Raising the roof to the roof...Version 2.0(PIC'S)

[BobbyK]

Some may rember the old post I made when I made a lift to raise the Blazer's top to the roof of my garage.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=109876

I have since given that set-up away and moved from California back to my home land of Canada.(I had no room for it in the move anyway)


Anyway years have past,new house it bought,kid's are old enough...etc. Thought it was time to design a new lift.


I'll start by thanking my Grandfather. He came for a visit and I put him to work...oh ya...he's 93,94 in July.

Here are a few pic's of the 93 year old fabricator.







His sight and hearing isn't very good,but he get's the job done.








Here he is with my son.3 years old and 93 years old.





Anyway...enough gloating....onto the build.



I started this version of the lift the same way I did the last.
I welded together some 1.5", .125 walled square tubing in the shape of and "I".

I may have to shorten the main center section but it's approx 6' long. the two end pieces are about 2" wider than the top.







The tubing my Grandfather cut go in the ends at each corner.
I applied some spot welds to help center it in the square tubing as it was about 1/4" too small.







To be continued.Only allowed 10 pic's per post.

[BobbyK]

Then I tapped it into the sqare tubing.




Crappy pic.
I left the round tube protruding about 3/16" out from the end of the square tube.






Welded it up solid and ground it smooth.






Next I got to try out my new toy.
It's a cheap China bender but good enough for what I'll use it for.




I had some 3/4" round bar that I used to try it out.




It took a "little" effort to bend it cold but I don't have a torch to heat it up with.





Final bends done but not cut to size yet.
The will be the "arms" that will hold the top.
The arms are 3/4" round bar.




cut some 1/4" flat stock to about 3"x4" and drilled a 3/4" hole in the end and tapped the round bar into it.




left it protrude about 1/8".







To be continue'd.


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[BobbyK]

After squareing things up I zapped the feet to the arms.







Ending up with 4 arms and feet.





The arms fit onto the holes at each end of the upper "I" frame like this.





This is where I've left off.

I'll update as I go.




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[69-72]

Looks interesting, I wanna know whats going to be different.

I made a lift bracket loosely based off the last one you did, I run ratcheting straps under the top and connect it to the bracket. It works, although a little scary with the teetering. I went from the single lift point in the middle of the 1x1 to 4 cables connected at each corner then to the hook and that helped a bit, also the 1x1 tubing was bending with just the center lift point. I was thinking of welding a crank type engine equalizer to it to help 'find' the center of gravity.

But then again I will be getting a 4 post lift soon and may just see how that would work to take the top off.

[BobbyK]

Well I won't have anything under the top when it's up in the air.
The last design had the 2x4's.
This will allow me to pull right up underneath the top to park.I have limited space to work with.

The top will sit on the "feet" of the arms.to secure it I'll tap the feet and run a bolt through the factory holes in the top down into the feet of the arms.

I'll also be able to just lower the upper frame over the top then slide the arms into the upper frame one corner at a time.

It's really designed to be a one-man operation as my wife and 3 year old aren't strong enough to help me lift the top off.



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[71jimmy]

Yowsers! Your Grandfather looks like he's in great shape at a young 93. If that is what Canadian Health Care does, I guess I'm glad we're going that way now.

Interesting idea on your lift.

[Yukon Jack]

I think I'm understanding how this is designed to work - will enjoy seeing it in operation. You always do cool, well thought out projects.

[Dusty71blazer]

I like your design, I'd like to build something like this some day.
Anyone know what a single wall top weighs?

[BobbyK]

I have a heavy duty spring scale which I will be weighing the top with once I get this thing done.

[BobbyK]

UPDATE 4/20/10

Some good progress today.

Still in the mock-up stage but here are some pic's anyway.


Got the "I" frame up on the Blazer's top and temp. attached the winch to it with a chain.





removed all the mounting hardware and got the top up on two pieces of wood.
Then, one corner at a time I slid the "arms" into the I-frame.












Unfortunately I have no pic's of the actual top up in the air. It was a little scary at first as I don't have the COG (center of Gravity) figured out yet and I was alone. So I couldn't leave the top up in the air by it's self.

Here it is on the ground though...







So after a long day I ground all the surface rust off all the parts and primed them up.








I'm not sure what color to paint the lift.
Black... or white like the top.
Opinions?




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[VA72C10]

I'd vote black so it looks like it's floating

For the COG issue, maybe 4 welded rings near the 4 corners with lines leading back to the one center lift cord to distribute the load further out and not let it teeter as much...

[69-72]

I vote black, or grey.


What keeps the arms in, friction?

I am really interested in hearing what these things weigh.

[BobbyK]

There will be 1/4" pin's that slide in from the side.
The holes are already drilled. That's what the bungee's are attached to in the last 2 pic's.

[BobbyK]

UPDATE 4/28/10

Got it all completed today.

I ended up painting it black.

Found the center of gravity and re-drilled the lifting point.

Then once the paint dried I got it back on the top and started to hook everything back up.


Here I'm sliding the arms into the frame then sliding in the safety pins (1/4" bolts).








My son,as usual, wanting to lend a hand. Yes, he's dressed up in Goalie pads.





Using four 9/16's bolts I attached the feet to the bottom rail of the top.





Went and got my spring scale and finally weighed the top.
1st weight is the top and frame combined.







Top and frame weigh 305Lb's





Then I weighed the frame only.




frame weighs 65Lb's





So the Top weigh's 240Lb's





So with the Center of Gravity found the top raises nice and evenly.





.

[BobbyK]

CONTINUED
UPDATE 2/28/10


Raised it all the way up to the rafters of my car-port.




the frame butt's up against the rafters nice and tight.











I'll be parking the Blazer under the top.







So the question has been answered.
A 1st gen single walled top weighs 240Lb's.




Here is a link to a quick video the wife shot while my son raised the top up to the roof.No need to sign up to anything. Just click and view it.

http://youtu.be/4X-flPMbAxE




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[69-72]

I wish mine was as stable as that. Can you give an idea of where the center of gravity is?

Looks good

[lks dcvn]

Looks great!

[Effeckt]

Awesome. I've been wanting to do something similar with mine eventually. Nice work!

[Yukon Jack]

Very nice. I second the request for a measurement on where the center of gravity seems to be - I can never get it right when I go to lift mine!

[71jimmy]

Nice job! Thanks for sharing.

Just to be clear: top + frame weighs 305
frame weighs 65
Top only should equal 240 lbs

[VA72C10]

very nicely done...now I need a taller garage to make that work for me

[BobbyK]

Originally Posted by 71jimmy

Nice job! Thanks for sharing.

Just to be clear: top + frame weighs 305
frame weighs 65
Top only should equal 240 lbs

yes...you are correct.
I'll change that in the post,thanks.

[BobbyK]

Originally Posted by Yukon Jack

Very nice. I second the request for a measurement on where the center of gravity seems to be - I can never get it right when I go to lift mine!

I knew I should have taken a pic of that measurement.

I get that tomorrow.
I'm retired for the evening and sippin on a brew presently.




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[Burt4x4]

Howdy Bob-O
Lookin good!
Someday I too will get to leave Cali...that is what I keep telling myself!
AnyHoo good too see you around still!
Burt

[BobbyK]

I'm here every day Burt,just don't post.

To tell you the truth, there are many day's I wish I was back in Cali.

Later,Bob