Body Off Restore???

[babyburb]

Alright guys,
I know I have been talking about it for months now but I will begin my project next week if the parts arrive on time. I will be doing several things and will need any advice on proper tools or recommendations for each.
body swap- from a 76 to an 87 sub with a 2 in body lift
disc brake conversion
4" tuff country, zero rates, 6" HD shackles, new bushings, steering arm, extended brake lines

shackle flip and switch, 0 rates, rebuilt 56" spring pack from 84 C30, 6" HD shackles, extended brake lines

I plan on pulling the old top off first to do all of the suspension upgrades. Besides normal hand tools, I am not sure what I need. Another question, what are some ideas on how to lift the cabs off to switch. This will not take place in a garage. I have access to a large cement slab to do all of the work on. Any other advice would be great. I will be doing almost all of the work myself and posting it as I go.
Thanks guys

 

[gmc4cw]

the lower your truck sits the easier it will be to swap the body. so you might want to do that first. taking the old body off is easy if you don't care about it. hack it up, and push it off the frame.

If you know someone with a forklift or skidsteer or any kind of piece of equipment that can lift stuff, start buttering them up now. I swapped my cab on with a boom truck I used for work. it was easy. but without the boom I don't know how I would have done it.

a suburban body is significantly heavier and harder to handle.

 

[cbbr]

Take lots of pics please. I keep considering a swap, but haven't done it yet..

 

[Chevy305]

I will say that an Expensive impact wrench will be your best friend when doing suspention work. Also a 4 1/2 inch angle grinder is a great tool to have especially with the thin cut-off blades. Also you'll have to drill out some rivets on the frame so a set of sharp drill bits is a must have. Also a set of punches will help the drill bits get started.

But your most important tool will be a quality penetrating oil like PB Blaster or similar...

 

[romeolimagolf]

While the body is off would be a perfect time to box your frame.

 

[Chevy305]

Or paint it....

 

[lectric80]

When we did the 86 Burb for a friend of mine we used a backhoe to lift the new body on. As mentioned above, we used a hot knife and cut the old body into really small pieces and then pushed them off the frame. Granted there wasn't a whole lot left of the old body that wasn't rusted through. Anything that can lift and that is owned by friends, is well worth the work to get. It will make the swap much easier.

 

[babyburb]

ok, I think I might be able to get a fork lift. After unbolting everything, what would be the way to hook it up. I was thinking a long 2 in strap all the way around it connecting to the 2 forks of the fork lift. We'll see.

 

[uberbeans]

I built a dolly to hold the new body, but you can make do with some saw horses. I used a bumper jack for semi's to lit the body off and them rolled the frame from underneath it. Let me know if you have specific questions.