how to hoist a cab off - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

dubie · 01-24-2005, 11:19 AM

Can anyone lend a hand in how to properly hoist a cab off the frame? We will be stripping the rest of the 58 off the chassis this coming weekend and would like to hoist the cab off properly without twisting or damaging it. We have a forklift at our shop to use, so any wya we can use that would be a bonus.
Anyone have ideas?

**Yukon Jack** · 01-24-2005, 11:38 AM

Tim, I just used straps and some 2x4 blocks under the drip rails to prevent any bending - worked very well.

I used the straps you can see and then one in the center of the cab that went around the entire cab.

**Yukon Jack** · 01-24-2005, 11:41 AM

Not so sure I would recommend using the hay bales like I had to - but sometimes you do what you have to do - in my case, I had to get the hoist higher

**special-K** · 01-24-2005, 11:51 AM

I`ve used a 4x4 through the door/window openings.If there`s a flange that won`t take the weight,you can nail spacers to put the weight on something more solid/strong.Straps would be nice,though.Then I used a strap on the 4x4 up to a loader bucket.You could do the same w/fork-lift.You can nail a stop on each side to keep the strap or chain from sliding-in on the roof.Try a couple times and find the center of balance.Take your time.

Joe67 · 01-24-2005, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yukon Jack

Tim, I just used straps and some 2x4 blocks under the drip rails to prevent any bending - worked very well.

I used the straps you can see and then one in the center of the cab that went around the entire cab.

I did something similar, I Used a long 2x6 from door to door and a 2.5" cargo strap. I used my engine cherry-picker and lifted the cab and rolled it away from the frame

**smitty62** · 01-24-2005, 04:41 PM

I haven't done it yet, but what I've seen in the past and appeals to me is to run a chain to each of the 4 mounting bolt locations and lift with an engine hoist--no strain or distortion to the top of the cab. Believe you need to have some counterbalance handy such as a couple of concrete blocks and lift slowly!

Tx Firefighter · 01-24-2005, 05:43 PM

See my signature picture.

Straps and plenty of them....

shortymac83 · 01-24-2005, 05:44 PM

I am also planning on doing this to my truck next winter, and I really like your idea smitty, but there's one problem, my two front holes don't really exist anymore. Do you think it would be possible to drill holes in the virgin metal near the rotted spots and use eye hooks to do that, or should I go from the top? I'm going to have to do this with an engine hoist, so I don't really have the ability to get it very high...

arkracing · 01-24-2005, 05:53 PM

Couple of long 2x4's or 2x6s....run them through the doors...wrap your chains around the boards...or drill holes in the boards to bolt (with big washers - use the cab mount washers if you can't find any in the shop) the chains/straps to if you feel safer like that...put some rags around the chain/strap if you think it will hurt whatever it is touching......then hoist away with the forklift.

KEEP THE DOORS ON AND SHUT FULLY TO PREVENT DISTORTION/"TWEAKING" OF THE CAB

have someone hold the cab so it doesn't swing around too much or swing and hit the forklift.

put it down on some old 55gallon drums or a couple of pallets...and your good to go

just take it easy and you'll be fine.

(i just use the 12k lbs two post lift, or if i'm feeling ambitious i'll hook it to the overhead 3ton chain fault. but that is the lazy man's way out

)

Shorty...you can do it like that with the motor hoist but you might need a few guys there to balance it while you lift/walk it out from the side.
just chain it as close to the floor as possible to get the height....like your trying to take the motor out of a van...and you basically bolt the 1st link of the chain to the intake...haha (anyone done that?? MEMEMEMEME) you don't have to go that drastic....but it will be top heavy!!!!!!!!!!! and you'll have to have something...hopefully a couple of buddies balance it for you

dubie · 01-24-2005, 05:56 PM

Hey Tx
This doesn't put to much stress on your door hinges?

**smitty62** · 01-24-2005, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shortymac83

I am also planning on doing this to my truck next winter, and I really like your idea smitty, but there's one problem, my two front holes don't really exist anymore. Do you think it would be possible to drill holes in the virgin metal near the rotted spots and use eye hooks to do that, or should I go from the top? I'm going to have to do this with an engine hoist, so I don't really have the ability to get it very high...

