Body removal question

[CDOG]

I am about to start the complete teardown of this rusty beast and was wondering if I should invest in a sawzall to remove the old body mounts. I have a 2" body lift to go in down the road and am all about saving time here and there. Should I try to unbolt it or just cut the bolts is the actual question?

 

[Pa PITT]

budy lift

i'd sure have to try and unbolt her frist ...if you got air turn it up and break it if it wont come loose ....mine did the frist time but i put bed liner on mine and now i need to get back into it ....utt oh .....papitt

 

[cbearly]

I would agree with PAPITT, try to get the bolts loose first. Start spraying them with a good penetrating oil a few days before you try. If they still won't come loose then break them off.

 

[big daddy walt]

I agree, start the penetrating oil now. I installed a body lift on my truck and got the nuts to come right off, but getting the bolts out of the bushings was a different story. The sawsall came in handy.

 

[trailpsycho]

When I put my WH 1"BL on, I was able to get the bolts loose, a few out, but still had to cut through the bushings and a couple of the bolts as they were seized afte 30 yrs of service. Use a sawzall, but try not to attack the bodymount or rubber, try to get the blade between the two and it will go much quicker. If you can find a buddy to assist with a couple, it will give a needed rest. Also, I would recommend an electric sawzall and not a battery pack-type, unless you have several batteries or lots of time for them to recharge.

 

[broncow72]

You seem to have a legitimate reason to buy a really cool tool, unless the $$ isn't there, I'd get the sawzall. It will be helpful with many different projects.

 

[swa0330]

Two very critical things that got missed to this point

1) Do your floor pan replacement with the body on. The chance for movement in the whole structure is a lot less and that is good.

2) When you pull the tub, make sure that you at a minimum weld in some cross bracing in the door openings. The body can fold up like a taco if you don't.

I would sawzall the body mounts off because they never ever want to separate.

 

[Bator]

While taking mine apart I was really glad to have the sawsall due to the fact the no matter how much penatrating lube was put on, somethings just would come off. I also had to sawsall off the the front body mounts. Even though I was able to get the bolts out the mounts were fused in place. I have found the sawsall to be one of those can't live without tools!