Body cradle

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: Body cradle
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael grady on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 - 06:57 pm:

Hi Guys,

I’ve been restoring my 16 touring, and I’m at the point where I’m ready to remove the body from the frame.
I’d like to put it on a movable cradle for painting and for just getting it out of the way.
Do any of you guys have a photo or a drawing of a wooden cradle you’ve used/built that I can copy?
Also, it there a way of removing the body as a one man job (sans a ceiling lift)? I was thinking of trying to slip some plywood under it and then use a series of wooden dowels?

Thanks for your help!

Michael


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Norman T. Kling on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 - 08:47 pm:


Here is a picture of what I did. I made "horses" out of 2x4's and put two 2x4's across the top. I made it the height that I could roll the chassis in and out from under it. I could get under it and paint the underside as well as the inside and outside of the body. When I was through painting, I just rolled the chassis under and lowered the body and bolted in place.
Norm


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Herb Spies - Ft. Walton Bch,FL on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 - 10:11 pm:

I made a rolling cart as shown. I used the casters off a packing skid. I used my lift to raise the body from the frame but you could also use a cherry picker. Tcart


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jack Putnam, Bluffton, Ohio on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 - 10:31 pm:

Here is a steel based body cart. It shows a '14 touring body but it is adjustable to many different cars.Body cartbody cart


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jack Putnam, Bluffton, Ohio on Wednesday, May 30, 2012 - 10:39 pm:

Oops! Sorry about the double post. I didn't invent the system, I just try to use it.

Removed 2nd post. Chris


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Keith Townsend ; ^ ) Gresham, Orygun on Thursday, May 31, 2012 - 12:46 am:

Michael-
Here's mine:



You are welcome to use it.

: ^ )

Keith


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael grady on Thursday, May 31, 2012 - 04:50 am:

Thanks guys, these are great....still trying to figure out how to lift it off the frame by myself.

Cherry picker Herb?..like in engine cherry picker?

Michael


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael grady on Thursday, May 31, 2012 - 04:54 am:

Keith...BTW, how did you get that metal so clean? Paint stripper, blasting, sanding?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By mike_black on Thursday, May 31, 2012 - 07:50 am:

Here's my big "H" I made. There are loops at each corner to hook straps, and the "H" is large enough that it picks the body up rather than squeezing the body inward with the straps. Used a boat winch bolted to a column with cable ran through a pulley on a beam then down to my "H". I've used it for a closed cab pickup, a hack, and a touring body. Great if you work by yourself.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Norman T. Kling on Thursday, May 31, 2012 - 11:22 am:

My system works very well for lifting by myself. You merely roll the chassis with the body on it to the location you want to lift the body, then set up the 4 horses on each side and you can easily lift one end of the body while pushing the 2x4 under. (It helps to have a wife or child to put in the 2x4 so you can use both arms to lift the body. When you get one end of the body on the horse, go to the other end and repeat. Then roll out the chassis. Note, I position so that the rear of the chassis points in the direction I will be rolling it out. Two things needed to prepare the chassis. 1. remove the steering column, and 2. pull out the keys from the rear axles and put the wheels on without the keys, leaving the nuts loose enough so the hubs will spin on the axle. Or if the engine is out, you can leave the keys in. Note I did this with old wheels on without the tires so the car would sit 3 1/2 or 4 inches lower. But if you are tall, you can leave the tires on when you do this.
Norm


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Nicholas Lingg - Tarboro, NC on Thursday, May 31, 2012 - 11:40 am:

Hospital or Ambulance gurney


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael grady on Thursday, May 31, 2012 - 04:39 pm:

Thanks guys,

I built a little cart to wheel around and was able to slide the body onto the cart by placing it next to the body while it was still on the frame.

Now the fun begins....again!

Michaelcart


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mike D, Williamsburg VA on Thursday, May 31, 2012 - 06:01 pm:



Like Michael's I added wheels to my cart


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By michael grady on Thursday, May 31, 2012 - 06:31 pm:

wow...that is one yellow car!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Keith Townsend ; ^ ) Gresham, Orygun on Thursday, May 31, 2012 - 07:15 pm:

Michael-
The entire body was disassembled and parts were gently blasted with walnut shells. A few pieces of bad wood were replaced and the body was primed. The previous photo was taken after all the primer sanding was finished. This photo was taken after finish coats of black (undercoat) and the dark blue.



Be sure to use the mounting brackets and some lag screws to secure your body to you cradle.

Also wrap your cradle with masking paper so you don't get dust blown into your paint!

: ^ )

Keith


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