So many memories as I watch your updates. I rebuilt one as a poor 20 year old and had 3 of my buddies help pull the body from the frame. Your frame is much cleaner than mine was. I went through 2 gallons of Simple Green cleaning it up.
Chris, Thanks for the videos. I know it's a ton of work to do both the work AND the videos. I acquired a 63 TR4 earlier this summer, and I'm going to have to do the same work as you highlight here. It's a great help to see how things go together. I look forward to following the continuing work. THANKS, Dave
That's a real milestone in your progress, Chris. I was surprised how easily the body came off my TR4. I used two chain hoists hung from the rafters... using the same lift points as you at the front (hood hinge mounts), but I had a roll bar to use at the rear. I actually did less disassembly... doors, boot lid, dash, windahield frame and more still on the body. I didn't even brace the doors! But I was just refurbishing the frame, suspension and such, then reinstalling the body. It will come off again for some of the more serious body repairs. I ended up replacing the frame on my car. The original was badly tweaked from two separate accidents. One on the left front corner showed a bend to the frame where you're replacing due to rust. It took another hit on the right rear. A harder hit than your car saw, put a real twist in the frame. I was lucky to find a good, clean, straight frame locally... sure was nice to have a fresh starting point! Now I just need to get the car moved out of storage and finish the work! Meanwhile I am enjoying watching you follow a similar path. You're way ahead of me in body repair... and will soon catch up to me with your chassis and frame!
Thanks, Alan. Definitely not much to it. I could easily lift each corner...but didn't have as much weight as you, of course. I don't see any obvious damage, but I will be checking it square using the measurement and procedures in the workshop manual.
Chris, good work effort. Thanks for posting. Reminds me of my MGA restoration. That’s one of the design features of these older cars that is so cool. You can remove the body and then work on a complete rolling frame. Keep posting these excellent videos.
So glad you added bracing before lifting body. I know you did the same with Dorothy. I have seen many resto's that lift these without bracing.....just asking for trouble. Keep up the good work.
The frame looks to be in great shape, and will probably take very little time and effort to repair. Nice work on pulling the valance and straightening the metal inbehind it. Moving right along. Take care.
Thanks, Barry. Happy with the frame. Except for that one spot, I agree it's mainly just cleaning and getting it painted. I got lucky with the Spitfire, too.
Thanks! I'm not sure if I'll got with a rotisserie or just a wooden contraption like I used with the Spitfire so I can turn the body up on it's side. That was cheap and effective, but the Spitfire body was also lighter, so we'll see. @cheftush and @RustyBeauties both use this method and it's worked for them.
So many memories as I watch your updates. I rebuilt one as a poor 20 year old and had 3 of my buddies help pull the body from the frame. Your frame is much cleaner than mine was. I went through 2 gallons of Simple Green cleaning it up.
Ouch. Yeah, that's dirty. I'd say I just have the "normal" layer of mung on there. Rust preventative. Thanks!
Chris,
Thanks for the videos. I know it's a ton of work to do both the work AND the videos. I acquired a 63 TR4 earlier this summer, and I'm going to have to do the same work as you highlight here. It's a great help to see how things go together. I look forward to following the continuing work.
THANKS,
Dave
Thanks, Dave. Good luck with your TR4. I've got the frame stripped now and that'll be the next video coming. Not incredibly exciting, but necessary.
Good job Chris. Nice to get the body off
It is. Thanks, Chef!
Your progress is uplifting!😀
Ha! I see what you did there. Thanks, Skip!
That's a real milestone in your progress, Chris. I was surprised how easily the body came off my TR4. I used two chain hoists hung from the rafters... using the same lift points as you at the front (hood hinge mounts), but I had a roll bar to use at the rear. I actually did less disassembly... doors, boot lid, dash, windahield frame and more still on the body. I didn't even brace the doors! But I was just refurbishing the frame, suspension and such, then reinstalling the body. It will come off again for some of the more serious body repairs.
I ended up replacing the frame on my car. The original was badly tweaked from two separate accidents. One on the left front corner showed a bend to the frame where you're replacing due to rust. It took another hit on the right rear. A harder hit than your car saw, put a real twist in the frame.
I was lucky to find a good, clean, straight frame locally... sure was nice to have a fresh starting point!
Now I just need to get the car moved out of storage and finish the work! Meanwhile I am enjoying watching you follow a similar path. You're way ahead of me in body repair... and will soon catch up to me with your chassis and frame!
Thanks, Alan. Definitely not much to it. I could easily lift each corner...but didn't have as much weight as you, of course. I don't see any obvious damage, but I will be checking it square using the measurement and procedures in the workshop manual.
Chris, good work effort. Thanks for posting. Reminds me of my MGA restoration. That’s one of the design features of these older cars that is so cool. You can remove the body and then work on a complete rolling frame. Keep posting these excellent videos.
Thanks, Robert! It does make it very convenient. And when you get tired of one thing, you can swap to the other. Helps keep my motivation up.
That frame looks in very good condition for the age Chris , very enjoyable content keep with it 🤙🇬🇧
Thank you! Except for that one spot, which looks straightforward, I think it'll be mostly cleaning and then giving it some paint.
Молодець, мужик, гарна робота і світлий розум. Дякую за відео. Good luck.
Дякую і дякую за перегляд з України!
inspiring for my GT6 project
Good! I hope you get back into it!
So glad you added bracing before lifting body. I know you did the same with Dorothy. I have seen many resto's that lift these without bracing.....just asking for trouble. Keep up the good work.
Thanks. It's minimal, but too easy to do it not to do it at all.
The frame looks to be in great shape, and will probably take very little time and effort to repair. Nice work on pulling the valance and straightening the metal inbehind it. Moving right along. Take care.
Thanks, Barry. Happy with the frame. Except for that one spot, I agree it's mainly just cleaning and getting it painted. I got lucky with the Spitfire, too.
Nice Chris ! Do you plan on putting the body on a rotisserie to turn it ?
Thanks! I'm not sure if I'll got with a rotisserie or just a wooden contraption like I used with the Spitfire so I can turn the body up on it's side. That was cheap and effective, but the Spitfire body was also lighter, so we'll see. @cheftush and @RustyBeauties both use this method and it's worked for them.