WEEKEND 4 - 9/30/2000

Hey we did it. The body is off and the engine is out. It was a long learning process but it got done and the only problems we ran into were a few broken tools on some real rusted bolts. I have a bunch of photo taken by Neil and my friend Ron. If you have any questions you want to ask about what we did, drop me a line.

Body Bolt Removal

Here I am working on removing the body bolts. All totaled up I think we successfully removed eight bolts, broke three, and the body was completely rusted away from two so they didn't have to come off.

The process begins. The grill actually came off relatively easy.

Man, is this ugly. The rust was so bad on this body mount that the mounting point on the body had completely deteriorated from the body. We actually didn't have to unbolt them at all.

If they don't come off, CUT 'EM!!. If that doesn't work TORCH 'EM!

Body Removal

This is Kork, Neil's father. He is the kind kind soul who let us use his driveway and incredibly stocked shop. What a Saint.

For the front lift hook-up we used an old tow strap and a piece of nylon rope. We wrapped the tow strap and rope around the front fenders, as close to the firewall as possible. We then hooked a come-along to the tow strap/rope combo and hoisted away.

What we did to lift the back of the body up was to use a 2 Ton Engine crane. We ran a steel cable through the two center, rear seat belt holes. On the underside we put a large 2 x 4 cross-wise underneath the rear deck to distribute the weight. It lifted beautifully with no damage at all and we didn't have to take the hardtop off. If you want a better explanation drop me an email.

At this point the back is floating. We're about to start lifting the front

This is the right body mount that sits in the middle of the back deck. This is also the one from above that Neil had to cut. You can see the damage pretty evident.

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's a flying Commando body!.

Just clearing the V-8 304.

After we pulled the frame and engine out with Neil's van we moved an old trailer underneath the hanging body. We took some old foam core from Neil's Dad's lake dock and placed in on the trailer for padding then slowly lowered the body.

Making sure everything is set before we lower the body to the trailer.

Looks ominous, doesn't it?.

Just a close-up of the way the body rests on the trailer.

Doesn't Neil just look so amused?

Engine Removal

Here's Gold from the front and look, she's NAKED!.

This is after we hooked up the engine leveler. Those things are really helpful.

Here's a shot from the other side.

And the rear.

This is Neil hooking up the last chain to the engine.

A close-up the the Dana 20 and the T-15A Transmission.

The engine is gone and the rest will be disassembled next time we get together.

There we are (Neil standing, me kneeling) taking a look at Mr. 304.

A close-up of the right-side of the engine.

And the left-side.