Frame question (how to fix) - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

yellow70GMC · 01-23-2010, 09:28 PM

So here's what the front of my frame looks like, and i'm wondering what the best way to fix it is. Thoughts?

*project 67 sub* · 01-23-2010, 10:03 PM

hammer it back together and weld it up

yellow70GMC · 01-23-2010, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by project 67 sub

hammer it back together and weld it up

That was my first thought too. I'm just afraid i could end up cracking the whole piece off since i'm dealing with 40 year old steel that's potentially really brittle. Anyone dealt with this before?

glider_6969 · 01-23-2010, 10:07 PM

If you do hammer it back and weld it, I would recommend you reinforce it with another backing plate the same shape. It may be a bit of work but it will be stronger.

tcb-1 · 01-23-2010, 10:42 PM

I'm with everyone else, bend it back slowly, reweld, and grind smooth..... viola!

I'd also hit the bending point with some heat so the likelyhood of it "breaking off" would be less.

yellow70GMC · 01-24-2010, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcb-1

I'm with everyone else, bend it back slowly, reweld, and grind smooth..... viola!

I'd also hit the bending point with some heat so the likelyhood of it "breaking off" would be less.

I had the same thought. Sold my oxy/acetylene setup a few months ago, the hottest torch i have in my garage right now is a mapp setup. think that's hot enough? thanks for all the input guys!

glider_6969 · 01-24-2010, 09:47 AM

Mapp gas is hot but I don't think it will be hot enough and would take alot longer . I would borrow some torches.

ERASER5 · 01-24-2010, 10:12 AM

Drill a small hole at the end of the crack or it will likely crack again. Every machine shop manual will agree.

Kenbo-Slice · 01-24-2010, 10:39 AM

A mapp setup will not get hot enough to make a difference. As said before, rent or borrow an oxy acetylene torch heat up the one side. I would suggest getting a pickle fork with a helper bar on one side and slowly bending it back with some muscle and then heat it up a bit more and hammer a little to get it to fit tight. Then weld it, grind it and plate it (if you desire. I would, just to be safe).

johndawelder · 01-24-2010, 02:45 PM

It's not brittle or it would be broken off.Just hammer it back and V it out a little and weld inside and outside.Should be fine.Looks to me like someone has yanked on it with a chain.

tim21391 · 01-24-2010, 03:51 PM

maybe one tack before u bend just to give it a little resistance.. you catch my drift?

yellow70GMC · 01-26-2010, 06:22 AM

Alright so i'm gonna screw with it tomorrow. i'm gonna heat it up and bend it back, make a v-cut in the cracks, weld it, weld a plate on the inside, and box the outer 1 1/2 or so of the rail, i just gotta leave enough room so i can get a socket in there for the bumper bolt. big thanks to everyone who replied, all your suggestions are really helpful. i'll post some pics of what i come up with, tomorrow night as long as i don't get distracted tomorrow.

yellow70GMC · 01-26-2010, 10:29 PM

So believe it or not, mapp gas was plenty hot enough. I didn't think it would be but i figured i'd give it a shot. I ended up being too lazy to box the end of the frame rail, but i welded it inside and out, and put a piece of 1/8th inch strap on the inside to reinforce it. My 120v mig didn't have the juice to weld the frame, so i had to borrow my buddy's arc welder. I'm pretty good with mig, but it was like my 4th attempt at arc welding of all time and it's harder than i thought. Here's some pics if anyones interested.
All cleaned up and ready to bend back

Bent back, notched out the cracks

First bead-came out alright considering i don't know what i'm doing

After i cleaned everything up

Painted-good as new!

01-23-2010, 09:28 PM	#1
yellow70GMC Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 161	Frame question (how to fix) So here's what the front of my frame looks like, and i'm wondering what the best way to fix it is. Thoughts?

01-23-2010, 10:03 PM	#2
project 67 sub Account Suspended Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: san bernardino ca. everywhere Posts: 3,938	Re: Frame question (how to fix) hammer it back together and weld it up

01-23-2010, 10:07 PM	#4
glider_6969 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Ontario Posts: 400	Re: Frame question (how to fix) If you do hammer it back and weld it, I would recommend you reinforce it with another backing plate the same shape. It may be a bit of work but it will be stronger.

