How to lift body clear of Chassis???

[Bayside]

I will be swapping my super rusty crusty bodyshell for a new one shortly but need to work out the logistics of lifting one off and putting the new one on with the engine in situe.

I have the following ideas:

1. I need the interior and some other bits but the shell is fubar so after salvaging the good stuff doors, windows, trim etc I see no reason why I cant chop the other body to bits from the rear forward (easy to take to scrappy) Then leave the dash, loom, bulkhead and inner arches intact to lift in one piece so I can remember what goes where into the new body. Easy enough however what about getting the new body high enough i one peice to drop back onto the chassis?

2. Use a hi-ab, forklift or something similar to lift one clear and drop the other on top having disconnected everything and piling it on top of the engine for attaching to the new body inner wings etc.

3. Some form of jack set up - have no idea what though?

Any ideas or input to ease my grey matter more than welcome!

[POPEYE]

When we were at the landrover specialists nr liss i watched as about eight bloks carried a defender lwb body over a rolling chassis and lowered it in place, i guess that could be done with a surf body shell as long as doors, seats and all interior parts are removed, or you need a high cieling garage with a rolling hoist,
have you bought a brand new shell or is it from another truck that had a good body? was Jims old shell that bad? i did note when you were here the bits around the front screen, looked a bit dodgy, if you need blokes myself and my son and his mate plus probably my son in law (the guy that turned up in his van while you were here) could help out, that'd be 4 any guys at the stn that could help?
once the new shell's in place you can take your time connecting every thing,
(ideal time to do a body lift i'm thinking)

[Bayside]

It is pretty bad the Nearside A pillar is rotten, and there is rot around the C pillars and door shut. The windscreen edging is indicating that if the window were removed it would need a new lip and edge

I think I have sourced a rust free body from a 2.4 Auto that should do the job Ill be sacrificing a sunroof but thats one less thing to go wrong!.

The help would be very much appreciated Ian - when I have everything in place I have been allowed the use of the yard at my mates workshop in Alton to do the swap sp plenty of space! I'm intending on throwing in a BBQ lunch for all those attending

[POPEYE]

Sounds good, just let me know when your all set, i'm sure a few guys on here that live around the area will be happy to help,

[Bayside]

will do

just waiting to weigh up the lifting options for the safest / easiest one and then get planning! should with luck be in the next few weeks.

[Bayside]

Any other ideas people?

[Rustinho]

Big electro-magnet at the local scrapyard?

Should be quick & bags of fun! Just make sure the rest of the Surf is thoroughly stuck to the ground before you start! lol

[MWS]

Any other ideas people?

Hello Glynn. If you take a look at JETSKIDAVID's monster truck build up in the modifications section, there's a wealth of info that should give you plenty of inspiration.....Good luck....Mick.

[Sancho]

Any other ideas people?

Jack it up on all four corners, tie it to an RSJ using strops, then jack it back down again. Not sure how you get the old shell off the ceiling or a new one up there....

[Bayside]

The old body may be for the grinder - undecided yet but we can probably back the trailer with the new body in jack it up pull the trailer and push the chassis under then drop the body back down.