Ct54531@aol.com wrote:
>
> A little while ago, I finally got back to a TR4A live axle restoration. I
> wrote the list asking about the feasibility of cutting the back section of
> the body out (inner and outer) and welding the same section from a donor car
> onto it. The response was generally that it was feasible but be
> veeeerrrrrrrrrry careful about keeping the body form stable.
> Well, I decided that perhaps it wasn't necessary to do all that cutting and
> changed my intention to just swapping the outer body parts of the recipient
> car with the donor car. I started to remove the recipient car's fenders and,
> while I knew they were full of bondo, I had no idea how much. The fenders, in
> the rear at least, weren't even bolted to the inner fender. There was so much
> adhesive that they were actually "molded onto the inner body, looking like
> they were held on by the adhesive itself. There was no way to get the fenders
> off as a whole part. We actually had to chisel down the line where the seam
> should have been and break them off from the inner fender.
> That was the good news. What that endeavor revealed was that the inner body
> is so rusted that it's a miracle anything stayed attached. But I'm glad I
> know now.
> However, I am fortunate in that the inner body on the donor car looks to be
> in almost pristine condition. So now, I'm back to the idea of a down to the
> frame restoration which I never should have abandoned.
> What I'd like to figure out before I start is the best way to remove the
> inner body parts from the frame. And how big a job will this be. Don't be
> gentle. I'm doing it no matter what. I just want to know what to expect.
> I believe someone said there were something like 14 bolts to the frame. Is
> that it? I mean after I've removed the fourteen or so bolts, am I down to the
> frame?
> Also, how few sections can the inner body come off in? The front portion of
> the car (from valance to bulkhead) appears to be one piece - or a series
> of welded pieces. How much comes off in one piece?
> Is it welded to the bulkhead or is the bulkhead part of the front section
> and, if so, what is it welded (or bolted) to?
> Similar question for the rear. How much can come off in one section and how
> far forward would that section go?
> The middle poses the greatest questions to me. Is it - like the front and
> rear (if they are) - possible to take the middle part of the body off in one
> section or does it even come off? Is it just a matter of removing the bolts
> at the door posts?
> I'm sure these questions are simple to the initiated but that description
> does not include me when it comes to body parts. TIA.
>
> CT54531
> 1965 TR4A Live Axle
I've taken two TR 4/4A bodies off the frame... it is just a matter of
those bolts... and it comes off as one piece.... obviously... there's
things that need to be disconnected... like fuel lines, brake lines...
etc...
It sounds like you're moving forward with a huge project... but haven't
bought a factory manual yet... SHAME!!! The factory manual (and
reprints) explains all this stuff... shows you EXACTLY how to lift the
body off... (it you want to do it with rope, etc...) or you can just
get some manpower... and lift it off...
Anyways.... it's really NOT difficult to separate the two at all... I
would say the hard part is just getting it back on... with all the
correct spacers and seals... and all lined up... etc...
get the manual... really.... you probably haven't seen one yet... they
are COMPREHENSIVE.... not like some other car's manuals I've seen...
Justin
jmwagner@greenheart.com
http://www.greenheart.com/jmwagner
TR 4A/TR 4A IRS
Los Angeles
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