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Hey all. Just finished my shop and moved in the chassis and body in. Was just wondering if anyone has used a gantry type hoist to put the body on the chassis or put the enigne in? I can't seem to find any outlets for portable gantry systems or the plans for building one. Any ideas? Thanks and have a great day.
Check out this:
[URL=http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CatDsp?No=48&storeId=6970&N=89+421&Ne=2[/URL]
Strange you should bring this subject up, as I just had elbow surgery to reattach a torn tendon I got when I lifted one corner of my current project. So my Son and I now have a Gantry that we will use everytime we want to remove a body, or flip a frame for welding, etc.
We found ours at a business that moved out and left it behind, and at first we only wanted it for the steel tubing.But after my injury we modified it and added 2 $ 50.00 120 volt electric winches to the top, and now all we have to do is push 2 buttons and the heaviest body comes right up.
It has turned out to be the coolest tool in the shop, and you are totally safe operating it yourself. We don't know how we ever got along without it, and plan to pull engines, suspend frames and suspension pieces for painting, etc. with it.
For years we did it the hard way, recruiting wives, neighbors,kids, etc. every time the body had to come back off. This way is so much easier, and your beer bill is lower, too.
I just can't recommend one of these enough, and I wouldn't have this sling on my arm if I had this thing earlier. Buy or build one, you'll love it.
Roper... Thanks to Johnboy, I will email you plans of something that I think you will really like. If possible can you please email me your email address and that way tonight when I check my email I will remember and I have pics, info, etc on something that will help you out a ton.
Shawn-
Oh and to let you know, it's like what Don is describing. You can use a come along or a winch that is 50 bucks at like tools and equipment Northern (Northern Tools and Equipment) or places like this.
If you have a Harbor Freight Tool store near you they always have a sale going. Our electric winches were normally $ 109.00, but on sale at $ 49.00. They lift 440 pounds each, and come with cable, hook, and a remote control (hard wired). For $ 100.00 all we do is push a button.
As for Harbor Freight, some of their stuff is crap from China, but some of the stuff is really ok. I never buy anything not on sale there, because in a week or two it will go on sale.
Roper, I would strongly suggest that you take FMX up on his offer,the 'gizmo' he has is very strong, infinitely adjustable, cheap, and when not in use can be packed away under a bench or in a corner somewhere.
johnboy
After digging out from this weekend's winter storm, I did email FMXHellraiser. Looking forward to seeing??????
If your going to be doing any engine swaps or major fabrication, or body-off work I would recommend getting a manual chain hoist for the pulling, especially if your going to be working alone.
I prefer the manual type because you can precisely control how much raise or lower the item and it stays at that level until you decide to move it.
Also ensure that you get a hoist that is heavy duty enough for what your going to be doing ( many of the Big Block engines are in the 6-700 pound range and thats without a tranny attached.
In my shop, I ran an I Beam across the width of the shop (2 Bays wide) and have my chain hoist on a trolly. Once the engine or body or truck bed or whatever is raised it can be moved across from one bay to another.
I just now received your Email (have not read it yet, it's down below this notification. Give me about 3 days and I will gather all the pictures and info for this thing. For demensions you will basically have to come up with them yourself but it wont be hard. Just measure the height of your car, the width of it, etc. Then add a couple feet of height on it like say it's 5 feet tall... Well if you need to raise it 3 feet then add 4 feet on it and make the thing 9 feet tall.
I will explain all this in the email. Basically if you have a welder and have a way to get scrap metal and some money to buy whatever else you need then this should be a piece of cake. Like I said, give me 3 days or so and I will get this email and pictures, etc to you. I am just pretty busy with college and this new job I got so hard to get time during the day to come on here.