Body Buck "Lite"

[Gmcole92]

Not sure if this is going to help anyone...but here it goes

Since I planned to hang my mk4 body from the ceiling of my garage, I started looking at how best to do that. I reviewed the forums for various ways of hanging it but most involved some variation of the heavy, wooden body buck that most use on the floor. For a number of reasons, I wanted to minimize the weight hanging from my crappy, Centex OSB joists….so I embarked on a process of building a lighter body buck that I could use with my hoist system. I looked at hanging the body upside down but that was problematic for a number of reasons. It could have worked but I decided I would rather have it upright and supported from below. I also built a platform to sit the body on but that turned out to be heavier than I wanted. Ultimately, I decided to mimic the chassis with a the minimum amount of wood. Here is where I landed:

• I took two 13ft 2x4’s and attached them inside the body through the front and rear turn signal light holes. I padded the end of each 2x4 and used ¼ inch lag bolts to attach.
• I used 4 inch wood screws to add in three cross supports between the long 2x4s.
• Off those long 2x4’s, I built three supports: dashboard, trunk bar, and front fenders. These points coincide to where most of the weight is supported when the body is on the chassis. Instead of using large, heavy pieces of plywood or OSB, I used small pieces that fit those areas perfectly (except the dashboard which is almost the width of the body.
• For the front and trunk supports, I used the regular body buck plans with Stan’s modified plans to get the right shapes/angles.
• I mounted eye hooks into the cross supports...this is where the hoist straps attach.

The end result is a very rigid and secure “internal” buck that supports the body just like the chassis. All in, it weighs 40 lbs….so together with the 93 lb body, I’m hoisting 133 pounds to the ceiling. Not too bad.


1-Body Buck 4.JPG2-Body Buck 2.JPG3-Body Buck 1.JPG4-Body Buck 3.JPG

[jakester888]

Nice work!

3-Body Buck 1.JPG

[Tocoti]

Love it. I'm thinking that would also make painting easier.

[Silv3rsurf3r]

Do you have the plans or dimensions for this? I'm trying to do the same. Thnx

[wareaglescott]

Well with this much thought and ingenuity in the body buck I cant wait to see what you come up with for your build. Nice work!

[Vette1972]

Now that's slick! I'm with Scott, looking forward to this build!

[CDXXVII]

This is one of the best things I did for my build to make things easier. Hung there for nearly 5 years. Deceiving but the lowest spot is approx. 6'-6" from the floor. Second best thing was the chassis dolly.

[edwardb]

The original post with the body buck pictures is from 2014. The OP hasn't been on the forum for 1-1/2 years or so.

[bobl]

This is one of the best things I did for my build to make things easier. Hung there for nearly 5 years. Deceiving but the lowest spot is approx. 6'-6" from the floor. Second best thing was the chassis dolly.

Yes, very nice chassis dolly. Thanks. It's off to it's 3rd roadster build now.

Bob

[jcrumpley]

Yes, very nice chassis dolly. Thanks. It's off to it's 3rd roadster build now.

Bob

Yep, Bob generously passed the chassis dolly to me. It’s ready for its next build now as my build is on its wheels now. I’ll be back in the Austin area after Thanksgiving if anyone needs it.

Jeff

[Kafka_Esquire]

The original post with the body buck pictures is from 2014. The OP hasn't been on the forum for 1-1/2 years or so.

He passed the buck to me in 2016. I had to modify it a bit for my garage, but is has been hanging from my ceiling ever since.

His car turned out wonderfully.

[CDXXVII]

Very cool. Glad to see the dolly is still out there. Hope it finds a new home. How cool is our community?

Yep, Bob generously passed the chassis dolly to me. It’s ready for its next build now as my build is on its wheels now. I’ll be back in the Austin area after Thanksgiving if anyone needs it.

Jeff