body off

[foggy]

help.
On Type 36(coupe)
I need benefit from your practical experience when removing body:

Going this far...
PO put Jute over trans tunnel over then new spyder frame. (would hold
water!)
Body being redone from gel coat up.
need all new shocks and springs,
going through everything in chassis
fresh motor
fresh diff gears (3.77)

figure the above easier without the body, so it can be at shop
chassis in my shop

Am I being stupid????????????

Items to remove, disconnect:
Carbs,
wiring power lead
brake line from mc
clutch line from mc
throttle cable at carbs
speedo drive(haven't found)
battery cable to starter
gas line at tank(tank to be removed, too)

Does the motor come out with trans? I assume. could with body in
place?

Is trans re-buildable without spec tools?

Thanks

Steve Fog

["e s"]

The only downside is that the body might flex upon reinstalling the chassis, wasting a lot of body work.
----- Original Message -----
From: foggyalfa <***@***.***>
To: ***@***.***
Subject: [LotusElan.net] body off
Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2005 19:46:27 -0000



--
_______________________________________________

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[foggy]

Good point:


Where are the weak points? I need experience here?
Thanks, all
Steve

[elansprint71]

Foggy,
Couple of minor points: as you say jute holds water, so ditch it! I got
a camping mat (the thing you sleep on in a tent) which is about 10mm
thick and made of closed cell (therefore waterproof) foam, cost about 4
pounds from Argos (UK store). Glued it in place on Spyder chassis.
I would not want to spend a load of money having the body fixed up and
painted and then have all that work undone when refitting it to the
chassis. It is bound to change shape slightly. Can't you get the
bodywork done after it is back on the car?
When you take the body off remove the seats- they weigh a ton!
Remove speedo drive from back of instrument and pull it out through
bodywork into engine bay.
Make sure you have all the bolts out before you try to lift body off! I
jacked mine up slightly using two trolley jacks and timbers before I got
the guys round to do the lifting on to the trolley.
Take the motor and box out together after the body is off- only two
engine mounts and gearbox mount to remove (don't forget wire to reverse
switch on gearbox).
If you want some photos, e-mail me.

Cheers,
Pete.

foggyalfa wrote:

[jcocking]

This was extensive discussion in the early days of the mailing list.

go to http://www.lotuselan.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2812

jeff

[jivers]

I restored my Elan coupe, completing all body work and painting with
the body off the chassis. I suffered no ill effects from this
process. A review of some of the Elan books on the market will show
pictures of some of the well-known British restorers completing
restorations in this manner. You should make a point to lift the
body under the bottom, not by the wheel wells when re-mating it to
the chassis.

Jeff Ivers
67 Elan S3 FHC

--- In ***@***.***, "foggyalfa" <sfog@o...> wrote:

[nebogipfel]

Re Body flexing,

Mine (S4) was lifted on and off by four of us. We didn't worry taking
it off because it was hardly possible to make it worse!!

It went back on in the same way, lifting by the sills NOT the wheel
arches and was no problem (again for four people) I do think lifting
the shell from the nose and tail or worse the wheel arches would be
asking for trouble

It was useful to have a fifth person to act as an extra pair of eyes.

John

[s2lola]

We did it to my S2 last year with 3 people (ok, so Craig is a big brute of a
guy). Lifted from nose and tail (not wheelwells) - no problems at all.

Cheers,
BT

-----Original Message-----
From: ***@***.***lto:***@***.*** Behalf
Of nebogipfel2004
Sent: 2006/01/04 13:59
To: ***@***.***
Subject: Re: [LotusElan.net] body off


Re Body flexing,

Mine (S4) was lifted on and off by four of us. We didn't worry taking it off
because it was hardly possible to make it worse!!

It went back on in the same way, lifting by the sills NOT the wheel arches
and was no problem (again for four people) I do think lifting the shell from
the nose and tail or worse the wheel arches would be asking for trouble

It was useful to have a fifth person to act as an extra pair of eyes.

John

[Howie97630]

I'm no superman, and probably weird, but I took the body off my S2 last
year by myself using an engine hoist hooked into the outer seat belt
mounts for the lifting and some unique ballet moves front and rear. I
would NOT attempt to do the reverse!!

The first time I took a body off my old S3, used three people with no
lifting at arches or beyond, for fear of twisting the body.

the main point being has anyone else used these mounting points to lift
the weight, while the people do the maneuvering? It was sure a lot
easier!

Doug Troutman
65 S2

[saarhus]

I removed my Coupe' body form the frame with just myself, a floor jack and a 2' X 2' piece of plywood.

Stan



We did it to my S2 last year with 3 people (ok, so Craig is a big brute of a
guy). Lifted from nose and tail (not wheelwells) - no problems at all.

Cheers,
BT



Re Body flexing,

Mine (S4) was lifted on and off by four of us. We didn't worry taking it off
because it was hardly possible to make it worse!!

It went back on in the same way, lifting by the sills NOT the wheel arches
and was no problem (again for four people) I do think lifting the shell from
the nose and tail or worse the wheel arches would be asking for trouble

It was useful to have a fifth person to act as an extra pair of eyes.

John

[type36lotus]

I did not remove mine with an engine crane, but did reinstall it
that way. I used the inboard seat rail holes with two sections of
wood to distribute the load. Was very easy, had a friend assist to
guide the body onto the chassis.

Mike
66 S3 Coupe'

--- In ***@***.***, Doug Troutman <dtroutma@c...>
wrote:

[type36lotus]

Well now that I am home and can look at my photo album, a correction
is in order. I inserted a bolt through one end end of a chain, then
through the inside seat clamp bobbin (the bolt was smaller diameter
than the bobbin threads). The bolt then went though a 12" piece of
2" x 4" with a nut and washer securing the bolt to the 2x4. The
2x4 simply spread the load. This was done on the passgener and
driver side The crane hook was at the center of the chain. I made
the chain the hook was attached to the crane with as short as
possible to keep it away from the roof. Using this position the
body was very nearly balanced. If I let go of it the front would
slowly sink. I did try to add photos to my album, but alias I do not
have privileges to my personal album. I will email to anyone
interested.

Mike

--- In ***@***.***, "Michael Geiger"
<type36lotus@v...> wrote:

[Foxie]

Doug,

I made up a double triangular frame from 1" box, with pins that locate in the sill jacking points, bolted to a 2" box cross- beam which goes across the roof. It needs a chain block at a height of about 10'. I can lift the body off with one hand. I have posted photos in the gallery http://www.lotuselan.net//gallery/index.php

Sean Murray
----- Original Message -----
From: Doug Troutman
To: ***@***.***
Sent: Wednesday, January 04, 2006 9:14 PM
Subject: Re: [LotusElan.net] body off


I'm no superman, and probably weird, but I took the body off my S2 last
year by myself using an engine hoist hooked into the outer seat belt
mounts for the lifting and some unique ballet moves front and rear. I
would NOT attempt to do the reverse!!

The first time I took a body off my old S3, used three people with no
lifting at arches or beyond, for fear of twisting the body.

the main point being has anyone else used these mounting points to lift
the weight, while the people do the maneuvering? It was sure a lot
easier!

Doug Troutman
65 S2









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