separating body from chassis

[neil.henderson]

Hi,
I have taken all the doors, windows, bumpers, running broards off my Rover P3 (Dorothy) and now I need to remove the body so that I can get to the chassis. I need to sand & then paint the chassis before I start on the bodywork.
I'm looking for some hints and tips on how to remove the body as I haven't done this before. Is this fairly simple on a Rover P3? Do I leave the steering wheel and dash with the chassis, or does the dash come away with the body? Whereabouts does the body separate from the firewall? I've studied the firewall & can't see any bolts holding the body onto the firewall.

as you can tell I'm new to this, so any hints, tips, pictures would be much appreciated .

Thanks Neil

[paul williams]

Hi Neil,

first let me say I have only separated a P2 and chassis, however there are a few things you should consider, first the dash, firewall are integral with the body but most important the P3 does not have a full length chassis. The chassis stops at the front end of the rear spring hangers. The back of the rear springs are attached to the body itself, so a complete separation of body and chassis will mean dismantling the rear suspension and then supporting the remaining half chassis.

I sure it has been done by somebody on this forum who will let you know whats what but if it was me and the rear of the body is OK I would probably not consider lifting the body. Certainly on the P2 all the chassis can be got at with the body in place.

My experience of lifting the P2 chassis was that it was done as a demonstration at the Stoneleigh Restoration show a few years back, on reflection I dont think it helped the restoration of the car at the time.

Best of luck

[lakesrally]

I lifted the body off my P3 about 20 years ago so the memory is not as clear as it might be. I seem to remember that it was all pretty straightforward although the steering column had to come out through the roof opening first and I think I had to remove the rear panel of the sunshine roof to do it. Support the chassis just in front of the rear springs before removing the fixings at the rear which connect the springs to the bodywork, or what's left of it, this is a favourite place for P3s to rot!