Off Frame?

[Caveman49]

For you folks that have pulled the cabs off the frame - How'd you do it? I'm considering pulling my 59 down to the frame and was looking for some good ole backyard mechanic stuff.....
Wanted to know where you hooked up to lift, or if you used 4x4s or what?
Any feedback will be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Lee

[Kabwe]

It was four bolts, four guys, and much beer when I took my cab off the frame. That cab is not that heavy.

[BIG CHEVY 3600]

1 2x6 and two illegals (undocumented visitors). Some guys use a engine puller. It's not really that heavy if you have the doors etc. off.

[solidaxel]

I used a come-a-long and four motorcycle tie downs spaced two on the front using the lower fender mount bolt holes and two on the rear cab cornners spaced evenly raised it up high enough to roll the frame out fron under it and supported the cab on saw horses and 4X. A one man show for my 53 cab!!!

[1-ton of fun]

i built a cab-lifter thing that i attach to my engine hoist out of 2x4s, it makes it a one man job. it just slides in from the side through the door openings

[Daniel U]

Me and my brother did my mom's '54 while my dad directed traffic, lol. Depends how far you're moving it I suppose. Good luck!

[Caveman49]

Thanks for the responses, yeah I'm a one man show, so it'll have to be something I can handle alone. I pulled the body off of my 74 El Camino with a cherry picker and some cables, worked fairly easy.

I was thinking of pulling the bed as a complete unit, then the cab. I was considering a 4x4 through the cab doors and lifting it off, but I'm concerned about the structure of the cab, will it deform?

From what several of you have posted, it seems that it will maintain its integrity. I may also be able to hook the cables up front in the fender bolt holes. In any case, when I take the challenge, I'll get pics to post. Thanks again.

Lee

[GATORBUILT '59]

I used my foldable engine hoist w/ some 4x4s and stuck it through the Passenger door. Both doors (removed). I also used 10 penny nails (shade tree machanic) to keep the cab from sliding off.

[CAL 58 GMC]

Here's what I used. Its two 4X4 post bolted to my engine hoist. I removed the doors, rolled the hoist into the door jam & picked it up on top part of the door jam. When I reinstalled after paint, it was four guys at each corner.

[BIG CHEVY 3600]

As my old granddaddy use to say, " there's more than one way to skin a cat!" That of course was before the animal rights folks took over.

[Caveman49]

Great ideas, and thanks for the pics, that's always very helpful. Cal 58, I did see your lift device as I was checking out that FINE RIDE you have there.

I might try either the wood or straps, we'll see shortly. I do have JD to help lift it as well

Now, my next question is...........How does one pull the steering column from the steering box??? I've just looked it over a bit, and I sure don't want to get in a urinating contest with some of those bolts

Thanks again for all the help.
Lee

[1-ton of fun]

you don't. it is pressed together, remove as one piece from the bottom after removing the steering wheel

[Caveman49]

1-ton of fun, are you saying the whole steering unit will pull up through the firewall to the inside of the cab? Hummm, that would be nice if it'll all come out in one piece. I was hoping to pull the steering wheel, and pull the whole unit out the other way....or is that what you mean? Thanks, I'll have to check it out.

[1-ton of fun]

yes pull the steering wheel and pull it out from the bottom

[solidaxel]

WOW, a motified JD fork lift!!
You won't even need a come-a-long with that tool!!

[BIG CHEVY 3600]

Cave man it's a "no brainier" my man! Just take a cup of coffee and stand there looking at the thing. Observe the size of the steering shaft opening in the firewall. Observe the size of the steering box.
Your options will be apparent to you. Finish your coffee and then hook a chain to your steering wheel and your other truck and yank that thing outa there.

[dansa2]

On my 58', I removed all sheet metal and glass. Then had a shop fab the running chasis. To get the cab off they ran a lifting strap through cab door openings and picked it off with a fork lift. Doing so pinched the drip rail. The rail can be hammered out. While they worked on chasis I took cab home. Placed cab on 2X4 elevated frame that ran same lines as the frame would have. Placing cab directly on floor may crush in cab corners and step-in area.
When chasis was complete I jacked up the 2X4 frame I made and inched in my chasis. I had to take off rear tires , slid rear chasis rails on two of those plastic furniture mover disks. I Cleaned area well so disks would slide.

[BlueJeep]

I did the engine hoist trick too, but I didn't remove the doors. I extended the boom out and that gave me plenty of room to lift it off with the doors still on the cab.

[jkaylor68gmc]

Once you strip the cab and remove the doors and glass they are quite light.

[Caveman49]

Whoa, lots of feedback, I like!!!

Thanks guys, now to get at it...........I pulled the steps and tailgate off this eve, and started to unbolt the bed. I'll pull it off first.

Sounds like most of you have stripped your cabs down before lifting.
I'm not planning on pulling the glass, hope it doesn't break it, I might leave the doors on too, haven't decided yet, thinking about a bit more structural integrity. Might try a 2X10 or something like that, cover more area.

Big Chevy, sounds like what I used to do That steering box still has me going!

Thanks again, and I'll take plenty of pics.

[1-ton of fun]

the glass won't break. my junk cab is rusted through half the floor, and no longer structurally sound, and the glass on it is fine, lifted it on and off a few times now.

[msgross]

Hey Lee, sorry I never made it out before I had to leave AL,

I used the 4 guy lift method, only issue I had was getting the cab over the stick shift (if you have one)....

Good Luck, i'm back in PA now...

[Caveman49]

1-ton of fun, thanks, I believe I'll give it a try with doors and glass.

Hey Mike, too bad we never linked back up, good to hear from you though. Hope all is well with you and the family.

[1-ton of fun]

i am sorry, i misguided you, i was confused. the steering column pulls through the underhood side. i was pulling the cab off fo my parts truck today and realized i remembered pulling the steering column incorrectly.

here is the process:
-remove steering wheel
-remove any shift linkage. mine unbolted in the middle near the floor of the truck
-remove pitman nut and then remove pitman arm
-unbolt the steering box from the frame (3-bolts)
-pull column out from the from the bottom

i will edit my previous posts to not be misleaded to future visitors

[Caveman49]

1-ton of fun, thanks for the clarrification/that makes a little more sense to me. I pulled the bed off yesterday, here's a few pics, and the technique involved......