Best way to put a FSJ on it's side???

[Mr.Wagoneer]

Okay, So I’m getting ready to start my frame up restoration for my 83 Wagoneer around the end of this month or beginning of December now that it’s cool enough to work out side for long periods of time it’s an ideal time for this. However I do have two questions for you guy’s,

First question is how much dose the “Empty” shell of a Wagoneer weigh? No door’s no glass no interior and no Tailgate. If you don’t know give me your best guess as we'll be lifting the body via a group of 5 maybe 6 guy’s.


My second question and the one most important to me is once the body is off what is the best way to get the shell of a Wagoneer on its side for under coating without denting or warping the body? I understand the best possible way to do this is with a rotisserie however I just don’t have the extra money to buy one nor the mean’s to make one, and seeing how I’ll need the car off of the frame for a decent amount of time renting one is out of the question as well. This is my thought and let me know if this isn’t as good as an idea as I’d like to think it is, Would turning the shell over on a bunch of old mattresses be the best poor man solution to turning over the body? Just long enough to clean and undercoat the body :)

Thank's!

[Dumpy]

Hook it and hang it

[Mr.Wagoneer]

Hook it and hang it

Like with a winch? Hmm I never thought of that option! That could work pretty well I'll look into this! :thumbsup:

[Lindel]

I was going to say "forklift" until you mentioned no dents or dings...

Not really sure what to suggest for you.

[tgreese]

I would just raise it and leave it level. If you use a Schutz gun for the undercoating, you can spray up at the bottom of the shell when it's sitting on saw horses or something similar. Shouldn't be a big deal.

[1983 j10]

when i did the underside of my j truck cab i rolled it on its side in the grass and it didnt hurt it but i dont know how that will work with a wag body it might do a litte more to it since its heavier. but you might be on to something with using some kind of padding under it i would try to use some thick foam instead of matresses.

[Mr.Wagoneer]

when i did the underside of my j truck cab i rolled it on its side in the grass and it didnt hurt it but i dont know how that will work with a wag body it might do a litte more to it since its heavier. but you might be on to something with using some kind of padding under it i would try to use some thick foam instead of matresses.

Yeah my biggest concerns are the quater panel's there kinda flimsy I would like to weld some sort of reinforcing strip's to the inside of the quater panels to make them stronger so they dont dent in just from some one's butt leaning on'em but i'm not able to do that just yet so I think I'll keep my eye's peeled for some foam if not that I'm kinda liking Tgreese's idea of just setting up high and crawling underneith

[Billygoat]

I'm a little disappointed, I expect some pics of an oops on a trail ride.
I am glad no FSJ was hurt - but still, carnage pics are cool.

X2 on raise it up and work underneath - just use solid supports!

[Mr.Wagoneer]

I'm a little disappointed, I expect some pics of an oops on a trail ride.
I am glad no FSJ was hurt - but still, carnage pics are cool.

X2 on raise it up and work underneath - just use solid supports!

:funny:

Hahaha, I was waiting for some one to say that, When I entered the title I thought to my self "some one's gonna get dissapointed today"

[CJ the noisemaker]

I'm a little disappointed, I expect some pics of an oops on a trail ride.Got a pic to cure that disappointment :thumbsup:
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c227/plato132/DSCI0676.jpg

[MartyHQ]

You can check this thread and ask the member CJ5 how he did it. When I had my body off I wanted to ask him but was to lazy to do so.

http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=128757

Otherwise in my thread you can see how I did it. I had the body off for 255 days;)

[fulsizjeep]

I'm a little disappointed, I expect some pics of an oops on a trail ride.OK, you asked for it. This one was on each side at one point or another multiple times...
http://i602.photobucket.com/albums/tt107/mystkblu/Arizona%202010/IMG_7707.jpg

http://i602.photobucket.com/albums/tt107/mystkblu/Arizona%202010/IMG_7727.jpg

[Mr.Wagoneer]

You can check this thread and ask the member CJ5 how he did it. When I had my body off I wanted to ask him but was to lazy to do so.

http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=128757

Otherwise in my thread you can see how I did it. I had the body off for 255 days;)

Holy mother of god... your a metal working demi god lol you have some insane talent!

And thanks for that link I've read that thread a few months ago but could never find it again I'll PM CJ5 on how he did it :D

[Blacksmith01]

One of the quickest ways is to use ANFO about 20lbs of it under the fuel tank. It's sure to take the body off.:thumbsup:

[Asphalt Cowboy]

Inner tubes work really well for padding.
I used two tractor tubes when sandblasting
the underbody of my '55 Mercury 4dr wagon.

[CJ5]

I was able to use my engine hoist and some chain. I hooked chain onto the seat belt bolt on the fender. I went through the window to get get it moving in the right direction. I then secured it and repositioned the hoist through the door and used the seat belt bolt closest to the door to finish lifting it. I actually did it myself but it took some time and a lot of head scratching.

I placed it on two furniture dollies. I spanned the dollies with wood, a 2x4 for the front and a 4x4 for the rear. This lifted the rear a little higher to clear the fender flares. I didn't have any issue with denting at all. I didn't worry that much about that since I had other body work anyway.

http://www.fototime.com/C10F348251E89B7/standard.jpg

[Coryd55]

Easiest way would probably be something like this:

http://www.aegweb.org/images/Geologic%20Hazards/rockfall.jpg

[autoarcheologist]

What about bolting a long bar with a T on the end through the body to the door hinge plates, so it sticks out and has the top of the T to sit on once it's over? If you spread the load over all 4 door openings it probably will hold.

I've never done this, just trying to picture something that you could bolt to the body, then roll the body over and onto.

Good luck!