Assembling the body onto the floor pan

[oniondeluxe]

I'm considering building a adjustable, computer controlled frame for the Beetle body. It is supposed to be able to tilt and/or rise. But I need some dimensions..
Does anyone know:
1 What is the minimum clearance of the body (with respect to the floor pan) needed when the body should be lowered back to the floor pan, with engine mounted?
2What angles are needed when lowering the body down to the floor pan?

[Keith]

Trying to understand why you need to go through all the work of building this.

Are you plan on taking a LOT of bodies on and off?

4 people can easily lift a body and it only costs a few beers.

A single person can do it in several different manners. With lifts, hoists, jacks etc.

Lifting and dropping the body sraight up and down on or off the chassis is the easiest method.
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Formerly known in the forums as "OVALTEEN"

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[DDub]

You must enjoy the effort? I put my split body back on by myself, no glass, doors or fenders. Not a big deal.

[ZENVWDRIVER]

... I have a friend who is a mechanical engineer and performs the simplest tasks using his complex mind, to make things work. Most methods he employs really impress me though, but is not the way, I would do it... That's okay as there are many ways to approach everything... my simple mind just lifts things up.
Looking forward to see what you come up with.

... when working alone, I use jacks, 2x4s and pedestals and slowly lift the body off. When it's at 24 inches, I remove the wheels and slide the pan out, pulling with my single cab... then slide a pan in and lower everything. I have always installed an engine at a later time...
strait up, off and strait down on... but more than one way to do everything.

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[oniondeluxe]

Interesting feedback....
Well, it will need a lot of work, but beside the fact that I find it fun to build such things, it could be convenient to have:

I don't have the ceiling clearance to install a two pillar lift, which would be the easiest solution. And I would like to have the precision of of repeatedly tweaking the body small distances up and down, for instance when adjusting heater channels fit onto the floor pan. The sway when people are holding the body in the air will be a problem.

So, you say, 24 inches it the required height? Counted from ground level?

Is not any tilt/angle required at all? Even when all equipment is installed on the floor pan?

[Mr. OGPaint]

If you do insist on doing this with a tool, maybe you should do it how the factory did..,the lift points were in the wheel wells. I'm sure someone can post an assembly line photo. I would definitely use the 4 friends method though.
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Patrick Hall

[ZENVWDRIVER]

[DDub]

You guys make it look hard. Two 2X8's on piers and ROLL the chassis under, then lower each end.

[ZENVWDRIVER]

[Mr. OGPaint]

Here is one way body's were moved at the factory
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Patrick Hall

[oniondeluxe]

That's Dreamland....
Do you think you have pics of the corresponding lifting equipment later in the production? Ie when headliner and glass has been assembled?

[hopkin]

I don't if this will help, but here's some dimension info that was posted a while back here on Samba:

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1971 Super Beetle (past)
1971 Super Beetle (past)
1974 SunBug (past)
1972 914 (past)
1991 Honda Civic (Original Owner)
1996 'Open Air' Mexican Beetle (current)
2015 Golf (current)
2017 Dune Edition (daughter's car)

[oniondeluxe]

Great pics! However, the first seem to be a 1958-1964 body?

[hopkin]

[Isbrand52]

A bare body I just slide a 2X4 thru door opening just in front of B piller, a strap over roof attached to an ATV winch on ceiling. Straight up One person. To put body back on pan I put two 10mm engine studs in floor pan under back seat one on each side and two in front on body at front of body at front cross member right in front of your feet. These guide pins align the body to pan correctly One person and its on Maybe someone can use this method Works for me Thanks Bob

[obieoberstar]

instead or reinventing the wheel, why not take the challenge and make the VW tool listed in the archives? Technical drawings are listed also.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/local_manufacture/605a.jpg

[oniondeluxe]