'59 Plymouth Forum

Does anyone know the weight of a bare body shell for a 2 door hardtop?
Reason for this question is that Im designing a Rotisserie for when I
do my body off resto on the Belvy and wandered if anyone has actually used
a rotisserie or weighed a bare body before? I need to use heavy duty steel
obviously but want to make certain the steel I use will be able to handle the
stresses and forces the body will impose on it when being turned.

If anyone has any pics or expierience in Rotisseries please post comments/pics
Found these plans online and they look like a great starting point although I would
reinforce some areas for strenth and probably make them a little taller to
accomodate the width of the 59 when fully rolled over.

With glass 1600 Lbs.or 730 Kilos.

I have not a clue how you knew that or even could look up that weight...My hat is off to you Rick. (..laden or unladen Swallow...) Name that movie.


John Q.

Wow... thanks for the reply Rick, gee, not as heavy as I thought but still pretty beefy.
yeah the glass will be removed. The frame I design would have to be movable and
still able to rotate as I want the floors media blasted to have them cleaned.

Jason,

The body shell alone [minus doors, front group, decklid, and glass] is about 5-600 lbs. 4 guys can carry the body without too much difficulty. I've Done it many times.

If I can find a chance to get the heavy gauge rockers installed, I will also be mounting the body on a rotisserie that I have, and will post photos.

---John

Thanks John,

i plan on making a lift/rotisserie in one like a crane to actually lift the body off the chassis and mount to a pivot for rotation.
Im doing this as im very limited for room as I now have 3 Belvy's in my garage. the rotisserie will be mobile also so that it
can move around the garage easily.

Thanks every one for your imput. This helps out alot!!

Jase

John, To answer your movie question...Monty python's Holy grail ? Scene birds tied to coconuts.

Some car bodys had a hole in the drive shaft tunnel or hump in the back seat area that was near the center of balance. I have used this with an engine hoist lifting the body through a door opening.

RICKYMOPAR wrote:John, To answer your movie question...Monty python's Holy grail ? Scene birds tied to coconuts.

Some car bodys had a hole in the drive shaft tunnel or hump in the back seat area that was near the center of balance. I have used this with an engine hoist lifting the body through a door opening.

Thanks RICKYMOPAR.......I'll have to check it out once she stripped!!

I was not nearly as sophisticated when I separated my cvt. The thing was so rusty, it was a challenge to find solid lifting points!
So I drilled holes thru the rear wheel well tops, installed threaded rods and fender washers, and bolted them to a 10' 4x4. The ends of this 4x4 extended beyond the edges of the body.
I may have just wrapped a web-style tow rope around the hood hinges. I used an engine hoist to raise first the front, then the rear clear of the chassis. I put some sort of supports under the 4x4 ends to support the rear, probably temporarily hung the front from the garage's exposed ceiling joists, and rolled the chassis out.
When we determined we would not try to save the body (only its cvt parts), we set it on the floor and cut it up.
The hardtop body was separated from its chassis out in the driveway. Seems like I hoisted the rear using the trunklid hook bar, and teh front w/ sling bolted to hood hinge points.
Oh, the things you do when you are young and determined.......

rogerh wrote: Oh, the things you do when you are young and determined.......

I hear ya roger.......I hear ya!!