I'm just scratching my head about what to do with a single garage and the need to get the body off the new Nippy and finish preparing it, and checking all the restored bits on the chassis.

Garage is clean, so hoping to do the rubbing down bit outside, but want the thing to be easy to get back in and out. Sadly, they can't both sit next to each other width or length wise. I was considering having a structure that balanced on the wheels so it could sit on top, but then thought that a lot of the time its just going to be me to move the thing back and forth, so thats no good.

Suggestions - could I make a frame out of 4x2 with wheels that would just go in over the top of the whole wheeled chassis? How minimal can I make it all?

I'm not getting heaps of time to put to the car, so I can see it going back and forth a good few (tens of) times before its all ready to put together again.

Chuck the wife out and do it in the dining room...

Location: Gard, France 30960

Well if you don't fancy taking up Rekker's suggestion and having your wife chasing you around the house with the carving knife, can you not suspend the body from the roof timbers on straps?

A high lift trolley jack or even a couple of those electric hoists from Machine Mart will raise the body enough to roll the chassis out, drop the body onto wooden blocks to work on it and reverse the operation, when you are finished for the day.

We did something similar about 40 years ago, with ropes and pieces of 4X2, but that was before health and safety!

it's mums garage - so has to stay in its confines!

thats definitely another possibility to explore, (other than wanting to work outside rather than wheel chassis outside - but can change
)
At the moment I'm thinking of a wheeled gantry type table 2 1/2 feet high and about 5' wide

what weight is a steel nippy with doors but no bonnet or boot likely to be - 100kg?

JonE. I think your idea of a wheeled table will work, though choice of wheels is crucial, especially if they need to run on anything other than a very smooth surface.

Your 100Kg seems too much. My Ruby body must be heavier, and me and the wife can carry it reasonably easily. This is a bare body with everything off. I guess the front is about 60lbs and the back maybe 90lbs. That equates to a full weight of about 67 Kg.



Just noticed you include doors ..... this could make a big difference.

Depends on the dimensions of your Mum's garage but:
If you drained the oil out of engine, gearbox and back axle, do you have the height to use a hoist to stand the chassis on end?
Could give you some more options.
Regards,
Stuart

I hoisted the body up with rope and pulleys and left the chassis outside under a tarp.

Location: Calbourne Isle of Wight

Hi Jon

I'm watching this thread with interest. I'm looking to fix a similar issue...

I'll be honest - I couldn't wait to get this off the ceiling and back on the chassis.



The trouble with mine is I seem to need to take the body off every now and then to fabricate things and check clearances (steering wedge, brake cylinder bracket, rear shock absorber frame, hand brake, gear lever extension...). to make matters worse, the increasing weight alters the angle of the chassis, so to keep the body looking sensible I seem to be going in circles!

If you don't need this on-off approach, sort the chassis, axles, engine etc, then the body. If you do the body first you risk damaging it anyway. Far better to hang it up out of the way!

as an afterthought, will the body fit sideways across the back of the garage? crate it up and build a bench across the top!

Good luck
Nick

Location: Essex

ha ha! "What happens if I move this pos.....t....."

THanks all.

I'm going to get some 6" wheels and take some 4x2 down. And I've just sorted an engine hoist which should be able to give me some slack. (Wondered if just that would be enough, but the getting it down and up each time is presumably going to be the niggly bit)

The body is in scratch coat but there are repairs/sanding/final filling still to do, and if i can get the underside bits done properly before its joined up (even if just into primer) then it seems the right thing to do.

Dont have height or width in garage for the other options, and there is already stuff hanging from the beams...