Li ing the body Off

I have seen ingenious methods for lifting the body, others downright dangerous. Even with a 2-post lift (arguably the best tool for the job) there are different ways of completing the task. On early re-chassis projects I placed the front pads of the 2-post lift under the bulkhead feet so they were clear of the bulkhead outrigger. At the rear, I used a suitably strong long steel tube between the body and chassis, just behind the rear wheels, placing the lift’s rear pair of pads at either end of the tube. That worked well for Tdi models (though it introduced body flex, so doors needed re-alignment later) but not for this Td5 whose rear fuel tank is in the way.

I now use special “lifting sills” bolted to the bulkhead feet and to a cross bar inserted ahead of the rear wheels. These keep the body stable and minimise flexing. When lifting the body, it’s essential to ensure the chassis is stable by engaging transmission brake and gear, and/or using wheel chocks. Whichever system is used, the equipment must be sufficiently strong and stable