Practically Classics Forum

Hi

Quick question.

I need to get me MGB roadster resto shell on its side to strip underseal and then rustproof and re coat etc.

I see lots of pictures of people doing it with tyres and matresses on the floor, but I have not seen how its done.

By this I mean, we have removed the engine, axle front suspension etc, the unboltable wings, and doors.

But when it goes on its side won't the weight damage the side panels of the car (being the rear quarters) even with the mattress and tyres down?

Can't comment regarding the amount of damage, but guess mattresses would be better than tyres.

My main concern would be the thing rolling back on top of me while I was working on it.

Please make sure that you take all precautions to prevent this if you go down this route. Even a completely stripped shell is surprisingly heavy - my own Zodiac shell is a 4 man lift just to move around on the flat ground and even then a bit of a struggle.

Hello

I know a lot of people do this sort of thing. But I just plain wouldn't.

Regards Martin

I've done this several times. I use an old matress and tip the shell over onto it . Just make sure you support it well so it cant roll on you. I did it with my mgb gt , jag mark 2 and countless minis. I've never had a problem, apart from welding it can some times smoulder a bit but a quick dose of water sorts it out. Its never damaged any panels.

Should anyone in the North East fancy using a mattress for this purpose but fears getting into bother with their other half for not removing the sheets first, I have a lovely double mattress to dispose of which would be ideal for the job. Only getting rid as I've gone memory foam, free to the first caller.

OK, ok, the council still haven't been to shift it and it's clogging up my hallway.....

I used to use a mattress for tipping kittens and Rebels for the purpose of doing chassis work when I couldn't be bothered to lift the shell off. It was almost a great success but caught fire one day.

The mattress trick sounds risky to say the least When I needed to rotate my Rapier I invested in a body roller from 'mkIImania of Bolton' (on e bay) they can be bought either welded up or in weld it yourself kit for about £100,money well spent to work in safety.

When I was a lot younger and dafter and only had a council garage to work in, I once tried using a set of cable drum stands and a scaffolding pole to rotate a mini shell, the stands where man enought to lift and hold a 12' cable drum so I reckoned good enough to suspend a mini shell, 1st problem was height, didn't have the head room to do it and spit roastin a mini shell had some technological hurdles to surmount, suffice to say sticking a pole through the boot and down through the speedo hole wasn't that secure, when it went over it went. Suffice to say I wouldn't go in the garage for three days until I had proper plan of at least getting one of the stands back to work.

I have over the years thought about spit roasting a lot of stuff, spit roasts with wheels so you can push them out of the garage roll the shell and then push it back in the nice dry council garage. Not great when your drive slopes and you can easily push the car out..

You know where this is going, I want a two post lift that you can disguise as laylandi and stick it In the drive, the the problem goes away. or can you actually buy a protable lift!!!!

JPB wrote:I used to use a mattress for tipping kittens

Meany!

Remember, if using a memory foam mattress you won't be able to use it for a 2nd restoration unless its the same type of car..................well it appeals to my sense of humour.

MidgetSaab wrote:Remember, if using a memory foam mattress you won't be able to use it for a 2nd restoration unless its the same type of car..................well it appeals to my sense of humour.

(Logic slightly flawed in that memory foam reforms to its original shape as soon as any load is removed from it. I still laughed [lots] though but).