tips on first time lifting body off frame

[Boiler Ben]

I have just finished building my elevated body buck from plans I found here. It looks good and the car fits underneath it. I'm looking for tips on how to get the body up onto the buck. I've watched the FFR video on lifting the body and that part seems pretty simple. But getting it high enough to get it on the elevated buck seems tricky. 4 people? 2 ladders? Does anyone have any advice, photos, videos?

[cv2065]

I have an elevated buck as well. I didn't need ladders but enlisted the help of my 20 year old, as even though it's about 100 pounds or so, it can get a little unwieldy when you lift the body above your shoulders and tend to tip to one side or the other if your grip is not wide enough. With one on each end, we were able lift it up. Be sure to use gloves as the edges will dig into you as you lift it that high and keep your hands as wide of a grip as possible. You'll have to alternate hand position halfway from pulling to pushing to get it up and over. A knee, or third person, is a good rest to do it.

Don't forget the center brace before lifting so the body doesn't twist.

[gbranham]

Don't overthink it. It's light, and two peeps, one at each end, can easily lift it up onto an elevated buck. My dad and I did mine in two minutes. It's really not a big deal. No 2x4 bracing required. The body is more flexible that folks realize. It's pretty rugged.

[Jeff Kleiner]

OR>>>>

You can anchor 4 cam lock straps to the ceiling (you can even use you overhead garage door tracks) and you won't need any help!

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

Jeff

[Boiler Ben]

Thanks. It sounds like it might be more manageable than I thought. Question about the center brace. It looks like the body does need to flex a bit to release from the frame. Do you put in a brace after it's cleared but before you move it? Just a 2x4 placed at the top middle of the body?

[Derald Rice]

Thanks Jeff, I knew that I had seen your video before but I could not find it...

Any special tricks to use on the 289 FIA bodies ??

[AC Bill]

Two people can lift and carry the body, but the job is a whole lot easier if there are four.
Supporting the body at the door openings is helpful, and there is far less chance of a crack occurring in this weaker area. The brace should be in place anytime the body is lifted by just two people.

[JMD]

I wouldn't use a brace. I did one of the first times I tried removing the body and it wound up cracking the radius above the dash. Haven't used one since and it's been fine. If you're being intentional about not folding it in half you'll be ok.

[Jeff Kleiner]

I wouldn't use a brace. I did one of the first times I tried removing the body and it wound up cracking the radius above the dash. Haven't used one since and it's been fine. If you're being intentional about not folding it in half you'll be ok.

Well…I always use the brace. A few hundred body on and off and have never damaged one. So suit yourself.

Jeff

[CraigS]

I am sure that if you have experienced people helping you can get by w/o a 2x4 brace. But I would use one. Also, I would tape one end in place. That way if the body happens to bend a bit the other way, or happens to get tilted a bit to one side, the brace doesn't fall out.

[Boiler Ben]

Thanks for all the great tips. I'm going to make a brace for lifting. I also saw something in the manual that they didn't talk much about but in the photo of the body buck there is a dash support piece. I suppose this is a good idea to add but probably can't position it until the body is on the buck.
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[ggunter]

I have always been a one man band so you have to think of ways to work smarter and sometimes harder:(. I used two deer hoists from harbor freight to lift and install the body by myself. 216671216672216673 Its pretty easy to do by yourself.