C3 body dolly, need specs.

[Brandon Metzger]

Anyone have specs for a C3 dolly for my body. I have the body off the frame and the frame getting cleaned and painted. I need the body to be a bit more moble than what blocks can provide. I have a '72 and the front clip has been removed as well. I am planing on reattaching the front clip and painting the body then reattaching to the frame. So I am realy looking for a dolly that can hold the body minus the front clip for now and then be modified to hold the body with front clip later on.

Any suggestions or specs would be very appriciative.

All the best in the new year,
Brandon

[Bob U.]

Re: C3 body dolly, need specs.

Get the book by Noland Adams "The Body Lift workbook" from the NCRS bookstore. It contains plans for a dolly that can be used for a C3. Just add a 4 x 4 to the front support and it works for a C3. I made mine a little taller to make it easier to do body work.

[Michael H.]

Re: C3 body dolly, need specs.

Brandon,

I'm not sure if I would attempt installing an entire front assy with the body on anything but it's original properly shimmed and supported frame, ESPECIALLY if it's a conv. This would be a critical installation and the entire alignment of the front of the car would be affected by any flex in a home made body dolly. At the minimum, I would consider reinstalling the body on the frame at least long enough to loosly fit/install the front end assy. Then it could be removed and painted etc.

You would be surprised to see how much a home made body dolly allows the body to flexe when just moved around to different locations on the garage floor. I suppose it can be done with some degree of accuracy, and I'm sure others have done it, but that's taking quite a chance because any adjustments required later could mean breaking panels loose or repainting areas of the car. If, for example, the nose turns out to be too high when back on the frame, and there are no more shims to remove, some pretty serious body work would be the unfortunate cure.

[Patrick H.]

Re: C3 body dolly, need specs.

Agree. I have to put a new front clip on my 71, and I will end up attaching it to the body before I remove the body from the frame, assuming I get that far or decide to do that.

I've seen some really bad results from people who bonded a portion of a car together when it was only on a dolly.

Patrick

[Stephen L.]

Re: C3 body dolly, need specs.

Brandon, I have a sketch and photos of a dolly I made if you are interested. Cost about $35 including casters. Its for a C2, but the mounts are the same/nearly the same as a C3. E-mail me at sllavigne@charter.net and I'll send 'em. If you live near me you can use it. You should complete the body work (other than painting, sanding, small patching, etc) with the body ON THE FRAME. Seeing as how you already have the frame being cleaned, I would finish the cleaning, bring the frame back, lay some plastic over it, and set the body on it, do your body work, remove the body to a dolly, and THEN complete the frame/chassis work and detailing. Now you'll have a body ready for paint prep on a dolly that matches the frame configuration and you haven't messed up your frame/chassis detail trying to do bodywork. If you leave the "uprights" off the dolly you can set the frame and body on it, for the intermediate step of "major" body work.
Have fun.....

[Lyle24961]

Re: C3 body dolly, need specs.

Brandon

If you get your first front clip on with mounting it to the frame you will be lucky. I had to refit some of my first job as it is about as hard a job as you can do on a vette.

Lyle

[Harold# 43147]

Re: C3 body dolly, need specs.

I have put 2 front clips on 70&71 you want to do it on the chassis sitting on the wheels with the original shim size new mounts. I did all body work and margine setting and paint on the chassis then did the body lift.I made a body lift similar to the one used at the factory.It lifts at the wheel well lip and the bird cage channel in front of doors. I then did the under side detailing.I never moved the body from the lift.