who has done a no lift body off frame on a sub? pics please

[Flick RRMC]

i have a 87 sub rusted out....got a 91 and want to take the frame and body off the 91 and get it POR-15 but dont have a lift so i would like to see pics of how you all have done this
Thanks

 

[Upstate]

i have a 87 sub rusted out....got a 91 and want to take the frame and body off the 91 and get it POR-15 but dont have a lift so i would like to see pics of how you all have done this
Thanks

simple, build a wood gantry crane. One for the front and one for the rear, should cost around $150 to as much as $180 total. Then borrow or rent 4 come alongs.

 

[85 Jimmy]

I did it on a blazer, i didn't take the top, doors or any of the interior out/off of it. I'm sure it would've worked for a suburban.

I made a frame out of 2 2x8's screwed together for the top beam, 2 2x6's screwed together for the 2 sides, and the base out of 2x6's and 4x4's as bracing. I used a harbor freight chain hoist and lifted the rear, then stacked cinder blocks up on both sides and slide a 4x4 under the body holding it off the frame, the lifted the front up and rolled the frame out from under the body. The front has to go WAY higher than the rear does, at least on a blazer.

I've been told that it wasn't the safest thing I've ever done, but it worked, and I'd do it again if I needed to.

 

[dyeager535]

What did you hook to in the rear?

I've got ideas since the K5 top is removable, but you didn't take yours off, curious what you hoisted from that was sturdy enough to not bend.

FWIW, when I do my body swap I'm going to use stacked pallets instead of the cinder blocks. Those with a 4x4 between to support the body. Last body swap I did I can't remember how we were supporting it on the sides, but however it was, wasn't very well braced, and the body shifted and fell back to the ground. Luckily it wasn't that high, but learned my lesson. Probably unnecessary, but nail/screw the pallets together (at least the first couple layers before you have to start stacking them as you raise the body) and there should be very little chance of failure.

I figure a "footing" of two pallets per corner is best. Likely overkill, but at least in my case, I'm swapping bodies to get a better one, not to have another beat up one. Or kill myself.

 

[85 Jimmy]

IIRC, I snaked a strap around the rearmost body mount bolts/studs in the bed and brought them together and hooked them to the hoist right around the top of the tailgate.

When I supported the rear of the body, after the frame was out from under it, I just dropped it down on a bunch of old tires.