Hello, my name is Ulf from Berlin and i have the number 208 which waiting to be kissed awake by me. The question which I did not find answered anywhere is the following.
Where is the body glued to the chassis in phase 1? As far as I know it is bolted to the chassis in phase 2. Are there any pictures or a drawing?
Thanks for your help and best wishes from Berlin, Ulf
Can I ask if it is really necessary to take the body off the chassis?? Having done so myself, I would strongly suggest leaving it in place unless serious chassis restoration is required. My body was badly damaged and has now been replaced with a new one and the bottom rails on the chassis had mostly rusted away.
If you do feel that the body has to come off and you intend to fit it again after chassis repairs, make sure you prepare a timber frame to support it whilst it's off.
There are surprisingly few attachment points for the actual shell as a lot of support comes from the various separate panels that are bonded to both the chassis and body. Most of these internal panels are bonded to the chassis rails with strips of grp and can be a pain to free off. The alternative of freeing the internal panels from the body is equally difficult. I removed most of the internal panels before lifting the body. I would think trying to remove the body with all the internal panels still attached to the body would be almost impossible.
With regard to the body itself, the main attachment points are under the front valance to the front, bottom chassis rails, a lot of weight is taken by the dashboard and it's supporting chassis cross rail. The door D plates are bonded to the body internally with strips of grp. These go over angled brackets welded to the reverse of the D plates. There should be a notch in the body that sits on the chassis rail at the bottom of the B pillar (the back edge of the door opening) and running up from there to the window line, the body is attached to the vertical rail. The sills are pop-riveted and bonded to the lower chassis rail along it's length. The sills are actually separate panels and may or may not still be attached to the body. Mine weren't.
At the rear, the body is attached to the underside of the rearmost chassis rail (and possibly the top too, mine was pretty damaged in this area) but bear in mind the internal quarter panels attach to both the body and chassis and trying to lift the body without freeing these off will be impossible.
That's all I can think of atm but I'm sure others will be along to add to the list.
There is a drawing kicking around (think I saw it on the 'unofficial' facebook forum) that shows all the different panels that make up the Peerless body but it doesn't show how and where they attach.
It really is a case of freeing off as much as you can easily see and then gently trying to lift the body and checking to see where it's still attached. It's not a particularly difficult job, just time consuming and needs to be done carefully.
Best of luck.
-- Edited by mikerf on Wednesday 14th of October 2020 09:38:47 AM
thank you very much for the quick response. Unfortunately I think that the bodywork has to be taken down. Since it is a complete restoration, I have to do the work well or over - I actually thought it would be a bit easier. I will have a good look at everything again, but I will probably not get around it. If I have any further questions and I will, I would like to come back to you.
Best regards from Berlin, Ulf
-- Edited by motorkosmonaut on Thursday 15th of October 2020 08:13:11 AM
That's not a problem, Ulf. Always happy to help if I can. There are many others more experienced than I on this site that will, no doubt, be along to assist too.
Hello, Wulf.
I finished restoring a Peerless 4 weeks ago, it was a full restoration of 4 years. You have to completely remove everything except for the engine. I cut the body in 3 parts and laminated it again later. The body was partly rusted and the body was glued and riveted. So it was easier to separate Him in three parts. Some parts will break on the rocker panel under the gas tanks, but this is easy to fix. Of course, remove the doors, engine compartment lid and trunk lid beforehand.
I'm from Munich and I can send you photos via your email if you still need help.
Best regards. ERIC