MTFCA Forum

I'm almost ready to mount my 1910 Touring body onto the chassis and need some suggestions as to the best method to accomplish this. The body is still out west with Ray Wells, and until the stay-at-home order there is lifted he cannot ship it back, but I'd like to have an idea as to how to mount it onto the chassis as carefully as possible. It is completely refinished with a brand a new interior, so I imagine it will be a tad heavy. I've thought about just asking some friends over to heft it up and over but we would have to lift it past the gas tank, which sits fairly high. Maybe taking off the wheels and lowering the frame down would help. I do have an overhead chain fall, but my pole barn trusses are not super high so I'm not sure the chain fall could lift it high enough. Besides, I'm thinking if I attached four straps under the body and hooked them on the chain fall it may buckle the sides in. Anyone with experience mounting an early touring body I'd sure appreciate your input - thanks!

Bill, I have to do the same thing myself soon. I'm going to put two 2 x 4s under the body sticking out on each side with a man on the end of each 2 x 4.
That makes four men. Don't think it will be much of an issue to pick it up and set it over the fenders and tank. When it is setting on the frame I will pull the 2 x 4s out from under the body. Good luck.

Here is how I did it on a 11 Touring Dan
http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/33 ... 1364862082

In the posting "What have you done to your T in April" you will see a post from Neil W. and how he and a small group set his body on the frame by lifting it up and walking it forward.

Bob, can you please explain how you used the X strap? Where did you attach the straps to the body? Thanks!

When I got my towncar body back from getting new upholstery I used two 4x4s since that body is considerably heavier. Raised the body above the gastank with a ladder on each corner and just rolled the chassy under it and then slowly lowered it down. The ladders as it turned out was not the smartest idea since they were moving in every direction and at times I thought I was going to lose it. Maybe make sure whatever method you use it is not going to move and cause a big thud on the ground next to the car. It may get expensive or give you suicidal thoughts. Frank

How come no one posts; "Bad Idea's Needed!" ????

Why nobody posts, "Bad ideas Needed":

1. Because we encounter an abundance of them in the news every day.
2. Because we all have kids and grandkids with an abundant supply.
3. Because every time we drive a car the evidence of abundant bad ideas is all around us.

Should I go on?

Here's one way

Here's another

Body lowering has become quite a social occasion at my place. So far my team of lifters has repeated the task 4 times over the years. When I slid my shooting brake body from the work bench across onto the chassis without calling them, they were most upset.

We use a 2x2 at the front of the body, with enough length so that the front pair of lifters can walk past the back wheels. There are two more lifters, one on each rear corner. That makes 4 lifters. You need to be able to watch things as they lower the body, and second pair of eyes does not go astray.

A few ales never go astray. Just keep an eye out for photographers!

Allan from down under.

Beer, Friends with strong backs, Steaks, all a perfect combination for getting things done! Did I mention.., BEER!

Hank

Thanks for all the input fella's - much appreciated! I'll keep you posted with photos once I get the body back but it sounds like the consensus is beer, although I think I'll serve that up AFTER the body is safely in place!

Bill, I have always done it with friends and good 2-4's that way you can lift evenly and take your time, I did my last one with straps and my loader, the straps shifted and now I have a big dent to deal with, glad it was not painted yet. Just my to cents worth! Joe

This is what I did with a 26 touring. I think it would also work with your earlier body. I made two horses out of 2x4's just high enough to be able to roll the chassis underneath without hitting the horses. The only picture I have is shown of me painting the body but to put the body on the chassis, I would turn it 180 degrees from that picture and roll the chassis under, rear axle first. Two men can lift the body up and set it on the horses.
Norm

Another thing I should explain. The top horizontal 2x4 is set into a notch but not nailed down, so after the body is above the chassis, that end of the body is lifted up by 2 men and the 2x4 removed and the body set back down on the chassis. It only has to be lifted a few inches and lowered an inch or two to accomplish. This setup also allowed me to get under the body to paint the underside as well.
Norm

Norman, I think that is a brilliant idea! I think I'll be building a pair of specialty horses soon.

I removed my runabout body by myself. 3 steel stands and a jack. I raised the rear and put a stand under the bed. Then I started blocking the cab until I could get the bar on the steel stands along side. I let the jack down in the rear and rolled the chassis out.

Years of seeing and doing without, I had ideas for my dream shop to include an overhead system to assist me. Since I am by myself about 95% of the time, it sure does do the job. Will lift a ton easily.