i have a great question. My 72 maverick needs a parts car BADLY so i can finally drive the damn thing. So... My wonderful father in law who is the best man on the planet is willing to let me use his big ass garage to do the work as i dont have a big enough space to over haul the car.. Now comes my question. I have found a parts car, Rust free. The issue is no drive train and its 3 hours away from me. I do have a truck and trailer BUT how would you recommend getting the car onto my trailer and off my trailer and into my garage? the front wheels roll but the back end has NOTHING in it... its just a pristine shell. I'm past excited but if this is going to be an impossible feat. I'd rather know now. Thanks goes out to ALL of you for the years of advice help and endless information about this wonderful beast thats sitting my my driveway without the will to keep living.. I hope someone has done this before and knows a easy way to go about it without a flatbed.
come a long buy a comealong and a long strap or chain its cheap and saves the back put about 40 lbs of air in each tire makes it easier to roll
Back the trailer up to the front of the car and line it up with the front tires - hook a come along to the front cradle - take some 2 x 8 planks and put them under the rear of the car in line with whatever part of the bottom of the car begins to dig into the ground when winching since there's no rear on it - the back of the car should climb onto the planks and slide - just keep adding more planks as needed until the car is completely on the trailer - don't let the lack of a rear end stop you from getting what sounds like a great body shell - Good Luck
Pull the rear axle (and springs) out of your car and install it temporarily in the parts car. If the car is dragged onto the trailer with no rear end in it I'd be concerned about damage to the gas tank, rear valence, rear quarters, and other parts you might need or could sell.
If it's better than what your working on, might consider putting your current rear end under it then you can roll it around.. Only a few bolts..
Thing is, it would probably take the same amount of time as using a roller or planks to get it winched up..
I see it as saved time down the road and less hastle than using planks.. and less likely to damage something that's not rusty.. I guess with me it's not about time but effeciency and $.
Harbor Freight sells wheel cradles with rollers for about $80 per set. They are good on pavement (small wheels) and super handy once back at the shop. You can roll the shell sideways. If sticking to paved surfaces, you could make two into a rolling platform temporarily. If you make some kind of roller of your own design, keep future shop use in mind. Larger casters, and the ability for them to swivel can be a benefit. You may want to lock them in place for hauling the car by pinning them straight temporarily with nails, etc.
i drug home a 70 parts car and it had been sitting in a feild without a rear end for years. the front drums were pulled apart and i couldn't put wheels on it. so i pulled the rear from my 73 comet and borrowed some front spindals from a buddy and i put the parts on the parts car pulled it onto a car dolley and then towed it home. it worked pretty good.
A length of 6x6 and some large casters would substitue for a rear axle enough to load and unload the car
