pretty light and two people could move it easily. I'm guessing it's under 100 pounds. If you do try to move it with just two people, put a 2x4 between the front and rear cockpit edges to keep the body from trying to fold up on the door sills. 4 people makes really easy work of it, as the two people on the sides can pull the lower edges of the body out away from the frame sills a little, and also help ensure the body doesn't fold up and cause a crack somewhere.

[Andrew Davis]

Another option is to make "tool" from lumber and a u-bolt and four large j-bolts, using an engine hoist, to lift it off or on as needed. Worked well for one person operations.

[ggunter]

The body is only about70 lbs one person standing in the middle can easily pick it up and move it around. I did . This is how one person can install and remove the body without help. These pullley systems are for lifting deer and gutting them but work great on the car body.202325

[ggunter]

Oh yea, the gray pipes in the middle of the car are 1 1/4" PVC electrical conduit that I heated with a heat gun to bend so when you let the body down, they spread it over the frame. They are zip tied to the door hinges. Makes a one man, body install pretty easy. I have to give cudo's to someone on the Forum for the Conduit idea. It works great.

[ggunter]

I assume you might be ready to remove or install the body. Here are some more pics of a one-man band way of doing it.202326202327202328202329

[Jeff Kleiner]

You don't need no stinkin' neighbors.

https://www.facebook.com/jeff.kleiner.3/videos/2671380806317944/


:o

Cheers,
Jeff

[rich grsc]

True that Jeff, and that body is WAY stronger than most think. During my repair, Tony & I rolled that thing, flipped it, and carried it all over with no braces. Does to flex, yes,,,break nope.

[Mike.Bray]

My wife broke her arm in three places four years ago and has a titanium plate in it. She was able to easily handle her end.

[Papa]

Oh yea, the gray pipes in the middle of the car are 1 1/4" PVC electrical conduit that I heated with a heat gun to bend so when you let the body down, they spread it over the frame. They are zip tied to the door hinges. Makes a one man, body install pretty easy. I have to give cudo's to someone on the Forum for the Conduit idea. It works great.

Brilliant!

[rich grsc]

The PVC trick is a Captain O-ring innovation

[Jeff Kleiner]

The PVC trick is a Captain O-ring innovation

Working alone breeds all sorts of gadgets!

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=106377&d=1534954130

Jeff

[Grubester]

Thanks to all! Read all suggestions and I know what I need to at this point.
I especially like the one-person approaches, though I'll grab a friendly neighbor.
Also, I'm keen on the short-brace-across-the-cockpit idea to reduce flexing in the region below the door spaces. That looks very helpful.
I'll liberate the body this weekend, most likely. Then some *actual* work.

[DanQ]

Not sure on the roadster, but on the '33 hot rod, I could lift the entire body and carry it in and out of my garage by myself, standing in the middle of it. Two people can lift that body on and off the chassis. I can't believe the Roadster shell is that much different than the '33.

202357