frame off restoration 1969 Judge

[teg]

I am new at this, be patient. I have the front clip, engine, transmission, drive shaft, gas tank, exhaust interior (not the column or the dash) out of my Judge. I keep debating whether to do a frame-off restoration or not. The frame and pans are near perfect. It was a southern and California car.

This weekend while welding some holes in the pans/trunk (shaft collar and fuel pump), I noticed a weird hole above the frame, near the rear axle. It is in an area that seems to have almost two layers of sheet metal with insulation in between. In other words, no way to get to it from inside because the hole didn't go all the way through. ???? I cannot repair the crumbled, torn looking hole (not rust) without getting the body away from the frame. So, here are my questions:

1) Is pulling a body difficult? How is it done and can the body be damaged by such pulling and twisting.

2) This car could end a high #2 (maybe #1 if there is such a thing), is it worth it? How much does it cost for a body shop to do it?

3) Since I am doing alot of the work myself, what the heck do you do with a body once it is off? Build a crib or rack? If I had a body shop do it, I would them somehow have to get the body into my own storage while the frame is being done.

4) Does the body need to come off for the brake and gas line to be removed?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I am a novice with this stuff. I just don't want to do it 90% of the way if it can be done right the first time!

Thanks for assistance.