Body off Frame

[waveraider_2000]

Has anyone here put there D-24 body on a rottiserie to paint and repair? I need to remove the body now so i can restore the frame and powder coat it. The frame is in excellant shape but want to remove the undercoating that is peeling so water doesn't migrate under it. This car has been in the family since 1948, grandma's car, so don't tell me it isn't worth it ----- it is!

[BobT-47P15]

Hello Mr waveraider. Welcome. How's everything in Peru......Illinois, that is??

That's always cool, having a car that's been in the family since new. Did grandma buy a 4 door, 2 door or which model? Has the car remained in pretty good overall condition? I'm in Joplin, Mo (s.w. corner of the state)...my car is a 47 Plym convert. Sorry, I don't have any experience with rotisseries.....but would think there is one out there that would work for your car. Bob

[Plymouthy Adams]

Hey..don't know how long you have been lurking on this forum before joining and such but with you first post you have sold the member list down river...In the years I have been here I have never seen anyone tell another person that their car is not worth fixing up etc. It is good that you have your granma's car...even better that you want to keep it in good condition...do you own a roteiserie or will you be farming this out...if you are farming this out..ask the owner of the rotor jig, I am sure he will have the answer.

[bob westphal]

Hi Waveraider,

Welcome to the forum! Doing a car that's been in the family is very rewarding! I did a '38 Buick Special for a 48 year old guy that got his car when he was 16. His parents bought it for him out of a farm yard where it was used as a chicken coupe. The response from him and his parents when I delivered the car was quite emotional.

Any commercial rotisserie will be able to adapt to about any car. Are you planning to do the job ypurself or have it done? Some guys build their own rotisserie. There have been plans posted on this forum in the past. I have done a number of body off restorations in the recent past. Only one was done with a rotisserie because of the massive amount of undercoating on the car. You will need to remove all the undercoating before the body & frame can be media blasted or chemically stripped. Its a lot of hard scraping and elbow grease but its worth it. The cars we didn't put on the rotisserie we placed on 4' high horses to work underneath. Its difficult but doable. Good luck and have fun.

[Tony Cipponeri]

Hey Waveraider, I envy you guys with that much patients and know how, I would never have the guts to take a car down to the frame. Good Luck. Tony C

[greg g]

Check the member list and que up Dave Maxwell's home page. Dave did the whole enchilada on his p15 more door including the rotiserrie deal if memory serves. As far as worth it goes, you will probably never get out what you put in if you are looking for resale, cause it ain't a chebbie or a furd, but if your are doing for the sentimental value and for the love of the old car, then go for it. When my car was in the paint shop, they also had a 40 Chrysler Royal 2 dr sedan in for a complete resto. Guy had about 25K into it before the paint went on. When I asked about the deal he said it was his grand father's got passed down to his father and he was apparently concieved in the back seat, end of value question.........

[grady hawkins]

Waverider

I have been working on a frame off D24 coupe

You can take a look at four pages of progress pictures at www.carolinarodshop.com and click on the current projects link at the top of the page and look under 1947 Dodge D24

[SonomaJim]

Waverider,

Are your rockers and sills solid? If so, no problem removing the body to replace any rusted floors. If not, and you will be replacing rockers and sills, it may be advisable to weld some bracing in. Without this your body is at risk of distorting when replacing the rockers and sills. Then it won't fit the chassis mounts when you go to put it back together.

I am replacing my rockers and sills so I used 1" square tubing diagonally across door openings (both ways, both sides), horizontally across each side (from the corner where the rear package shelf is attached at the inner side to near the upper front door hinge mount), and then diagonally across side to side.

I put the body up on tall STURDY sawhorses as Bob Westfall suggested, lifting it off the chassis by putting an 8 foot clear 4x4 across, under both the front and rear body-to-chassis attachments and using big washers and screws throught the body mount holes to keep it on the 4x4's. I drop it down on lower sawhorses to a convenient height to work on the sills and rockers.

[David Mac]

I had my 48 on a rotisserie but I didn't have the body off. I used 4" metal tubing to raise the body off the frame but it also kept the body integrity. I was able to make all the repairs needed and clean and paint the underside.

[David Maxwell]

I have seen quite a few people on this forum start with cars that would scare me to death only to see them work miracles with a welder and some serious elbow grease. Make it happen! It will be one of the most rewarding experiences (materially that is) you'll ever have. Best of luck!