Get a better cab??

How about jacking the cab front up with a floor jack and a 4x4 enough to get a piece of 1/4" X 2" X 5' angle iron under the old front holes and chain on that through the holes? Don't think the hooks through floor sheet metal would handle the weight without some support of some kind.

BTW--I'm not able to get it as high as I once could either!

Tx Firefighter · 01-24-2005, 06:00 PM

The hinges never seem to be affected. The door latch also bears part of the load too.

I like to rebuild my hinges anyway though.

In Texas, a hinge has no legal grounds to complain against it's owner anyway.

Robert1970C20rstbukt · 01-24-2005, 06:07 PM

A truck with a 20ft gin pole works good! No I've never done that but I know someone who did, they said it worked great, just had to slowly move the truck to set the cab where they wanted it.

gr8one · 01-24-2005, 07:32 PM

i use my car lift just swing arms under rocker panel and pick it up works great.

JimKshortstep4x4 · 01-24-2005, 08:30 PM

This is the way we pick them off with the front clip on. A chain is used on the front hoist and attaches to the radiator support. In the rear we use straps that hook to the cab rails and use cardboard to protect the back from the straps.

Jim

67chevemall · 01-24-2005, 09:04 PM

sweet!!!!!!!!!
What is the best way to get those old rusted bolts out from the cab mounts?

I like the idea of putting angle iron through and pick it up with the cherry
from short chains bolted to the iron.

N242MUCH · 01-24-2005, 11:18 PM

buy a case of beer and invite 8 friends over to the party. that is what i did. worked just fine.

TRUCKGUY · 01-25-2005, 01:00 AM

here is how i got mine off worked just fine for me.

http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/sho...5825#post75825

hope this helps

cduster · 01-25-2005, 01:39 AM

I put a 2x 6 in the window from door to door, then put the cherry picker in the window and jacked up on the board. Took a little messing around to find the center of gravity, but it worked for me, with no ill- effects on the cab. Just have to be careful, and steady it as you move it. Another set of hands helps, too. I also used this method to put the cab back on the frame by myself.

Dan

avejoe · 01-25-2005, 01:44 AM

That picture of using the ceiling fan to hold the cab don't look too good. I guess it would make it easy to turn the cab around though.

Alexis · 01-25-2005, 02:01 AM

I used a cherry picker to lift the tub of britney.

TRUCKGUY · 01-25-2005, 02:05 AM

the cherry picker works great on it plus you dont have to build a big afram when you dont have the stuff to build it with or the place to store it

Joe67 · 01-25-2005, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

See my signature picture.

Straps and plenty of them....

Cheater

stllookn · 01-25-2005, 12:23 PM

Multiuse tool...engine hoist.

pat · 01-25-2005, 01:04 PM

My cab was completely bare sitting on some 4x4 blocks, so me and my buddy put some gloves on and lifted it up at the rockers, carried it over the frame, and had my mom help us align it up and lower it down.

01-24-2005, 11:19 AM	#1
dubie Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada Posts: 8,855	how to hoist a cab off Can anyone lend a hand in how to properly hoist a cab off the frame? We will be stripping the rest of the 58 off the chassis this coming weekend and would like to hoist the cab off properly without twisting or damaging it. We have a forklift at our shop to use, so any wya we can use that would be a bonus. Anyone have ideas? __________________ My name's Tim and I'm a truckaholic My 56 Chevy shop truck build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=562795

01-24-2005, 11:38 AM	#2
Yukon Jack Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA Posts: 12,684	Tim, I just used straps and some 2x4 blocks under the drip rails to prevent any bending - worked very well. I used the straps you can see and then one in the center of the cab that went around the entire cab. Attached Images __________________ 1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14

01-24-2005, 11:41 AM	#3
Yukon Jack Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA Posts: 12,684	Not so sure I would recommend using the hay bales like I had to - but sometimes you do what you have to do - in my case, I had to get the hoist higher __________________ 1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14

