Body On/ Body Off

[72BLAZERDUDE]

All you guys that have done any major rear suspension work on your 2wds, bags, notches etc. try to do it with the body on. If you didn't, what is the simplest way to get the body off. I am already stuck with having the suspension all apart, so I wouldn't have a rolling chassis no matter what. I am replacing the trailing arm crossmember with a Porterbuilt. I had forgotten how easy it was to work on my sons 72 truck. Just take the bed off. Looking for any ideas to help make working under this thing a little easier. Looks like I will need a air chisel.

[ColoradoK5]

I havent done mine yet but talking with Porterbuilt about it the body needs to be off or at the very least lifted enough to get the bolts in through the top of the frame. Hope this helps, and take a bunch of pictures for us

[Wasted Income]

I know this probably doesn't help you out much, but the easiest way to get the body off....

[Wasted Income]

Honestly though, I think it would be nearly impossible to remove the rivets holding the trailing arm xmember into place from under the truck. Just thinking about it makes me want to puke.

You can pull the front doghouse off in one shot (hood, fenders, grille, core support...then you could gut the interior, disconnect fuel lines, wiring, parking brake cable, steering, etc....and get a few big buddys over to help you pick it off the frame. That is a lot of work, but probably worth it IMO when doing that kind of work on the chassis.

$.02

[72BLAZERDUDE]

It is definately going to take some creative engineering. Raising it evenly will be the trick, Have to go very slow so I dont flex the body and crack the top or something. Just need to get it up high enough off the frame so I can work on the top side of the frame. And because I can't roll the frame out from under it, It will have to be very secure so can work under it. If I can raise it I can probably support it with some 8x16 cinder blocks. Problem seems to be the height. Cant use floor jacks because they are to short. Need something like I use to use to take my overhead slide in camper off. They were a six foot peice of 3inch pipe with a hand crank winch on one side and a peice of 2 inch right angle steel on the other side welded to another peice that slid over the pipe. pulley at the top. Worked great. Used those things for probably 10 years and sold them with the camper. Any body know how much a gutted shell(no front clip) with double wall top weighs.