57 Olds restoration

Oldsbutnotforgotten · 07-22-2008, 04:17 PM

OK Guys, I need some advice. I have a 57 Olds 88 that I am attempting to put on a rotisserie. Problem is, I do not have a lift to get the body up so that I can roll the frame out from under it. I tried to put some jack stands under the frame rails in front of the rear wheel wells, but the fender on one side didn't like that and started to buckle a little, so I stopped that process before I had any damage.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Regards, Dave

citcapp · 07-22-2008, 05:07 PM

post a message to gearshead88 in general discussion he lifted the body off of his olds. granted its newer but he can most likley give you some idea. His thread is last pic

citcapp · 07-22-2008, 05:10 PM

Whoops ment gearheads78 not 88. By the way I also own a 57 Olds Super 88. Good luck with your resto

csstrux · 07-22-2008, 06:18 PM

I used an engine hoist on a 68 cutlass shell at least on the front with a tow strap wrapped across the floor,down under the body and up the tunnel. a couple friends came over to lift the tail, and roll the frame out from under the body . I imagine it could be done with your project.

59-59-59 · 07-22-2008, 10:09 PM

Maybe I read it differently - if you are doing a body off resto, why in the world would you leave the front fenders on?? And did you brace the body to resist flexing and bending?

Texascarnut · 07-24-2008, 10:21 PM

If you have an engine hoist the secret is to lift the front end and place a 4X4X8 timber beneath more or less beneath the firewall then placing support (no cinder blocks, they will crush) beneath the ends of the timber, repeat at the rear placing the timber just ahead of the rear wheel opening and supporting the ends as was done on the front.

rket56 · 07-25-2008, 10:01 PM

On my 56, there are two studs in the front corners of the frame that act as locators for the body. To lift the body, it must come straight up until the body clears the studs. If you are jacking, bottle jack would work best, I used a floor jack and the slight arc caused by the lift linkage in the jack caused the body to bind on the studs. You can jack on the rocker panels near the frame brackets using a 2x4 to spread the load; assumes that your rockers are in decent shape. I just got my body separated from the frame last week. Hope this helps and good luck, Chuck

Oldsbutnotforgotten · 07-29-2008, 05:28 PM

I was able to get the body up OK and mount it on jack stands to be able to mount on the rotisserie.
Now for the fun part, removing all the undercoating.
Thanks to all that responded, I forgot that there was a question concerning this issue that was posted before.
Dave

07-22-2008, 04:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
Oldsbutnotforgotten Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2	57 Olds restoration OK Guys, I need some advice. I have a 57 Olds 88 that I am attempting to put on a rotisserie. Problem is, I do not have a lift to get the body up so that I can roll the frame out from under it. I tried to put some jack stands under the frame rails in front of the rear wheel wells, but the fender on one side didn't like that and started to buckle a little, so I stopped that process before I had any damage. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Regards, Dave

07-25-2008, 10:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
rket56 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Rockford IL Posts: 12	Body Lifting Re 57 Olds. On my 56, there are two studs in the front corners of the frame that act as locators for the body. To lift the body, it must come straight up until the body clears the studs. If you are jacking, bottle jack would work best, I used a floor jack and the slight arc caused by the lift linkage in the jack caused the body to bind on the studs. You can jack on the rocker panels near the frame brackets using a 2x4 to spread the load; assumes that your rockers are in decent shape. I just got my body separated from the frame last week. Hope this helps and good luck, Chuck

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07-22-2008, 05:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
citcapp Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bothell, WA Posts: 276	post a message to gearshead88 in general discussion he lifted the body off of his olds. granted its newer but he can most likley give you some idea. His thread is last pic

07-22-2008, 05:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
citcapp Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bothell, WA Posts: 276	Whoops ment gearheads78 not 88. By the way I also own a 57 Olds Super 88. Good luck with your resto

07-22-2008, 06:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
csstrux Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Janesville wisconsin Posts: 317	I used an engine hoist on a 68 cutlass shell at least on the front with a tow strap wrapped across the floor,down under the body and up the tunnel. a couple friends came over to lift the tail, and roll the frame out from under the body . I imagine it could be done with your project.

07-22-2008, 10:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
59-59-59 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 224	Maybe I read it differently - if you are doing a body off resto, why in the world would you leave the front fenders on?? And did you brace the body to resist flexing and bending?

07-24-2008, 10:21 PM	#6 (permalink)
Texascarnut Geezer Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: So. Central Texas Posts: 71	If you have an engine hoist the secret is to lift the front end and place a 4X4X8 timber beneath more or less beneath the firewall then placing support (no cinder blocks, they will crush) beneath the ends of the timber, repeat at the rear placing the timber just ahead of the rear wheel opening and supporting the ends as was done on the front.

07-29-2008, 05:28 PM	#8 (permalink)
Oldsbutnotforgotten Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2	I was able to get the body up OK and mount it on jack stands to be able to mount on the rotisserie. Now for the fun part, removing all the undercoating. Thanks to all that responded, I forgot that there was a question concerning this issue that was posted before. Dave