How to check frame for straight - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

walker · 11-02-2003, 11:35 PM

I got my '67 home from the body shop where I had it towed after the wreck. Still not fixed but at least she is home. I was out surveying the damage today and I think she is savable. The d/s front quarter is wiped out pretty bad though. The sheet metal and grill are goners but the engine cab and doors are almost untouched. The spindle and lower a-arm are badly damaged. Before I get too far into this I would like to check out my frame for damage. There is some minor damaged to the front frame horns where the bumper bolts on but it doesn't look too hard to repair. I was wondering what the procedure is for checking the rest of the frame out. I watched the frame guys do this many years ago on an s-10 and thought that it could not be too much different than that. They some small plumb bobs that they hung from several locations on the frame and sighted down them and measured corner to corner. What locations should I use to sight/measure, and how far off is acceptable?

**Canadian694x4** · 11-03-2003, 12:51 AM

I can't help you with your question but I really hope you can salvage the frame...and get her back on the road someday...

walker · 11-03-2003, 09:43 PM

Oddly enough, I looked in my chassis service manual and there it was a procedure and measurments to check for a true frame. The only thing is that it tells you to use a tramming guage to check the horizontal measurments. Anyone know what a tramming guage is??? Or possibly how I could make one or a way to get by without it??

dinnut · 11-03-2003, 10:48 PM

i heard you take a black light out at night and if your frame is messed up it will look all cracked. JUST A RUMOR PROBABLY

cableguy0 · 11-03-2003, 10:54 PM

dinnut im pretty sure thats an old wives tale but hes looking for straightness not cracks. these frames will bend without breaking and bend pretty far at that. the easiest way is to just take it to a frame shop to be sure i dont know what they would charge have never had to get one checked before

JimKshortstep4x4 · 11-04-2003, 09:36 AM

we use a lazer light that shoots a line. With the right setup you can shoot it in if you use the right reference.

good luck!

Jim

11-02-2003, 11:35 PM	#1
walker Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: north of Phx AZ about 30 miles Posts: 698	How to check frame for straight I got my '67 home from the body shop where I had it towed after the wreck. Still not fixed but at least she is home. I was out surveying the damage today and I think she is savable. The d/s front quarter is wiped out pretty bad though. The sheet metal and grill are goners but the engine cab and doors are almost untouched. The spindle and lower a-arm are badly damaged. Before I get too far into this I would like to check out my frame for damage. There is some minor damaged to the front frame horns where the bumper bolts on but it doesn't look too hard to repair. I was wondering what the procedure is for checking the rest of the frame out. I watched the frame guys do this many years ago on an s-10 and thought that it could not be too much different than that. They some small plumb bobs that they hung from several locations on the frame and sighted down them and measured corner to corner. What locations should I use to sight/measure, and how far off is acceptable? __________________ Andy,Phx AZ '67 C-10 (Ahhh, done at last. Well there is that disk front end I want to put in and...) "23 C-Cab-sold '48 Ford 8N tractor(still working) '67 Scout(Now on the road) '70 MG B.-sold

11-03-2003, 12:51 AM	#2
Canadian694x4 Born To Lose Club Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Calgary, Alberta/Oxenden, Ontario, Great White North Posts: 13,306	I can't help you with your question but I really hope you can salvage the frame...and get her back on the road someday... __________________ Brian Smith - "Born To Lose" 1969 Chevrolet K10 LWB Fleetside - Proud Owner For 20 Yrs - 1 of 208 Built & Sold In Canada! - 283 V8/350TH/NP208, 2" All Spring Lift, 32" Good Year MT/R's. 1972 GMC K2500 Custom LWB Fleetside - Proud Owner For 2 Yrs - 1 of 571 Built & Sold In Canada! - 350 V8/SM465/NP205, 4” Rough Country Lift, 33” Interco TSL Thornbirds 2007.5 GMC Sierra SLE 2500HD 4x4 - Proud Owner For 15 Yrs - 6.6L V8 Duramax Diesel/Allison 1000, 2" Lift, 33" Mickey Thompson MTZ's. 2008 Yamaha Raptor 700r - Proud Owner For 13 Yrs - ITP Mud Lites. 2015 John Deere 1025R - Proud Owner For 6 Yrs - 24HP Diesel/H120/54D/260B/SB1154.

11-03-2003, 09:43 PM	#3
walker Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: north of Phx AZ about 30 miles Posts: 698	Oddly enough, I looked in my chassis service manual and there it was a procedure and measurments to check for a true frame. The only thing is that it tells you to use a tramming guage to check the horizontal measurments. Anyone know what a tramming guage is??? Or possibly how I could make one or a way to get by without it?? __________________ Andy,Phx AZ '67 C-10 (Ahhh, done at last. Well there is that disk front end I want to put in and...) "23 C-Cab-sold '48 Ford 8N tractor(still working) '67 Scout(Now on the road) '70 MG B.-sold

11-03-2003, 10:48 PM	#4
dinnut Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: missouri city, tx Posts: 4,486	i heard you take a black light out at night and if your frame is messed up it will look all cracked. JUST A RUMOR PROBABLY __________________ 70 longbed 496/th400/Ford 9"

11-03-2003, 10:54 PM	#5
cableguy0 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Delta,Pa Posts: 14,950	dinnut im pretty sure thats an old wives tale but hes looking for straightness not cracks. these frames will bend without breaking and bend pretty far at that. the easiest way is to just take it to a frame shop to be sure i dont know what they would charge have never had to get one checked before __________________ Owner of North Point Car Care in Dundalk Md. We specialize in custom exhaust on both modern and classic vehicles. We are a full service auto shop from classics to modern vehicles. Feel free to contact me with questions. I will give a 10% discount to any board member.

11-04-2003, 09:36 AM	#6
JimKshortstep4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Muskegon,MI,USA Posts: 6,026	we use a lazer light that shoots a line. With the right setup you can shoot it in if you use the right reference. good luck! Jim



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