beginners questions
 

Hi all,

I have a 1951 5 window that I can't wait to get started on, but since I have to get retired and get a shop area built, patience is my strong suit. I love reading about all your builds I can find, and the pictures are a great help. However, in all the build threads the pics show cab on, cab off, and I am extremely interested in HOW you guys manipulate these things. Do you have a crew of helpers, some kind of lift, etc!!!

Thanks for any light shed on this.

Redraider

P.S. This is just one of a bazillion questions that I will have, just hope I won't get on your nerves

Re: beginners questions
 

Welcome...i use my 2 post lift for doing such things...ive also used my tractor and front end loader..there is also the engine hoist with 2x cab remover...or 4-5 of your buddy's can set one off...some guys have forklifts....an overhead winch....way back I used a big tree limb and a comalong ...

Re: beginners questions
 

Here's some pics...

Re: beginners questions
 

I wish I had more patience when I first disassembled my truck. Building a contraption for the engine hoist has served me well since.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/A6...9=w704-h938-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/45...=w1251-h938-no

Re: beginners questions
 

If you have a nice shop floor to work on the home made attachment for a cherry picker works pretty good. Someone will probably come up with a better detailed photo.

You Don't want to sling the cab from the cherry picker with a strap though as that is a great way way to put dents in the corners of the cab roof. That is from personal experience.

I've got a gantry I made out of a surplus aluminum I beam and steel tubing years ago that gets involved in about every big project I do.

Here it is holding up my Model A body when I lifted it off my old boat trailer that it needs to go back on this week as I need to clear that spot out so I can have a new drain line run through there. If you look at the right rear corner of the Chevy truck cab you can see the ding the cherry picker put in it when I lifted it off the donor trucks frame. that roof was perfect before I started taking the cab off the truck.

I've got a big H beam going into the shop I am building that my friend insisted I needed that will have a trolley and 2 ton chain hoist on it to lift heavy stuff in the shop.

Re: beginners questions
 

That thing on the cherry picker looks to be the way I should go. Any more detailed pictures anyone?

Thanks again

Redraider

Re: beginners questions
 

On Hussey's Build Page there are nice pics of the cab jig
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=664837&page=3
This is what I am going to use, I just wish there were some Dimensions on this.

Re: beginners questions
 

I'll post a pic of mine when I get home. I worried about this too but when I finally did it, it was super easy. I took my doors off and made my jig out of scrap 2x4 I had. I made it about 4 inches longer on each side and I had meant to add some end pieces in case it slid but it was ok. The center pieces that stick down and attach to the cherry picker I think are only 6 inches long or so. It just barely squeezed over the arm of the picker and then I ran a bolt through.

I jacked it up and rolled the chassis forward. Super easy and barely cost anything.

Re: beginners questions
 

Cherry picker extension can be fabricated from steel or wood:

Re: beginners questions
 

Re: beginners questions
 

mine looks like miracle's except I added some blocks to each end that match the cab width so the can't slip off one side by accident. it has tried once too. good thing those blocks are there.
build it so it can bypass the arm on the lift (the cross pieces are spaced wider than the tubing width of the picker arm), that is also the reason for the extension below the cross piece. it also gives a little more lift if the picker doesn't normally go tall enough to lift the cab off the frame when the truck is up on stands so you can easily get under it

Re: beginners questions
 

Thank you all very much for your help on this, this is exactly what I needed to see!!!!!

Redraider

Re: beginners questions
 

here are a couple of shots of mine. if I hadda made the link to the lift a little longer the cab could be let down a little lower to the ground without interference. the stoppers on each end keep the cab from slipping off plus keep the 2x6 from spreading. a piece of tape on the cab where the edge of the lift bat sits when the cab is level will also help so you lift the cab level each time and no messing around trying to get it just right.
bracing of the cab is also a good idea. fit the doors so the gaps are good, throw a couple of cross braces in, then the doors can be taken off and the cab lifter. that way the cab stays the same, geometrically, and the doors fit when the cab goes back on. especially if the cab is gonna need a little help in the cab mount, floor, door pillar sheet metal area.

Re: beginners questions
 

I have a similar step to take right now, I have to get mine off a cart I made out of a frame (shortened the frame until it was as long as the cab) and I need to get it on the garage floor laying on it's back! I will be doing this all by myself.

Brian

Re: beginners questions
 

Brian,
how about if you bolt some wood to the frame rails so it sticks out the back a couple inches, then lean it over till it sits on the wood and then you could lean/lay it down on it's back maybe with the help of the engine lift or a hand winch from the sky hook once it gets past the center point. some foam on the floor may help cushion the back of the cab on the floor.

Re: beginners questions
 

I have a bunch of bubble wrap (a BUNCH) to put under the back when I roll it over. We will see, I learned a lot from my boss who was a rigger in the army. :D

Brian

Re: beginners questions
 

Here is another, just like the others. I shaped a piece of 2x4 on each end that fits the top of each jamb. I figured it would spread the weight (probably not neccessary) and in would prevent the cab slipping off the lift. I have had the cab on and off more times than I can count already and if you looked at my project you'd ask"when are you getting started "!
In other words you'll need something you can move that cab around with by yourself as you may also need to remove and replace numerous times throughout the process.

Re: beginners questions
 

MARTINSR (Brian), I had your exact same dilemma (or the reverse). See below.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Ld...=w606-h1077-no


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/h0...=w606-h1077-no


https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Mj...=w606-h1077-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/hi...=w606-h1077-no

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_8...=w606-h1077-no

Re: beginners questions
 

haha, I like that last pic sitting under the garage door. it kinda looks like you connected it to the door opener to help lift the cab. I wonder if......nah, wouldn't work. lol.
cool idea for the work alone guy.