01-24-2005, 11:51 AM	#4
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,859	I`ve used a 4x4 through the door/window openings.If there`s a flange that won`t take the weight,you can nail spacers to put the weight on something more solid/strong.Straps would be nice,though.Then I used a strap on the 4x4 up to a loader bucket.You could do the same w/fork-lift.You can nail a stop on each side to keep the strap or chain from sliding-in on the roof.Try a couple times and find the center of balance.Take your time. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

01-24-2005, 04:41 PM	#6
smitty62 Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,234	I haven't done it yet, but what I've seen in the past and appeals to me is to run a chain to each of the 4 mounting bolt locations and lift with an engine hoist--no strain or distortion to the top of the cab. Believe you need to have some counterbalance handy such as a couple of concrete blocks and lift slowly! __________________ Stepsides look like real trucks! Smitty

01-24-2005, 05:43 PM	#7
Tx Firefighter Watch out for your cornhole ! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Azle, Texas Posts: 14,162	See my signature picture. Straps and plenty of them.... __________________ I'm on the Instagram- @Gearhead_Kevin

01-24-2005, 05:44 PM	#8
shortymac83 hmm... Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Culver, Indiana Posts: 1,631	I am also planning on doing this to my truck next winter, and I really like your idea smitty, but there's one problem, my two front holes don't really exist anymore. Do you think it would be possible to drill holes in the virgin metal near the rotted spots and use eye hooks to do that, or should I go from the top? I'm going to have to do this with an engine hoist, so I don't really have the ability to get it very high... __________________ 1983 Oldsmobile Delta 88 1967 Chevy C-10 stripper www.fcrperformance.com - wanna go...faster? talk to FCR.

01-24-2005, 05:53 PM	#9
arkracing Weekend Warrior Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: CT Posts: 1,787	Couple of long 2x4's or 2x6s....run them through the doors...wrap your chains around the boards...or drill holes in the boards to bolt (with big washers - use the cab mount washers if you can't find any in the shop) the chains/straps to if you feel safer like that...put some rags around the chain/strap if you think it will hurt whatever it is touching......then hoist away with the forklift. KEEP THE DOORS ON AND SHUT FULLY TO PREVENT DISTORTION/"TWEAKING" OF THE CAB have someone hold the cab so it doesn't swing around too much or swing and hit the forklift. put it down on some old 55gallon drums or a couple of pallets...and your good to go just take it easy and you'll be fine. (i just use the 12k lbs two post lift, or if i'm feeling ambitious i'll hook it to the overhead 3ton chain fault. but that is the lazy man's way out ) Shorty...you can do it like that with the motor hoist but you might need a few guys there to balance it while you lift/walk it out from the side. just chain it as close to the floor as possible to get the height....like your trying to take the motor out of a van...and you basically bolt the 1st link of the chain to the intake...haha (anyone done that?? MEMEMEMEME) you don't have to go that drastic....but it will be top heavy!!!!!!!!!!! and you'll have to have something...hopefully a couple of buddies balance it for you __________________ -'07 GMC Sierra K2500HD -'66 C10 Suburban -'68/'71 K20 Service Bed Project -'69 Chevy C30 Mason Dump -'33Ford P/U 396ChevyPowered Last edited by arkracing; 01-24-2005 at 06:01 PM.

01-24-2005, 05:56 PM	#10
dubie Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada Posts: 8,855	Hey Tx This doesn't put to much stress on your door hinges? __________________ My name's Tim and I'm a truckaholic My 56 Chevy shop truck build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=562795

01-24-2005, 06:00 PM	#12
Tx Firefighter Watch out for your cornhole ! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Azle, Texas Posts: 14,162	The hinges never seem to be affected. The door latch also bears part of the load too. I like to rebuild my hinges anyway though. In Texas, a hinge has no legal grounds to complain against it's owner anyway. __________________ I'm on the Instagram- @Gearhead_Kevin

