Boxing the Frame

[palallin]

I've got an extra frame, and I've been toying with the idea of boxing the one on my truck (when time and finances permit).

I need some advice from folks who've done it. Did you overlap the flanges or butt-weld them? I'm assuming that there needs to be pipe or conduit welded in between the webs to keep pass-through bolts from compressing the metal. What should I use for that? What's the best surface prep/protection for the inside of the box?

Any tips, tricks, or experiences welcome.

T.I.A.

[palallin]

BTT

[Ed ke6bnl]

Originally posted by palallin
I've got an extra frame, and I've been toying with the idea of boxing the one on my truck (when time and finances permit).

I need some advice from folks who've done it. Did you overlap the flanges or butt-weld them? I'm assuming that there needs to be pipe or conduit welded in between the webs to keep pass-through bolts from compressing the metal. What should I use for that? What's the best surface prep/protection for the inside of the box?

Any tips, tricks, or experiences welcome.

T.I.A.

The boxing plate should fit inside so that you can put the plate in half its thickness and weld the remainder. I have to deal with the trans mount etc. I will either if possible weld nuts on the back side of the boxing or as you say through tubing for crush proofing. Ed ke6bnl

[ebfabman]

just curious, why do you guys want to box your frame?

[Smooth68]

I did mine mainly for strength and the visual aspects was a bounus.

[Ed ke6bnl]

Originally posted by ProSt68Trk
I did mine mainly for strength and the visual aspects was a bounus.

I did some boxing for the mustang II suspension and trans mount on an old Ford 50f1 it is necessary because the frame is weak after removing the old suspension. Not really necessary for the 70 chevy, but looks good and may add some strength. Ed ke6bnl

[Smooth68]

Not really necessary for the 70 chevy, but looks good and may add some strength. Ed ke6bnl

Maybe not for the average '70 but when you graph on new rear frame rails, I consider it a must!

[Chevyman69]

I work at a shop where we build trailers and things out of steel all the time, plus work on large trucks. Now boxing the frame fro a racing standpoint isn't so bad, it nearly eliminates flex in the chassis. However it also depends how you box it. If yo put your boxing on the very edge of the C channel you basically create a piece of steel tubing. This is not the greatest thing, from personal experiecnce, under load tubing cannot flex and instead will break, it happens on trailers with tubing frames all the time. If you move the boxing more towards the center of the C channel it can help increase the load bearing capacity, and you do not lose as much of the strength as with the very edge boxed., although even on the edge it still has half decent strength quality but just a regular C channel is also very strong. Also something to consider is to dot his properly do not stop boxing and start in another spot again , say to go around a crossmember you create a weak point in that area and the frame will be prone to crack. I look at it this way, every highway tractor on the road nearly does not have a boxed frame, if anything they will have a double C channel frame and look at the weight and stress those frames endure. Boxing in my opinion is a waste of money and time but every guy has there own ideas.