Odd question...But,since its late and I'm stuck working a bit....I was thinking about the bracing we welded in my car in prep to pull the body off the frame due to the convertibles' lack of roof/rigidity and wondered...

We've seen the old assembly line pics of of the bodies coming along and decending onto the chassis. Looks like they just drop them on.
Fremont_GMAD.jpg

I don't think I've ever seen scenes of convertible bodies. Did they have to do anything special at the factory for convertibles ??? Keep the roof up & latched w/ the doors closed?? Or ??

 

When I lift a stripped vert body I bolt a tube frame in the door opening and lift with the seat belt holes ...

They are pretty light when stripped.

 

good question, I have only seen images of hardtops on the assembly line as well. How did the factory do it for convertibles.

 

The way the that lifting jig supports the weight across the rockers there should be no body sagging or twisting problems IMO. The doors are on before they set the body and those will hold the cowl. The top up and latched wouldn't do much to support anything? I've seen pics of them on the line and the tops are up and covered with plastic. Probably built them just like all the other cars, but you never know?

 

Darn good question...
I would like to know!

It is possible the gantry cranes supported the rear quarter also, not done in the above picture.

I would love to know the exact process of how the factory built a car in those years, not just an Olds. Any books on this subject?
Yes, I am an engineer - it shows, don't it...

 

cool old pic, did you notice the guy under the car with the alligning tool through the body mount in the frame?