Cab install jig?

[68blackbird]

Cab is off, would like to see how you guys rigged up something to put cab on/off. Need to put it on to mock up motor install, then like to remove to do body work before re-installing. I have access to a fairly large A-frame, figured you guys had some ingenious ways to make job easier....Kel

[whitedog76]

http://http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=667349Take a look at what the late Dave Chapman did here.

[e015475]

The final time I put the cab on the chassis, it was 4 guys -one on each corner - that lifted it onto the chassis.

At home by myself I've used a engine cherry-picker to pick up the cab.
Google "cherry picker cab lift" and you'll get all sorts of ideas.

I've seen where guys have taken a HF non-castoring wheel, taken the wheel out and used the axle hole to connect to the boom of the cherrypicker, then lag bolted the wheel's mounting plate to a 4x4. Looked for a pic but couldn't find one Maybe someone else knows where there's a good one.

Be careful

[joedoh]

i used an a frame this go round and I just used a 4x4 with some eye bots at the end and two chain falls. it was the easiest I have ever done one. note there are 2 4x4s only because the a frame is not very tall so I needed the extra inches to clear the tires rolling the frame in.

IMG_7336 by Joe Doh, on Flickr
IMG_7333 by Joe Doh, on Flickr


also, I built a lifting jig from some 2x4s and it attaches to the cherry picker. its literally a one man job (with smooth concrete) I have used it about a hundred times and its still kicking. I lost the earlier pictures of my builds to photostupid, but here is almost the same jig by gigamanx, I made mine a little longer and put wood stops at the end to keep the cab on the jig.

20170115_104918 by giga manx, on Flickr

[R&B51]

Made a frame out of 2 x 4’s that fits across inside the upper door opening. Just 2x4s in a rectangle. Make a brace on each end on the top side so it can’t slide off side to side. Two or three braces in the middle one 2x6 with 2 1/4 yinch holes drilled in it front to back. Saw it somewhere else on the forum and I did it it works great. Just a frame with two or three holes drilled across that middle brace so that you can balance. The end of my cherry picker fits perfect with my receiver style hitch. It is a drop hitch from my Bronco and I just put the ball in backwards upside down. I drilled a hole through my cherry picker and put a bolt in there to make sure it is safe and solid. You can pick it up and roll around with it and set it down anywhere you want. I made a big wooden rollaround dolly and I can drop it on and off. Just make sure you make the bottom rail of the dolly high enough to get the bottom forks of your cherry picker underneath. I know that from doing it wrong the first time.
Maybe I’ll figure out how to post pictures someday.

[Black_Sheep]

I made a "T" bar for the engine hoist...

[68blackbird]

Damn, just what I was looking for!! This place rocks! As I said, I have access to A frame, was going do something joedoh did, still might, Black Sheep, ur rig looks interesting, 2 guys looks like would be fairly easy to move? I don't always have access to the neighbors, so many thanks for the input guys, Kel

[vintovka]

I had no help and no equipment so did mine like the Egyptians and Romans. Used two 2x8 as ramps on cinder blocks and muscled off orig frame and up on the lifted 4x4. Was in better shape 20 years ago.

[68blackbird]

Originally Posted by vintovka

I had no help and no equipment so did mine like the Egyptians and Romans. Used two 2x8 as ramps on cinder blocks and muscled off orig frame and up on the lifted 4x4. Was in better shape 20 years ago.

Weren't we all...The older I get...the better I was....

[DransportGarage]

A single 2x4 and a Harbor Fright engine hoist will do it easily. There's really not much weight there...

[vintovka]

Might add my workarea was a cow pasture complete with cows (and lots of pies). Would have loved to had a lift (or other bodies) to help. I did have a couple 2"x 4"x 8' strapped to the cab floor to protect it and aid in handling it.

BTW cows have no mechanical ability and are no help or interest whatsoever, They do however have a sense of humor and demonstrate it by leaving pies in just the right spots.

[68blackbird]

Originally Posted by Black_Sheep

I made a "T" bar for the engine hoist...

I keep coming back to this page to look at this pic...love the firewall.

[dsraven]

do you have an engine hoist? a couple of pieces of 2x6 a bit longer than the cab is wide, spaced apart so the engine lift arm fits between and the spacer,the spacers on each end can be a bit taller than the beam is so the cab can't slip off one end. the center spacers hang below and have a hole drilled through for the attachment point to the engine lift beam. slip the works through the cab door opening and lift. once the lift takes some of the weight of the cab you can see if it will balance.if not then let it down and adjust the positioning till it lifts level and balanced. then mark the cab and the lift beam where the balance point is with some tape or whatever. then you will always know where the beam needs to be. it's a one man operation.

[_Ogre]

4 guys and a 12 pack always worked for me

[68blackbird]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

4 guys and a 12 pack always worked for me

I'd had been for a Mickey or 2...


The engine hoist 2x4 worked like a champ. My buddy was there to help, but, literally could have done it myself. Thanks fellas, another big step outta the way! Kel

[DransportGarage]

Great! Keep askin' and we'll keep helpin'. (I wish I had one of those fancy engines...).

[OrrieG]

I designed the garage trusses with 3 upper chord pick points and use an old school chain hoist, same one I used in the 60s for pulling engines and my dad and grandfather used before that.

[Advanced Design]

Another option...

[iowaboynca]

Problem is that cab lift is the wrong color...it needs to be red!

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Another option...

uh, that cab lifter is bigger than my garage.

[mr48chev]

As the guys showed it is all connected to what you have available to work with and how much room you have. I've got a gantry with a chain hoist that works great for lifting cabs but I am not sure I want the chain anywhere close to a freshly painted cab.

The cherry picker setup is pretty safe if you have the room to move it around on a good flat and smooth surface. The photo in your post #12 shows that the guy who made that setup put some thought into it but you want to figure out how to keep the cab stable on the cross bar or have a couple of helpers to balance and help guide it.

A cherry picker on the outside with a strap is a great way to put some dents in the roof of the cab.

[buggy5872]

I'm just spoiled I guess....... sometimes I have to resort to the fork truck

[Rickysnickers]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Another option...

Ok, that's just showing off

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Another option...

Originally Posted by buggy5872

I'm just spoiled I guess....... sometimes I have to resort to the fork truck

both showing off
ogre has 2500 sqft of 8 ft ceilings, not conducive to using tractors or forklifts inside

[Advanced Design]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

As the guys showed it is all connected to what you have available to work with and how much room you have. I've got a gantry with a chain hoist that works great for lifting cabs but I am not sure I want the chain anywhere close to a freshly painted cab.

The cherry picker setup is pretty safe if you have the room to move it around on a good flat and smooth surface. The photo in your post #12 shows that the guy who made that setup put some thought into it but you want to figure out how to keep the cab stable on the cross bar or have a couple of helpers to balance and help guide it.

A cherry picker on the outside with a strap is a great way to put some dents in the roof of the cab.

Great comments and reminds me of the value from ideas I get here. The T bar inside the cab is one I never considered.

This lifting idea here has worked well on my Suburban project.