How can I lift the body from the pan of a 69 beetle? I was thinking of making a metal contstruction and bolt this to the bumpermounts. Then I would jack the body from the pan by the metal construction. Are bumpermounts strong enough for this?? (they are in good shape, not rotten)
Close the doors or remove them and weld a temporary brace in the door opening. Two people can lift the body off once the window glass and doors are off. (I've done it) Remove engine and SHIFTER first so you don't have to lift the body so high.
Remove battery, disconnect harness in engine bay and up front to brake switches and horn. Clamp fuel line and remove fuel tank. Disconnect wires at the regulator (where needed) and disconnect the starter solenoid wire under the back seat. Disconnect brake fluid reservoir line (plug line so fluid doesn't escape). Disconnect speedo cable at the wheel. Disconnect the steering shaft at the steering box or rubber coupling. Disconnect heater cables at the rear footwell outlets and at front footwell outlets in later cars. Remove the heater hoses between heat exchanger and body. Remove 2 bolts under fuel tank where body attaches to beam.
Remove bolts under rear seat (cross-wise). Remove bolt under each rear fender well by shock support. Remove bolts around perimeter underneath. I prefer an impact wrench for these as you have a better chance of getting stuck ones out. There are a couple more bolts underneath each side toward the front (under the front bulkhead). These can be nasty to get out.
What to remove first? Depends on what you plan to do with the body. I prefer to remove everything that can be removed to make the body lighter: hoods, doors (need impact driver), fenders. If the heater channels are rusted out, leave the doors on and consider welding in a temporary brace.
Have stout saw-horses ready to set the thing on if you're going to work on the body.
Probably forgot some detail, but that's most of it...
You may be interested in this rather complete body repair web site:
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And this one has real pics of what is *inside* all that metal:
The body is not very heavy, bumpers should be plenty strong unless a SERIOUS case of steel worm fiesta... I could easily lift each end of my T1 -56 bodyshell fully intact on my own...(The other end resting on a skateboard or a four wheel coaster).
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