Body Dolly Questions

[8man]

I need a body dolly for the cab of a Chevy AD truck. I would like it to be universal as rebuilding old cars/trucks is my hobby for my soon to be retired years. So I found this one as a pattern.

IMG_1794 by Robert Moorman, on Flickr

Then I wanted to add a stand to it so I can roll it up onto the back so I can get to the underside.

IMG_1795 by Robert Moorman, on Flickr

The idea is that using my gantry crane, I can lift the cab a little, rolling it back on to the two legs that form the stand in back. They will be 4' long, tried to draw that into the second sheet. This will allow me to get to the bottom for whatever needs to be done there.

I was thinking of using 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" x 3/16" tubing for the sleeves and 2" x 2" x 3/16" tube for the long pieces that slide into the sleeves. I don't actually know what to call them.

Anyway, the idea is that it will be on casters for mobility. It will have uprights that the body mounts to that are adjustable. This will allow me to raise or lower it a little to make the height better for whatever I'm doing to it.

Is the steel heavy enough?

Will the 2" slide into the 2 1/2" or do I need some other size steel?

Any better ideas on design?

 

[bigguns69]

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=362241

First page. Take a look.

 

[Nor'Easter]

I just built one last week, it will last the rest of my life that's for sure. I can take some photos tomorrow.

For a perfect slip fit you want non perforated telespar tubing. (expensive)

I used 2.5"x2.5"x.1875" for the external size and 2"x2" for the internal size. The slop is a little more than I want so I'll weld some washers inside the large tubes to fill the space. Casters will be my limiting factor. I would not hesitate to put a 1,200lb engine on it if it had a bench top.

 

[8man]

Nor'Easter, please show some pics. I'm going with 600 lb casters, should handle 2,400 lbs with the right steel. I'll look into the non perforated telespar tubing.

Bigguns, nice Mustang. I looked at that one, and thought about it. With the one I am considering, the weight is over the legs and I hope to roll it over on the back so I can get to the bottom.

 

[dffay]

It might take a bit of legwork, but I found cast offs from our local Highway Department backlot......perforated square tube of 1-1/2 inch that fits inside 2-inch. It’s sign post material and they use large size for base and smaller for the post along the roads. It is infinitely adjustable as upright or horizontally with through-bolts to lock it in place. And it was free for the haul off.

 

[e015475]

With the number of S10 swaps for the AD trucks, I think it'd be pretty easy to find a original frame that you could cut the center out of and put on casters,

There's a guy on one of the truck forums that did it - here it is:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=749776

I would think you could add your arms for tilting the cab back pretty easy.

 

[astroracer]

I built one 10 years ago for a '49 F1 I was rebuilding. I used 2 x 6's, 2 x 10's and 10" pneumatic casters. The cab rolled easily and I rebuilt the dolly a few years later to move the body of my Astro van around... I had about 60 bucks into it including the cost of the casters...

Reconfigured for the Astro.

I still have it, it's leaned up against the back of the shop, waiting for the next project...
Mark

 

[8man]

Thanks guys. I did go to the Chevy trucks forum and asked a similar question. I've had a number of suggestions. I also talked to a local guy who makes his living restoring cars. I looked at his dolly and we talked about my ideas.

So yesterday I bought the steel to make the dolly above. I ordered the casters too, 800 lbs each. It should carry the weight of a 64 Impala with the front fenders attached.

I'll post pics with the truck on it when done.

Thanks.

 

[8man]

Ok, it's kind of a gorilla for a body dolly, but it should let me roll the cab onto the back, front or either side by turning the cab on the dolly. Plus, it will expand to handle any car body I want to put on it, not sure it will "lay over on the back" for other cars, but it works for the 2 AD cabs I have.

First some fabrication.
IMG_1802 by Robert Moorman, on Flickr

A little more fabrication and the corners are ready
IMG_1807 by Robert Moorman, on Flickr

Here it is set up for the 48 cab.
IMG_1820 by Robert Moorman, on Flickr

Here it is under one of the cabs ready for set up.
IMG_1822 by Robert Moorman, on Flickr

Paint will have to wait because I want to get started on this cab.
IMG_1824 by Robert Moorman, on Flickr

Here it is with the cab on it.
IMG_1825 by Robert Moorman, on Flickr

Since it expands/contracts in all directions, I can turn the cab on it so I can lay it over in any direction. Should make working on the sheet metal easier. That rust removal starts next.