Suburban Rotisserie question

[Franks 72]

Just getting started on our 72 Suburban body.I am new to bodywork and have been reading about bracing the body before removing any body pieces. How strong is the body? What (if anything) can I remove with the truck on the Rotisserie without risk of distortion?

[Gobuffalo]

I have restored a number of cars and trucks. My best advice would be not to re move the body from the frame until your finished with any panel replacement.
The procedure I have always used is to check that the frame is straight, dissemble as much as you can leaving body panels in place, do all the rust repair and body mods, then put it on the rotisserie. If your door hinges are loose rebuild or replace them before you replace any panels around them. This is the only way to insure everything fits once it's sitting back on the frame.
If you have already removed it from the frame, make sure the frame is straight, buy a new set of body mounts and place the body back on the frame.
Or you can build a jig that supports the body at the mounts. It's a lot of work for one restoration.
If you don't support the body at its mounting points correctly and you start replacing panels it will be very difficult to get everything lined up again.

[Gobuffalo]

Before I took it off of the frame. Sitting in the frame machine.

[Gobuffalo]

The body's move a lot on the rotisserie. When I replaced the wood floor in the back I tried to put the new piece back in with the rotisserie turned on its side. It had flexed so much I thought I had cut the plywood wrong because it didn't fit. I had to turn the vehicle upside down just to put the panel in and line up all the holes.

[pwdcougar]

Originally Posted by Gobuffalo

I have restored a number of cars and trucks. My best advice would be not to re move the body from the frame until your finished with any panel replacement.

Or you can build a jig that supports the body at the mounts. It's a lot of work for one restoration.
If you don't support the body at its mounting points correctly and you start replacing panels it will be very difficult to get everything lined up again.

Nuts. I wanted to put my burb body on the rotisserie so I could do panel replacement! Mine will need some work in the rockers, rear lower quarters and the wheel arch.

Paul

[Gobuffalo]

The rockers are a major piece of the structural integrity without the frame.
I have seen vehicles that had rust/dent repair done on a rotisserie. A lot of problems were encountered once it was back on the frame and you tried to line up the doors and fenders.

[Gobuffalo]

After all of the metal work.

[pwdcougar]

Great pictures Gobuffalo. Is there a reason you left the windshield in? Can you post a picture of where the rotisserie mounts onto the body?

Man I can't wait to get to this stage. Waited 17 years to buy another sub and waited 6 months to make room at my house. All I've done so far is pull the bumper off!

Paul

[Gobuffalo]

Window was broken. I just never took it out.
The front is at the mounting holes to the frame.

[Gobuffalo]

The rear is at the rear most body to frame mount. This rear panel is just bolted in to the body. I also welded it because the bolts are small.

[Gobuffalo]

Where I'm at today.
I have a regular job and all.

[Gobuffalo]

Frame
Can't finish the exhaust till the body is on.

[WH0DAMAN]

The quarter panels on these things are pretty flimsy due to their massive size. Much care must be taken in the transition from rotisserie back to the frame if you are painting in on the rotisserie. The drivers side quarter especially will flex in front of the L/R wheel opening right on the "C" Pillar brace. I luckily placed the body back on the frame after it was primed so when it made a buckle in that area from flexing, I was able to fix it before paint. That would have been a real bummer to find later!

[Bigdav160]

At least paint the roof while on the rotisserie.

[pwdcougar]

Great pics thanks! The frame looks really good.

I was thinking that I'd paint the body on the rotisserie then block it up on a wide wood cradle drive the frame underneath then lower it slowly with a set of jacks. All theory though since that is years away.

It is kind of a pain how regular jobs mess with what we really want to do.

Paul

[Gobuffalo]

Just fixing some small dents in the roof where it use to have a rack. I'll place it put it back on the frame to do the final blocking before final paint.

[pwdcougar]

Originally Posted by Gobuffalo

Just fixing some small dents in the roof where it use to have a rack. I'll place it put it back on the frame to do the final blocking before final paint.

That is probably the best way to go. Maybe I can paint the cowl and jambs before putting it on the frame. It would be great to paint the top on the rotisserie though.

Paul

[Franks 72]

Thanks for the great advice ! I will finish cleaning the underbody and get it back on the frame prior to panel /sill repair. Glad I asked !
It sure is tempting to work on it when its on the rotissarie !

[Average Joe]

Great advice guys! Nice work Gobuffalo.

[Cumminpwr11]

Dang it Gobuffalo.

I wish I knew about you when I lived in Skyforest. My suburban needs some love. Thanks for the info about replacing panels before removing the body. I was about to pull the body to make it easier to fix my rusty spots. I want to coat the bottom of the truck with something like line-x to stop further rust and protect from Utah salted roads in the winter.

Your work looks great!

Chris

[Franks 72]

There is a large frame re-enforcement structure which is at the transition of metal floor to plywood.I have rust in behind it. If I support the frame all along can this be removed to facilitate rust removal? Thanks again for your help!

[Gobuffalo]

A lot of the 2 part spray in bed liners will stain. I have had name brand liner sprayed on the bottom of other 4x4s. After getting muddy they I could never get them all the way back to black no matter how hard I tried. When I asked the guy that sprayed it what was wrong, he said their porous and to prevent stains you should paint over the liner to seal it up.

I looked around for a non porous bed liner and I found a product called UPOL Raptor. It comes in black or a white that you add color to. The gun to spray it is $10.00 and it comes out a little shiny. I did the bottom of the Suburban in the same color green as the rest of the paint per the code in the glove box.

[frenchy51]

I don't see any jacks on the rotisserie. How the heck do you turn that heavy body? Thanks for replys

[Gobuffalo]

Part of the set up process is finding the balance point. The way this mounted it takes a good pull to get it started moving then it moves fairly easy. Wherever you stop it stays there but you have to lock it down to work on it.

[Franks 72]

I use two farm "pin" jacks lifting on the large diagonal part of the rotisarie. Move jacks from front to back and continue back and forth (8" at a time). It is a bit of a long process but works. Once the C of G is found I put a small tack weld on either side of all adjusting pieces just in case one of the locking bolts slips.