Frame Off?

[db4spd]

I never separated 1975 EB from the frame. Need to sandblast the frame do some repairs to driveline, front floor board and a driver rocker replacement.
any advice would be welcome. Thanks D

 

[AZ73]

Read through some other frame off build threads (like mind below in the link below). You'll see all the problems and issues you'll run into so you can prepare for them. And keep us posted!

 

[hankjr]

Well you will get lots of input. In no particular order. Brace your doors and dash panel so that the body doesn't taco when you lift it.

Take lots of photos and make lots of measurements.

Have a safe and secure place for the body. A wood frame with wheels and simulated body mounts to retain elevation is highly recommended.

If you are farming out the blasting talk to several blasters before committing. I went to someone who used lower pressure and crushed glass and specialized in classic cars. For the frame not as critical as body but it's not a dump body and should not be treated as such.

Get some of the Eastwood internal frame coating spray to protect inside of frame.

Relax and have a Homebrew.

Let us know more about your plans and we can give more advice.

 

[tatersalad]

Get yourself a bunch of gallon ziplock bags and sharpies to mark all t he nuts ,bolts , and small stuff.

 

[db4spd]

All sounds great! good to know about the bracing. I guess you would treat it like a convertible car? the body will go on my rotisserie for the work. Any blasting to the body will be soda or pecan shell. Will try and get some starting pictures up by the weekend.

 

[hankjr]

Read up on soda before committing. Cleaning and prepping surface not so simple. Glass and zinc phosphate super simple.

 

[hankjr]

Get yourself a bunch of gallon ziplock bags and sharpies to mark all t he nuts ,bolts , and small stuff.

No no no. That's taking the easy way out. Nothing as fun as the wtf is THIS for face

 

[db4spd]

X 2 for the zip lock and sharpie!

 

[fordtrucksrule]

Well i know from experience. I am CURRENTLY doing a frame off. Where are you located it will be helpful if you have a rotisserie.

 

[db4spd]

Well i know from experience. I am CURRENTLY doing a frame off. Where are you located it will be helpful if you have a rotisserie.

I am located in LA (Lower Alabama)

 

[justorange72]

I too am doing a frame off.

Has anyone ever kept the roll cage bolted to the body and then with the cage on lift the body off the frame. We plan on additional support to the front. Our plan is to turn the body over and use the cage as a rolling platform.
Then blast and repaint the bottom. Once the bottom is complete turn the body back upright
and place it back on the completed frame and drivetrain.
has anyone ever tried this before?

 

[tbratz]

I just put my '69 back together. I have owned it for about 30 yrs. and decided to pull the body to paint the frame and re-gasket the engine while I was at it. I lifted the body off using the full cage roll bar and no other bracing was necessary. Had it apart for about two weeks and just got it up and running again this past weekend.

 

[db4spd]

I am new to this body style but If the body is similar to any other early Ford convertible I would highly recommend the X bracing from the dash area to the B pillar or door jam as was mentioned earlier.
For working the bottom the rotisserie comes in real handy.

 

[Past_Miner]

You're spot on, braces from the dash to the striker posts or bed rails are a very good idea. They are even more important if the floors are rotted out. It's a good idea to brace across the bed opening at the tailgate area too. These are pictures of what I use but a 2x4 bolted across the openings will work too.

I would repair the floors with the body on the frame and mounts to keep the alignment of the mount holes correct and then pull the body. On the last one I did I just found it easier to keep all of the dimensions right.

 

[u10072]

The other post made a really --REALLY great point. If you are saying I am going to put a rollcage in and the floors are crap-- its a great idea to do ALL and I mean all your fabwork before you start moving parts, especially if the doors fit nicely now. Once the cage is fully in then it will lock down the body much better than any bracing ever would. Kicker would be to tie the windshield frame into the cage in a solid fashion (not these turnbuckle ideas that some use). If you aren't going to do anything along the lines of a cage then the bracing idea is important for making the project progress faster.

 

[db4spd]

Some of my concerns are do both fuel tanks and wiring/lines to the fuel tanks have to be dropped prior to removing the body? I have more knowledge about older chevys than the Bronco.

 

[Past_Miner]

The aux tank under the driver seat is strapped to the body so it would come off with it if you wanted it to. The main tank is strapped to the frame and you need to disconnect the filler/vent hoses and wiring to pull the body. The tank can stay in place on the frame. I can't remember for sure on the wiring. Most of it is clipped to the body but there are places where it may be clipped to the frame.

 

[db4spd]

Good info on the fuel tanks. We are soaking some of the fasteners in PB Blaster for a week now getting ready to separate the body. It was in the mud back in the day but still pretty solid. Lots of surface rust on the undercarriage. Thanks for the 411. D

 

[Numberfool]

You will want to for sure get zip lock bags and a sharpie for parts. But, also start filling them with money.

My opinion is its the right way to do it (frame off), but once that body comes off, it's pretty dang difficult to put it back on without replacing a lot of old and worn out parts. The other side of it is a lot of those old and seemingly worn out parts can with some elbow grease be cleaned up, painted and made new again. Doesn't have to cost a fortune, but it usually does.

If you go this route, take a nostalgic ride in her... It will be a while before you get to again.

 

[tatersalad]

No no no. That's taking the easy way out. Nothing as fun as the wtf is THIS for face

Lol ;D%)