Removing cab/bed

[58GMCSB]

Im just about ready to pull the cab and bed off and it just occured to me that i can probably get the bed off...but the cab is another matter. I'm looking a 3000lb cap. gantry crane, thats moveable, but its like 600. Anyone got a cheaper option?

[Coach529]

Originally Posted by 58GMCSB

Im just about ready to pull the cab and bed off and it just occured to me that i can probably get the bed off...but the cab is another matter. I'm looking a 3000lb cap. gantry crane, thats moveable, but its like 600. Anyone got a cheaper option?

I used my engine hoist.



https://www.google.com/search?q=engi...xbHgCg#imgrc=_

[58GMCSB]

That's an excellent idea. never thought about that

[58GMCSB]

Just a couple 2x6?

[fredscarryall]

It shows 2x6s, but I made mine out of 2x4s. Cost me about $15 and an hour to build. I have had my cab off about 10 times. I don't remember who did this, but it was helpful to me.

[fredscarryall]

Another shot

[joedoh]

yep, and if you build it short enough from 2x4s you dont even have to take the doors off.

[_Ogre]

i used 4 guys and a 12 pack to pull/install my cab and bed

the cab was stripped bare both times, the bed came of in pieces and back on in one piece
have a cab dolly ready to put the cab on to, it's awkward as all hell

[II_Slow]

I just welded up a 3x2 metal frame with a gantry that runs side to side - and a $100 120-v hoist that hangs from the gantry. I have also used ratchet straps attached to the frame. Lifts high enough to roll the frame out from under it. It does good but not great, but gets me by since I usually don't have anyone around to help out. If you can hendle the restoration, you can handle fabricating something cheap and spend that $600 on parts - you're gonna need it!

[ptc]

If you have alot of space and something strong to lift by than a chain hoist always works well with the same type of wood structure for lifting. A 1ton hoist is about $50 from HF.

[53 randy]

I also removed my cab with an eng. hoist worked great. As for the bed 4 of us picked it up and set on buckets. Randy

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

i used 4 guys and a 12 pack to pull/install my cab and bed

the cab was stripped bare both times, the bed came of in pieces and back on in one piece
have a cab dolly ready to put the cab on to, it's awkward as all hell

yessir, I originally called in help to lift the cab off my 49 and they politely said dont call us again for that. now I do it with a engine hoist and send them pictures.

12 pack for 4 guys? thats 3 beers apiece, the shawshank convict crew got that.

I have a relatively low ceiling in my garage, and an ibeam, but a chain fall would only lift it maybe a couple inches. a gantry crane would have to be used outside.

I saved this a year or so ago and even bought some wood once to start on it.

http://www.corvette-restoration.com/...fting_Rack.pdf

you will need cross ties at the bottom (2x4s tying each side to each other) if you cant tie off the top with stays.

[chopit]

I have friends with toys....

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by 53 randy

I also removed my cab with an eng. hoist worked great. As for the bed 4 of us picked it up and set on buckets. Randy

I did this too.

Except set my bed on end standing up due to limited space. It comes apart shortly to be blasted & body work done.

[73kay]

Originally Posted by chopit

I have friends with toys....

Lol that's cheating but still pretty bad ass.

[59chev]

I have limited space in my garage, so I built two dollies out of 2x6s with 4 non pivoting castor wheels on each one. I made sure to fix all the rust on the floors first so I knew the cab had a solid foundation. I jacked the frame up on both ends and supported on jackstands, then I put the dollies under the steps of the cab and proceeded to drop the frame out from under the cab. This allows me to easily roll the cab forward or backwards depending which end of the frame I need to work on.

If you look close you can see the cab is 3 inches off the cab mounts in this pic.

[Crash0637]

I made mine out of 1x1 box tubing, bolted down to the seat mounts. A piece of all thread through the engine hoist. Doing it this way allows the cab to lift straight up and down.

[dsraven]

you could also get all the bolts and stuff out so it is ready to lift off, then jack the whole truck up as high as you can and block the box up that high using 2x4's in a gantry style of arrangement, then let the truck frame down and roll it out of the way. then do the same thing for the cab in another spot in the yard or shop whatever. be carefull if you lift by the floor-seat mounts etc- because it will be tippy. I tried that with my cab and an engine lift. it was definately tippy and cumbersome when doing it by yourself. better from higher on the cab.

[mr48chev]

All good ideas but it depends a lot on how much room you have and how smooth your floor is if you have a shop floor to work on.

I did the jack the whole thing up, lift the cab high enough off the frame to run a couple of planks across under it and block it up and let the frame down and roll it out from under it more than once in the past.

This is my home made gantry that uses surplus tubing and an aluminum I beam. I've had it for years and use it for everything.

The cherry picker got used on the other end but doesn't roll in the dirt.


I'm not trying to sell the idea of the gantry but it is handy





I did that roof swap by my self in the driveway in one day.

It's still use what you have or who you have as long as you do it safely and don't risk injury or damage to what you are working on. If you have a smooth floor the cherry picker setup works great but it could be risky on a rough floor and real hard to do in a gravel driveway as you would have to work the frame out from under it rather than roll the cab away from the frame.

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by joedoh

12 pack for 4 guys? thats 3 beers apiece, the shawshank convict crew got that.

your killing me here joedoh

and chopit is just showing off
though i did use a backhoe to swap motors in my driveway one time

[ptc]

Originally Posted by Crash0637

I made mine out of 1x1 box tubing, bolted down to the seat mounts. A piece of all thread through the engine hoist. Doing it this way allows the cab to lift straight up and down.

I like this!!!! great idea, definitely wont run out of jacking room. The only problem with the engine hoist is the legs are under the truck, so you cant just lift and roll the chassis out from underneath unless you have enough space to move sideways the entire width of the legs. Then the cab has to clear the tires too!!!

[58GMCSB]

I have a good sized garage to work with. just trying to figure out how to get this big hunk of steel off the frame

[chopit]

Originally Posted by 58GMCSB

I have a good sized garage to work with. just trying to figure out how to get this big hunk of steel off the frame

Well you just got the list lol

[Roadkill58]

I like Crash0637's setup.

I used what I had to get it off. rigging looks scary. Did better getting it back on.

Had to remove the front wheels and roll it out on a floor jack.

[1project2many]

i used 4 guys and a 12 pack to pull/install my cab and bed

I called 4 guys and bought the 12 pack. I only got one big guy who quit drinkin' years before. So we swapped the cab and I used a 12 pack for myself afterward.