01-23-2010, 10:42 PM	#5
tcb-1 Nothing to see here..... Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Shawnee, KS Posts: 4,625	Re: Frame question (how to fix) I'm with everyone else, bend it back slowly, reweld, and grind smooth..... viola! I'd also hit the bending point with some heat so the likelyhood of it "breaking off" would be less. __________________ Doug THANK YOU to our American Soldiers & Veterans - POW MIA "You will NEVER be forgotten". The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not. Thomas Jefferson

01-24-2010, 09:47 AM	#7
glider_6969 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Ontario Posts: 400	Re: Frame question (how to fix) Mapp gas is hot but I don't think it will be hot enough and would take alot longer . I would borrow some torches.

01-24-2010, 10:12 AM	#8
ERASER5 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 4,859	Re: Frame question (how to fix) Drill a small hole at the end of the crack or it will likely crack again. Every machine shop manual will agree. __________________ '70 GMC C1500 LWB Power disc brakes. WooHoo! Posi 6 Lug Dana 60

01-24-2010, 10:39 AM	#9
Kenbo-Slice Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Posts: 108	Re: Frame question (how to fix) A mapp setup will not get hot enough to make a difference. As said before, rent or borrow an oxy acetylene torch heat up the one side. I would suggest getting a pickle fork with a helper bar on one side and slowly bending it back with some muscle and then heat it up a bit more and hammer a little to get it to fit tight. Then weld it, grind it and plate it (if you desire. I would, just to be safe). __________________ It's a Jeep towing machine! (at least it will be)

01-24-2010, 02:45 PM	#10
johndawelder Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Loudon,TN Posts: 101	Re: Frame question (how to fix) It's not brittle or it would be broken off.Just hammer it back and V it out a little and weld inside and outside.Should be fine.Looks to me like someone has yanked on it with a chain.

01-24-2010, 03:51 PM	#11
tim21391 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Salina, Kansas Posts: 1,998	Re: Frame question (how to fix) maybe one tack before u bend just to give it a little resistance.. you catch my drift? __________________ 1972 C-10...402/400..flowmaster 40 series 1967 Mustang 347 stroker/C-4 1966 Mustang 289/3-speed 2013 Mustang V6/6speed w/300 ponies I may be 23, but i sure do knows 67-72s are sexy! Its not MPG its smiles per gallon! build started 11/25/08 build thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php?p=2993796

01-26-2010, 06:22 AM	#12
yellow70GMC Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 161	Re: Frame question (how to fix) Alright so i'm gonna screw with it tomorrow. i'm gonna heat it up and bend it back, make a v-cut in the cracks, weld it, weld a plate on the inside, and box the outer 1 1/2 or so of the rail, i just gotta leave enough room so i can get a socket in there for the bumper bolt. big thanks to everyone who replied, all your suggestions are really helpful. i'll post some pics of what i come up with, tomorrow night as long as i don't get distracted tomorrow. __________________ 1970 GMC 4x4 swb fleetside custom 4 inch lift with rear shackle flip, mild sbc, tci trans, rebuilt np205 w/twin shifters

01-26-2010, 10:29 PM	#13
yellow70GMC Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 161	Re: Frame question (how to fix) So believe it or not, mapp gas was plenty hot enough. I didn't think it would be but i figured i'd give it a shot. I ended up being too lazy to box the end of the frame rail, but i welded it inside and out, and put a piece of 1/8th inch strap on the inside to reinforce it. My 120v mig didn't have the juice to weld the frame, so i had to borrow my buddy's arc welder. I'm pretty good with mig, but it was like my 4th attempt at arc welding of all time and it's harder than i thought. Here's some pics if anyones interested. All cleaned up and ready to bend back Bent back, notched out the cracks First bead-came out alright considering i don't know what i'm doing After i cleaned everything up Painted-good as new! __________________ 1970 GMC 4x4 swb fleetside custom 4 inch lift with rear shackle flip, mild sbc, tci trans, rebuilt np205 w/twin shifters



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