best way to lift the cab off of frame safely

[travz500]

what is the best way to remove cab off of frame and not bend up i got a 4240 john deere with a loader on it what is the best way to do it since i know its heavy and the cab is in very good shape has been partially redone dont want to damage it at all?

[62-One-Ton]

You. Pizza. Beer of your choice. About 7 buddies. Or jack up the truck as high as you can (rockers at about 2 1/2 feet high) unbolt the cab. Span under the cab with 2 2x6 8ft long boards (door to door). Setup some bocks under said boards. Lower frame away from cab and roll it away.
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[LT1 Burb]

On each side of the cab I have a strap that runs from the upper hinge to the bearclaw on the door. I drilled out a pair of hinges and put a shackle through them with the strap attached. I then have 2 chain falls from my Ibeam, one for each side that I can pull on for a straight lift. If I was using a loader I would have a spreader bar from strap to strap and lift in the center of the spreader bar. This way keeps the belts and anything else from hitting the drip rails and it is very level.

[luvbowties]

Originally Posted by travz500

what is the best way to remove cab off of frame and not bend up i got a 4240 john deere with a loader on it what is the best way to do it since i know its heavy and the cab is in very good shape has been partially redone dont want to damage it at all?

Oh, don't I recall those good days! I really am envious, knowing how much fun awaits you.....and it's all clean fun at that!
sam

[Shooters_7]

I used a John Deere with a bucket loader. Run the straps from front to rear under the cab. I've seen guys run them through the cab and use their tractor but would be worried about damage. Just make sure all your bolts are loose for your cab and take your time. If you have a lot of corrosion then I'd skip the tractor and go with friends. I've always had solid cabs to work with.

[1965Project]

Unfortunately I can tell you how NOT to do it. DO NOT lift it using a strap exiting the door openings. Bent my drip rails and even pushed the roof in some. What I wound up doing is putting a 6x6 board through the door openings and using a spreader beam with chains attaching to the board.

[mrhurt73]

I use a piece of C channel wider than the cab with chain hooks bolted to the end, then run chains down to the seat bolt holes. i have small pieces of angle iron, one side bolts to the floor and other side hooks to chain.

[allaboutchevelles]

I used my cherry picker and a 4x4 board. I also made some brackets to hold everything in place so the cab didnt shift or slide around on the 4x4 board. worked great. Me and about 4 buddies lifted my cab off by hand and I will tell you that was the first and last time ill do that. I put it back on by myself, easy deal with the cherry picker.

[argonaut]

I use a very similar setup with my engine hoist. But mine is made with 2x4s and is more of a "T" with a 1' rise so I can get it nice and high to put on and take off of my K20.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by 62-One-Ton

You. Pizza. Beer of your choice. About 7 buddies. Or jack up the truck as high as you can (rockers at about 2 1/2 feet high) unbolt the cab. Span under the cab with 2 2x6 8ft long boards (door to door). Setup some bocks under said boards. Lower frame away from cab and roll it away.
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That's pretty smart dude. Seems you'd want jack up the front and back, so the 2x6's are square. Is that 2x6's on top one another or next to?

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Here's the ticket

[Grizz1963]

This is how we did a rotten cab.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LxcuePYK-8Q

Thanks for Pimpston for the original idea.

[RaXaR117]

Originally Posted by 62-One-Ton

You. Pizza. Beer of your choice. About 7 buddies. Or jack up the truck as high as you can (rockers at about 2 1/2 feet high) unbolt the cab. Span under the cab with 2 2x6 8ft long boards (door to door). Setup some bocks under said boards. Lower frame away from cab and roll it away.
Posted via Mobile Device

Used the same method. If i had to do it all over again, would probably use an engine hoist.

[Lugnutz65]

Originally Posted by travz500

what is the best way to remove cab off of frame and not bend up i got a 4240 john deere with a loader on it what is the best way to do it since i know its heavy and the cab is in very good shape has been partially redone dont want to damage it at all?

You asked for the BEST way. I think some of the BEST ways have already been discussed above.

I personally would have myself and 3 other able bodied men to lift the gutted cab off by hand. That's how I put mine back on, but not how I took it off. Next time it comes off, I'll do the 4 person lift again. So I'm telling you how 2 people did it, but recommending you have 4 people.

