removing coach build body from chassis

Iwan Louwage · Joined: 09 Oct 1989 Posts: 6 Location: Belgium

Hi everybody,

i was wondering if somebody has some pictures how to remove the coach build body from the chassis of a derby bentley.

or someone who has a how to do this?

Kind regards

Christopher Carnley · Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2015 9:16 am Post subject:

Ivan,

Is it the Park Ward steel body on B185LE?
As the body was fitted by the coachbuilders there is no printed information unless you can discover a project site, but so far I have never seen one.

I would start by removing the battery, under the back floor. Then the bonnet, leaving the radiator stay, of course.
Then all the doors, and seats and carpets, and the front windscreen.
Then the boot and the large wings.
All the body mounts will be badly rusted, so they may have to be cut off, but be careful around the petrol tank.
Disconnect all the wiring.
Remove all the bulk head bolts.
If the lower steel panels are not badly rusted the body which is a lot stronger than the wooden framed ones, should jack off and you can roll the chassis forwards.
If you give me your mail address, I will send some pictures of a rebuilt bodiless chassis.

Christopher Carnley · Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2015 9:25 am Post subject:

Ivan,
Thanks for the PM confirming the identity of the car. The pictures are of an "M" series chassis, a current project, and show the body mounts.
You will discover a series of hardwood packing pieces between them and the body brackets, and you must make a careful note of the thickness and position of each.
If you remove the body with a fork lift or slings under the roof, distortion will occur, and it is best to jack it off in several positions and rest it on boards across tall axles stands as shown.