1st post: Why won't anyone work on my truck?

[JustJeff79]

Been lurking here for a while and I've learned many things thanks to this great forum.

Last year I picked up this 67 small window.



Minimal rust, 350 engine, 4 speed (originally a 6 cylinder automatic truck).

I was so busy looking for rust, I didn't notice the frame was bent.

The truck drives straight and I believe the damage is only up front (Back lines up perfect).



You can see everything is pushed towards the passenger side (about 2 inches) and the left is slightly lower.

The buckle in the frame is about 8 inches back. Everything else straight.

I've taken it to four local shops and this is what I've been told.

1. Body shop: "I can heat it up and put it the frame machine. But you'll have to get behind the insurance claims I have coming in". (still haven't heard back a month later)

2. Craigslist mechanic: "Yeah, I can torch it and bang it out" (I understand this can work, but the guy seemed shady and didn't seem to know much about these trucks)

3. Full service auto shop with several C-10's out front: "Nah man, can't fix that for you, it's a safety hazard". (This one surprised me)

4. Body shop #2: " We can fix that, but the whole front end needs to be replaced as well, you should just take that home and bang it out with a sledge hammer. Save yourself some money". (The whole front end thing threw me, I'm replacing the core support, but the whole front end? because of a tweek in the frame?)

Frustrated, I went home and took off the bumper, measured everything up and started in with the sledge hammer.

Then the damn frame split!



Needless to say, what I thought wouldn't work, didn't.

How do I get this frame right?

Should I weld the split?

Should I start the search for a new frame?

Anyone in southern middle Tennessee you can steer me towards?

All and any input is much appreciated.