Darrin Body Removal

[pinetintgreen]

Hi, I was wondering if any of you Darrin owners have ever removed the body off the frame. I am getting close to having a rotisserie ready for my Darrin and was looking at how to pull the body. It seems straight forward expect I dont see how to remove the steering shaft. The pitman arm will have to be taken off along with the steering wheel and the directional box  but then what? The steering box cant go through the hole in the firewall becuase it is too big but I dont see it going forward either becuase the steering box would hit the radiator and fan shroud with the steering shaft only half way removed. If anyone has done this before any tips or advice would be appreciated!  Thanks

[DTort96646]

The steering gear complete has to come out the bottom. You will have to raise the car enough to get everything to go to the front. The pedals come off, the fuel neck, some wiring, and several bolts to the chassis and the body will lift off. There are several shims between the body and chassis. The steering can be left in place IF you have a way to lift the body off the chassis and go toward the rear as you lift the body, clearing the steering column. That's the way the factory installed the bodies over the assembled chassis.

[darrin502]

I would suggest putting a brace from the floor to the door latch on an angle to take some of the strain off the rocker panel when lifting the body. Also watch that the center side mount clears the rocker panel, the rocker panel rolls under and around the mount bracket. You can roll the body slightly to clear the mount then do the same thing to put the body back on.
The steering box and column does come out the bottom of the car.
Lee

[warren]

I am not looking to take the body off for some time but I would like to remove the pedals, to replace the pedal seals and it will also make it easier to reinstall cross-member and master cyclinder. Someone has tack welded the clutch pedal, which is a problem in itself, but the brake pedal is not. I removed the nut but should the pedal come straight or does it unscrew. I assume it should just pull out. I am going to add some more penetrating oil and maybe some heat unless someone tells me otherwise.

[DTort96646]

Hi Warren, the pedals are a taper fit into the arms similar to the way a tie rod end fits into the drag link. Tap the arm with a hammer after removing the nut. Do not hit the threaded end of the pedal to try to drive the pedal from the arm as you will squash the end and damage the threads. I suspect the clutch pedal was tacked because the pedal kept turning in the arm.

[warren]

Thank you for the pedal info, I didn't want to pound on the threaded end but did not think about it being a taper fit. Now if I can grind the tack weld off I should be about to get them off.

[pjkaiser]

My body is still off but I am making progress.   The outside is ready for final block sanding before painting.   I am getting the trunk, passenger compartment and the engine compartment ready to primer.    I am currently fitting the doors to get the adjustments right and the body contours correct.   What a time consuming pain!!!!!

The pictures are older and show the front, rear and right panel clips that were made and attached before removing the body from the car.   THe other picture shows one of the problem areas when metal plates and bondo are used to "fix" the body.  It is being done the correct way.    I built the frame to support the body.    We removed the body using 5 strategically place  people and lifted it right off the car.