01-24-2005, 06:07 PM	#13
Robert1970C20rstbukt Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Beeville, Texas Posts: 1,943	A truck with a 20ft gin pole works good! No I've never done that but I know someone who did, they said it worked great, just had to slowly move the truck to set the cab where they wanted it. __________________ RJD 1984 Chevrolet C30 welding truck 454/SM465 1977 GMC C15 pickup 350/TH350 1970 Chevrolet C20 pickup 350/TH400 1970 Chevrolet K20 Suburban 454/TH350 1969 GMC 8500 478M V6/5 spd winch truck

01-24-2005, 07:32 PM	#14
gr8one Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Fort Meade Fl Posts: 184	i use my car lift just swing arms under rocker panel and pick it up works great.

01-24-2005, 08:30 PM	#15
JimKshortstep4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Muskegon,MI,USA Posts: 6,026	This is the way we pick them off with the front clip on. A chain is used on the front hoist and attaches to the radiator support. In the rear we use straps that hook to the cab rails and use cardboard to protect the back from the straps. Jim Attached Images Last edited by JimKshortstep4x4; 01-24-2005 at 08:32 PM. Reason: Corrected wording

01-24-2005, 09:04 PM	#16
67chevemall Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: NB Posts: 3,367	sweet!!!!!!!!! What is the best way to get those old rusted bolts out from the cab mounts? I like the idea of putting angle iron through and pick it up with the cherry from short chains bolted to the iron. Last edited by 67chevemall; 01-24-2005 at 09:10 PM.

01-24-2005, 11:18 PM	#17
N242MUCH Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: AUGUSTA,KANSAS Posts: 35	cab off buy a case of beer and invite 8 friends over to the party. that is what i did. worked just fine.



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

01-25-2005, 01:00 AM	#18
TRUCKGUY Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Nortonville, Ky Posts: 407	here is how i got mine off worked just fine for me. http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/sho...5825#post75825 hope this helps

01-25-2005, 01:39 AM	#19
cduster Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: S.W. Michigan Posts: 403	I put a 2x 6 in the window from door to door, then put the cherry picker in the window and jacked up on the board. Took a little messing around to find the center of gravity, but it worked for me, with no ill- effects on the cab. Just have to be careful, and steady it as you move it. Another set of hands helps, too. I also used this method to put the cab back on the frame by myself. Dan

01-25-2005, 01:44 AM	#20
avejoe Custer had a plan too. Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: No. California Posts: 344	That picture of using the ceiling fan to hold the cab don't look too good. I guess it would make it easy to turn the cab around though. __________________ 72 K15 GMC (aka Big White) Performance Rockers, Cab Corners, and Floors Fossil Fuel Glutton Neighborhood Nuisance 98 BMW 540i for Speed (Sold ) 05 Subaru Outback for mileage

01-25-2005, 02:01 AM	#21
Alexis Member since 2000 Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Mountain View Ca / Mexico Posts: 7,879	I used a cherry picker to lift the tub of britney.

01-25-2005, 02:05 AM	#22
TRUCKGUY Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Nortonville, Ky Posts: 407	the cherry picker works great on it plus you dont have to build a big afram when you dont have the stuff to build it with or the place to store it

01-25-2005, 12:23 PM	#24
stllookn Saving 1 truck at a time! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 6,465	Multiuse tool...engine hoist. Attached Images __________________ '68 C20 Longhorn 50th Anniversary 400/TH400 '68 C20 Longhorn 50th Anniversary 468/TH400w/buckets '72 C20 Halfhorn (Longhorn w/o cab and front clip) '69 Flxible Cruiser (look up ugly in the dictionary)

01-25-2005, 01:04 PM	#25
pat Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Lindsay, TX Posts: 1,245	My cab was completely bare sitting on some 4x4 blocks, so me and my buddy put some gloves on and lifted it up at the rockers, carried it over the frame, and had my mom help us align it up and lower it down. __________________ 68 Chevy 383/350 w/shift kit, 380hp/425ft-lbs, 4.5/5 drop, 17" TT2s 64 Cadillac Sedan DeVille

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.