<<I want to keep this car indefinitely.>>
well...that's a great start!...
<<I can't find any proceedure in Haynes or Bentley for removing the body. Can
the body be removed with the panels and doors intact without risk of buckling
or should it be braced? >>
In my TR4 Factory Manual it recommends attaching chain or cables to the hood
hinge bolt holes (2 bolts ea side) and the seatbelt eyes (rear wheel well
area) to lift the body off the frame...leaving the doors on will help keep it
from buckling.
I jacked my TR4 in the air as high as possible (about 4 1/2 feet with lots of
blocking to get there) .. chained the body to the ceiling and lowered the
frame (of course I disconnected the body from the frame at the 12 points
prior to jacking). It's been floating very nicely for about 3 weeks (put it
on jack stands at rear most part - using swing set chain on front (lighter
part of body) and two 450lbtest chains on mid section. I open the garage,
grab the frame and drag it out from under the body into the sunshine to work
(I have one 'office chair base' under back of frame and one at front - yep
we're talking 'resourceful!)
<<Is there a book that details taking the body off the frame? >>
"Factory Manual" - highly recommended for folks keeping there cars
indefinitely.
<<Has anyone done this with a 2.5 ton engine hoist (which can lift about 1000
pounds at maximum boom extension). >>
Nope.
<<Is there any cure for what has appropriately been called "shipfitters
disease" short of a prefrontal lobotomy?>>
Lottery - not a cure - but could make it more fun!
Good Luck!
Carl
'64 TR4 since '74 ... going for indefinite ownership or $25,000 - which ever
comes first!
|