C3-Nose support?

[Steve L.]

After pulling the motor last week, I was checking out the way the body front is held on in preparation for doing a body lift in the spring. This is a 73 coupe

Looks like the front is held on only by the #1 mounts and the bumper steel frame which includes the tubular cross member. This front steel frame attaches to the main frame with 3 bolts on each side. There doesn't appear to be anything between the bird cage on the front bumper steel frame.

Is this correct? So I would remove the body mounts plus these 6 bolts as well as the other things on Noltons body lift book?
I don't recall Nolten body lift booklet describing this detail on these 6 bolts.

If there isn't any steel between the bird cage and the front nose, Isn't it kind of dangerous to do a body lift by placing the sling on the front wheel wells?

I've noticed that the slings are sometimes hooked under the sill plate, my drivers side sill plate rail is rusted out so there is nothing to hook to, so I guess the forces me to hook under the wheel wells? is this OK??

Steve L
73 coupe since new

[Harmon C.]

Re: C3-Nose support?

You must remove the painted front bumper cover and and all the bumper brackets and the metal bumper. Their is a metal bracket on the top of the front extension ( tube) that must be removed. I would not lift on the fenders but you can use the radiator support for balance with less than 100#s at this point and the main weight on the sill plates is how I do it. You do not need to remove the(tube) extension. If your sill plates are gone I would try to make something to lift by #1 body mounts. Lyle

[John H.]

Re: C3-Nose support?

Steve -

C3 bodies were supported at Body Drop by a cradle (the "body tackle") that carried the body at three points on each side - rear wheel opening, body sill below the hinge pillar, and front wheel opening. The C2 body tackle carried the body only by the top of the four wheel openings, with no support at the sills, as its front body structure was both lighter and stiffer. I'd make sure the front of the body has some support so you don't shear any of the bond joints between the front surround and the dash area.