Dropping the cradle but from what starting point? (Page 1/3)
oneinch FEB 09, 10:42 PM
I've read TODDSTER's post on this subject. I don't get where you actually 'drop' the cradle.
■ I like the 4x4 under the car method to raise and lower the car.
■ I'm figuring that you place your cradle cart under the car and then you lower the car onto this cart. The shorter this cart is the less the car has to be raised.
■ Don't place the full weight of the car on the cart.
■ Remove the cradle bolts and let the cart take the full weight of the cradle. Raise and lower car a tiny bit as necessary to get these four bolts outs.
■ Now fully raise the car high enough to pull the cradle out from under the car.
■ Do the reverse to put the cradle back in.

Have I got these basics down correctly?

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Stanton
'88 Formula, red on gray

MuldoonMan FEB 09, 10:55 PM
Good question. Only time I dropped the cradle on mine, I had the engine and trans supported by an engine crane from above, so I'm not sure if it's exactly the same process.

Thing is though, you'll notice that the more forward 2 bolts on the cradle can act as a pivot (they run horizontally), whereas the more rearward bolts are vertical.
So, I think most people always undo the rearmost (vertical) bolts first with the back of the cradle supported by a jack, then you can lower the jack and swing the cradle down onto some supports (cart, 4x4s, etc). this will allow you to switch the jack to the more forward side, and take out the front bolts.

doing the reverse is nice on the reassembly, because once you have the forward two bolts in, you can swing the cradle back up and into the car. once it gets close enough for the vertical bolts to grab you can just use those bolts to pull the cradle the last little bit.

Good luck!

[This message has been edited by MuldoonMan (edited 02-09-2021).]

Wichita FEB 09, 11:14 PM
I did the 4 X 4 method.

I didn't have the jack up the car too high, because I unbolted the struts/spring assembly at the knuckle, so I didn't have to jack it up so high to clear the struts.
oneinch FEB 10, 12:17 AM
Great explanation that even I can understand MuldoonMan. Thank you.

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Stanton
'88 Formula, red on gray

PhatMax FEB 10, 11:33 AM
Has anybody tried to just bolt 3” castors to the cradle with U bolts ?
Daryl M FEB 10, 11:45 AM

quote
Originally posted by PhatMax:

Has anybody tried to just bolt 3” castors to the cradle with U bolts ?


You may find that typical 3" casters are not sturdy enough. I tried Harbor freight 3" casters on a custom steel dollies I welded together. They collapse. I had to replace the wheels with solid aluminum wheels I made on the lathe. With suspension parts attached, the total weight is well over 600 pounds.
oneinch FEB 10, 12:38 PM

quote
Originally posted by PhatMax:

Has anybody tried to just bolt 3” castors to the cradle with U bolts ?



I gotta say this is an interesting idea. Attach the casters directly to the cradle. Of course the casters would have to be of sufficient strength as would the connection itself. I think it would work just fine, but I'm not sure the effort is worth the reward. I like the idea though. It's thinking outside the box.

I think I'll go the usual route and build a dolly. I like TOODSTER's beefy dolly, but I'm pondering two or more Harbor Freight dollies. They're said to hold 1,000 lbs each. Two or more dollies should - in theory - work. I'm not to this point just yet. I'll keep pondering until then.
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Stanton
'88 Formula, red on gray

[This message has been edited by oneinch (edited 02-10-2021).]

PhatMax FEB 10, 02:15 PM
I have to drop mine this spring.... I have 4 castors that are rated at 500lb ea. 3” muffler clamps will fit pretty good.. i believe.. should work. I have muffler off, struts off as well as rotors and hubs. I’ll post when I’m closer.
eti engineer FEB 10, 03:10 PM
Step 35 says to lower the car onto the dolly. This is exactly what I did just recently. The dolly is definitely strong enough to support the weight of the car if you choose your casters right. Once the car is sitting on the dolly, you need to read and heed how to remove the rest of the cradle bolts in Step 37 and one particular hose as outlined in step 38. You DO lower the whole ass end of the car onto the dolly, undo the fasteners that connect the car and the cradle together and then use your engine hoist to raise the car.
Blacktree FEB 10, 04:14 PM

quote
Originally posted by oneinch: I like TOODSTER's beefy dolly, but I'm pondering two or more Harbor Freight dollies. They're said to hold 1,000 lbs each.


A pair of HF dollies attached together (plywood across the top?) should be fine. The entire drivetrain / cradle / suspension assembly should be under 1000 lb.