Because everything was in my back yard on grass, I couldn't roll an engine hoist around like you can in a shop. So that option didn't exist for me.

Sooooooo, the first time I removed it, my 22 year old son and I removed a completely gutted cab (rear glass was still there) from the frame all by ourselves. Just the 2 of us. We had no help. It was in the back yard on a rolling frame with only the engine left in place. I still recommend 4 people, but we actually did it with 2 and no risk or problems. We actually never LIFTED the cab at all. It was more of a careful slide, then lean, tilt more, then lower it to the ground.

We wiggled the cab as far as possible to the PS and then gently tipped and slid it off the frame so the PS rocker was on the ground. I came around to the PS to help him tip it up a little more. He could keep it balanced on the PS rocker by holding the door frame up near the roof drip rail. This is a matter of balance, NOT strength.

I pulled the frame out from under the cab using my SUV.

Then I came back to the DS rocker and he tipped it towards me as I steadied it with my hands. I held on to the DS rocker until he came around to help me safely lower the DS rocker down to the ground.

NOT the BEST way by any means, but very easy. For me, it was a matter of practicality. The biggest complication to this method is getting the cab caught on the frame while pulling it out.

[patrickk1]

When I have not had a chainfall to do the lifting for me, I use the method above. 2x8 wood ( I would probably recommend 2 sandwiched 2x8s) across the top and lifted the cab with the tip of the engine lift through the window. I did not make any brackets to attach to the wood. Just lifted it centered on the wood. On another truck, I used those forearm furniture moving straps and me and another guy lifted the cab off. Would be a hair easier if there was a spotter there to see if your going to get hung up on frame/suspension while moving.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

I'm wondering if I should build an A-frame. I could build it in the garage, or even better the side yard, though it's gravel so there would be some considerations. Only issue is, it would have to be wood. Really, I probably should invest in a hoist. I'm also considering building a cab cart. Just need to measure the distances between four bolts and the ground up on each one..........I think. This is all new to me.

Built a cart for the bed already. Bolt on, stout, 350 lb casters and allows for adjustments if need be. The only thing is the distance is 61 5/8" deep. In other words, it bolts from the front of the bed to the [U]second set of bolts from the rear. I wanted the space in the back exposed for any body work, and I don't believe it would tip, even with someone climbing in. We'll find out, simple fix.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by allaboutchevelles

I used my cherry picker and a 4x4 board. I also made some brackets to hold everything in place so the cab didnt shift or slide around on the 4x4 board. worked great. Me and about 4 buddies lifted my cab off by hand and I will tell you that was the first and last time ill do that. I put it back on by myself, easy deal with the cherry picker.

Similar approach.

Video:

https://youtu.be/LxcuePYK-8Q


Hope that helps.

[oldtrux]

Don’t over think it!i had no seat or glass in mine and 4 of us lifted and put on dollie easy peasy! And i’m an o.t lol.i will try and dig up a pic.

[doobiebro]

Personally if you have no help at all best method by yourself is with a cherry picker and a built wooden brace. I made mine with leftover 2X8s I had left over from a project. I got images and measurements of the brace from the web. I just recently completed this over the holidays

[1971 GMC SHORTY]

I’ve Used Floor Jacks For Years and 4x4 And Roll Frame and Onto Dolly Been Doing For 35 Years

[Vortech]

here is my solo set up, keep in mind cab is heavier toward the front. Position jig 1/3 of the way toward the front and not in the center of the door way. Position notches in pinch weld. Worked like a charm.

[Vortech]

more pics,

[bigmoe]

I do everything with my fixed ceiling winch. I ran a 4x4 across the door openings. I notched it to fit the angle. I ran a 2x4 down from the center to the floor, mostly to hold it in place. I ran a strap from the ends. Lift cab. Roll truck out.

[paulspickupparts]

If you have access to an overhead hoist a spreader bar works well . I also use a front end loader with hooks welded to the outside of the bucket . The bucket is wider that the cab . I then used a lifting strap thru the inside of the cab By doing that you do not risk damaging the rain gutter . GM Factory used spread bars with swing hooks on the end . Several people have example of using a common engine hoist with and attachment to run thru the cab . About 40 years ago without any thing but an Oak tree and a hand come along I pulled a lot of cabs. Hah . Really not recommended .