Crooked frame crossmember????? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Mark B · 01-03-2006, 10:20 PM

On my 1970 swb c10, there is a heavy crossmember about a foot to the rear of the axle. It is very crooked! It is a U shaped channel, open to the rear of the truck. The passenger side is 2 inches more towards the rear of the truck. The crossmember is rivited to the frame rails and does not look like it was ever tampered with. And strangly, the same crossmember has a large triangular gusset on the top/driver side/front of truck side, but no matching gusset on the passenger side.

Does anyone know if this is normal? Is there a reason for it to be crooked and have a gusset on one side only? Is your truck the same? Or was my truck built by disgruntled assemby workers?

thanks everyone
Mark

krue · 01-03-2006, 10:23 PM

I'm pretty sure mine is the same.

68haywagon · 01-03-2006, 10:24 PM

I think its like that so the track arm clears when it moves. Is this a coil spring truck?

Mike

incoma · 01-03-2006, 10:25 PM

ditto. I'm not sure why its like that. My thought when I saw it is that perhaps it offsets the panhard bar in some fashion the same way that cross braces work on a shelf or cab support frame...right Palf?

1968GMC · 01-03-2006, 11:00 PM

not only that but the blazer gaz tank that I instaled contours the tank

Botietruck · 01-03-2006, 11:09 PM

Mine is the same way.

matthufham · 01-03-2006, 11:28 PM

mine's the same, i actually asked about this a long time ago and had pictures.

powdercoats · 01-04-2006, 12:51 AM

The "crooked" crossmember actually trangulates the panhard bar. If the crossmember were not triangulated (at an angle)the "side-to -side" forces of the chassis/drivetrain when the suspension is moving up or down would push the frame into a diamond (or parallelagram[sp?]) instead of a box.

At least that is my theory. I studied it for awhile and that is what I came up with.

Anyone else?

**First c10** · 05-16-2013, 01:41 AM

Well I know this is an old post. But was looking for info on this issue attached ia a picture of the cross member. I never noticed it till I took the bed off to cut the rear bed support in front of the rear shackle. So why is it riveted this way anyone?
Posted via Mobile Device

crazy longhorn · 05-16-2013, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powdercoats

The "crooked" crossmember actually trangulates the panhard bar. If the crossmember were not triangulated (at an angle)the "side-to -side" forces of the chassis/drivetrain when the suspension is moving up or down would push the frame into a diamond (or parallelagram[sp?]) instead of a box.

At least that is my theory. I studied it for awhile and that is what I came up with.

Anyone else?

My thoughts are the same

The 1st time I saw it(30 some yrs ago), I thought the frame was bent

GM built it that way for a purpose, & I believe it was as you stated, the panhard bar mounts to the LH side of the frame, & the member is angled to effectively stiffen the rear part of the frame on the side forces. For the guys with a leaf spring truck, asking the same question....understand that the same frame was used (leaf or coil). CrazyL

**First c10** · 05-16-2013, 11:12 PM

So the angle of the crossmember is the same whether it a coil with a pan hard bar or leafs?
Posted via Mobile Device

Spoof · 05-16-2013, 11:54 PM

This was the very first question I asked on this forum 14 years or so back (IIRC) No need to worry, there all the same.

**First c10** · 05-16-2013, 10:06 PM

Anyone?
Posted via Mobile Device

**special-K** · 05-17-2013, 07:24 AM

It was hard to find an honest crossmember back then

01-03-2006, 10:20 PM	#1
Mark B Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 145	Crooked frame crossmember????? On my 1970 swb c10, there is a heavy crossmember about a foot to the rear of the axle. It is very crooked! It is a U shaped channel, open to the rear of the truck. The passenger side is 2 inches more towards the rear of the truck. The crossmember is rivited to the frame rails and does not look like it was ever tampered with. And strangly, the same crossmember has a large triangular gusset on the top/driver side/front of truck side, but no matching gusset on the passenger side. Does anyone know if this is normal? Is there a reason for it to be crooked and have a gusset on one side only? Is your truck the same? Or was my truck built by disgruntled assemby workers? thanks everyone Mark

01-03-2006, 10:23 PM	#2
krue Designated A-hole! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: South Mississippi Posts: 36,450	Re: Crooked frame crossmember????? I'm pretty sure mine is the same. __________________ "If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is!" Being stupid ain't illegal. We're Still Debt Free Except for the House!!! www.daveramsey.com 70 GMC SWB Stepside project "Green Booger" soon to be 6.0l/4l80e 93 S-10 "Poppaw's Truck"

