68 GS 400 Vert Off-frame Restoration Well, the big day finally arrived. After a couple months of spraying the body bolts with about 4-5 cans of PB Blaster, I finally got them all out and was able to lift off the body-by myself! First time it's moved in 41 years, best I can tell. (check out the pics of the right, front body mounts- the bolts were almost rusted completely thru- only about 1/8" dia left). I had to cut one of the left front bolts with a sawzall as the exposed thread was too rusted to unscrew. The rest were in pretty good shape. I lifted the body using a 2x4 with eye bolts underneath the drain holes to spread out the load- the engine hoist worked great. I made the support blocks from 2x8's and used 4x4 cross supports. It's very sturdy. I'll take the wheels off now and move the frame around using my car dollys. Yes, it can be done by yourself with a little thought and a-- scratching. Can't wait to get the front and back end off and blast and paint the frame. I'm planning to use POR 15 for the frame- I just bought a gross of latex gloves! My kingdom for a body twirler- alas, had to put the $$ into a media blasting cabinet that I got at TP Tools in Canfield- GREAT COMPANY. They make their own cabinets- it works great. The body will go to JC Auto Body in N. Ridgeville for body work/paint. Well, that's the latest from Brunswick- if you're in the area, stop by and see the project. I'd love to show it to you. Randy Brooks Update on 8-2-09 I got the frame back from the sandblaster a couple weeks ago and primed it with PPG DP-90 2-part Satin Black Primer. A week later, I painted it with PPG DDL9423 Satin Black paint. For painting it in my driveway, it came out looking pretty good.
Looks great Randy. I'm east coast so that looks pretty normal. I also lifted my body with engine hoists and 2x4 horses. Now if you want a rotissirie, I bought mine at GregSmithEquipment. In maryland. I paid 940 out the door. With the pump jacks on both end. Same twirler at Eastwood is 1800.00!!!!
You know randy, i'm looking at the quater panel and i'm saying to myself, damn thats a nice quater? What made you take it apart? If you don't mind me asking.
Nice work Randy looks like safe way to separate body from frame.I usually grab bunch of Buddy's and lift the body off .But if someone didn't eat their Wheaties it gets a little shaky.Looks like solid project -good luck on restoration. :TU: Mike
:gp: Randy! I can't wait to get to that point. Of course my floors are alot more like swiss cheese than yours, so I hope to find enough solid metal to lift it that way. Did you make or buy those cross braces?
I made the support blocks myself. Maybe I should patent it:bglasses: . I took the body off to get at the frame- I plan to blast the frame and repaint with POR 15. Also, I'm replacing all the fuel and brake lines as well as the entire front end. I also will strip all the undercoating off the underside of the body and refinish that as well. I enjoy working on the car and I have a lot of free time, so it's all good. Thanks for all the good words- makes it all worth it. Randy
Randy, Great Job! Two thumbs up for all the figuring you did!!! Of course, I want periodic updates. When you said to visit you in Brunswick I was going to take you up on it, thinking Brunswick, GA. And then I saw Ohio.... We'll see. David
Actually, I was asking about the frames in the door openings that keep the convertible body from twisting. It looks like you only have two supports and they worked good.
I have 3 supports total. One each across each door opening and one across the body just behind the door frame. I bolted them in securely to existing holes in the body using 3/4" black pipe. They seem very solid and appear to be keeping the body rigid. I don't have a welder so this seemed to be a good option. I used the upper rear fender bolt attach fitting (in front of the door frame) and one of the conv top frame attch holes in the rear- the pipe runs thru the body opening where the rear qtr window resides. Randy
DL- It was factory paint code 'G', Ivory Gold Mist with black bucket seats and console shift TH400. You can see some of the original color on the cowl area. I haven't decided which color to go with- I like how it looks in red. Fortunately, I have a LONG time to make that decision. Here's a couple more pictures I took yesterday after I rolled the frame out using my car dollys. It think it will work well to roll it around where I need it before I start ripping all the parts off. Randy
EXCELLENT body lift idea! Will have to employ your method later on this summer with the latest project :Brow: . The Ivy Gold is a really classy color on a 68, IMHO. Please, keep us updated with pics :TU:
I posted some recent pics of frame after sandblasting and painting on 7-28-09. Progress!! (see orig post for details on primer and paint). Randy