01-03-2006, 10:24 PM	#3
68haywagon I'm watching you! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Levittown, PA Posts: 1,822	Re: Crooked frame crossmember????? I think its like that so the track arm clears when it moves. Is this a coil spring truck? Mike __________________ 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Z71 4WD 1993 Chevrolet C-1500 W/T - Blue - 4.3L V-6, 4 speed auto - Dad's (RIP) 1992 Chevrolet S10 - LS swap project 1968 Chevrolet C-10 longbed fleetside - sold

01-03-2006, 10:25 PM	#4
incoma Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 865	Re: Crooked frame crossmember????? ditto. I'm not sure why its like that. My thought when I saw it is that perhaps it offsets the panhard bar in some fashion the same way that cross braces work on a shelf or cab support frame...right Palf?

01-03-2006, 11:00 PM	#5
1968GMC love my truck Join Date: May 2001 Location: aylmer QC Posts: 648	Re: Crooked frame crossmember????? not only that but the blazer gaz tank that I instaled contours the tank

01-03-2006, 11:09 PM	#6
Botietruck '71 chevy s.bed/s.side Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chesapeake, VA Posts: 1,571	Re: Crooked frame crossmember????? Mine is the same way. __________________ STILL PLAYS WITH CARS...AND TRUCKS!! Parents! Be good to your kids...they get to choose your nursing home! 250 I-6 with a 3 speed Saginaw and Borg Warner Overdrive...She's got overdrive!

01-03-2006, 11:28 PM	#7
matthufham Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Carl Junction, Missouri Posts: 2,061	Re: Crooked frame crossmember????? mine's the same, i actually asked about this a long time ago and had pictures.

01-04-2006, 12:51 AM	#8
powdercoats Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Central Illinois, Jacksonville Posts: 21	Re: Crooked frame crossmember????? The "crooked" crossmember actually trangulates the panhard bar. If the crossmember were not triangulated (at an angle)the "side-to -side" forces of the chassis/drivetrain when the suspension is moving up or down would push the frame into a diamond (or parallelagram[sp?]) instead of a box. At least that is my theory. I studied it for awhile and that is what I came up with. Anyone else?

05-16-2013, 01:41 AM	#9
First c10 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Los Banos CA Posts: 2,705	Re: Crooked frame crossmember????? Well I know this is an old post. But was looking for info on this issue attached ia a picture of the cross member. I never noticed it till I took the bed off to cut the rear bed support in front of the rear shackle. So why is it riveted this way anyone? Posted via Mobile Device Attached Images __________________ 1956 Chevy Bel Air 2 door 1956 Chevy 210 4 Door 1970 K20 LWB project the Hulk build w/Supercharged 4.8L-ly2/4L60E HULK BUILD 1970 C10 Yellow/White Deluxe LWB w/ 5.3L-LC9/6L80E 1968 K10 LWB Dark green my son calls it "THE HULK Jr"HULK JR SOLD GO GO!!!

05-16-2013, 11:12 PM	#11
First c10 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Los Banos CA Posts: 2,705	Re: Crooked frame crossmember????? So the angle of the crossmember is the same whether it a coil with a pan hard bar or leafs? Posted via Mobile Device __________________ 1956 Chevy Bel Air 2 door 1956 Chevy 210 4 Door 1970 K20 LWB project the Hulk build w/Supercharged 4.8L-ly2/4L60E HULK BUILD 1970 C10 Yellow/White Deluxe LWB w/ 5.3L-LC9/6L80E 1968 K10 LWB Dark green my son calls it "THE HULK Jr"HULK JR SOLD GO GO!!!

05-16-2013, 11:54 PM	#12
Spoof Registered User Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Victoria,BC, Canada Posts: 1,300	Re: Crooked frame crossmember????? This was the very first question I asked on this forum 14 years or so back (IIRC) No need to worry, there all the same. __________________ 71 GMC 1500 LWB

05-16-2013, 10:06 PM	#13
First c10 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Los Banos CA Posts: 2,705	Re: Crooked frame crossmember????? Anyone? Posted via Mobile Device __________________ 1956 Chevy Bel Air 2 door 1956 Chevy 210 4 Door 1970 K20 LWB project the Hulk build w/Supercharged 4.8L-ly2/4L60E HULK BUILD 1970 C10 Yellow/White Deluxe LWB w/ 5.3L-LC9/6L80E 1968 K10 LWB Dark green my son calls it "THE HULK Jr"HULK JR SOLD GO GO!!!

05-17-2013, 07:24 AM	#14
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,858	Re: Crooked frame crossmember????? It was hard to find an honest crossmember back then __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~



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