Need Advice - Straighten Frame or Not??

[C10agent]

So, the driver side of my truck has always rode about an inch lower on the passenger side and bugs the hell out of me. It was involved in an accident on the front side of the bed and didn't get into the cab at all. I don't think that has anything to do with it but honestly not sure. Has anyone had it done and is it worth the time/money to do it?? I have read on here about these trucks naturally being driver side lower because of the age and the big ole' boys that drive them. Here are the measurements on how it sits now -

Driver Front - 25 1/2
Driver Rear - 26 1/2
Pass Front - 26 1/4
Pass Rear - 27

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks -

[71swb4x4]

By your measurements it looks like you are measuring body panels, not the frame. Have you verified that the frame is bent? Are you body mount bushings original? How is it lowered?
I would take measurements off the frame, not the body. And if things look amiss I would go to a couple reputable body shops and see if they agree that the frame is bent.

[C10agent]

Okay, so I feel like an idiot. I should have measured from the frame originally, it is only about 1/4 off on the front and the rear is money, so in my eyes, perfect. Now..........I have to figure out panel alignment, but that is going to be later. I have replaced the body bushings and have drop spindles & springs on the front and drop springs & blocks in the rear. Thanks for the help and I will be getting advice from a buddy of mine that owns a body shop to look at the rest. Makes me feel better that the frame is not tweaked like a originally thought. Thanks again for the quick response, this site is the best on the internet!!

[5150.4.67]

Glad to hear the frame is ok. Cab, hood, fender, and core support alignment is an exercise in patience!

[jhwkns]

if it's been in a collision, it's probably bent. I'd have it straightened.

[C10agent]

Good point. I am going to see that buddy of mine in a couple of weeks and get his opinion. He has been doing this for a while and is actually building a C10 for his son. I will let you guys know what they say and how much. The price is what scares me!

[jhwkns]

Originally Posted by C10agent

Good point. I am going to see that buddy of mine in a couple of weeks and get his opinion. He has been doing this for a while and is actually building a C10 for his son. I will let you guys know what they say and how much. The price is what scares me!

When I had mine done it was $250, and well worth it.

[terry b]

Mine was $350.00 five years ago. It was no big deal. Light hit pass side front.

[hugger6933]

On these trucks the pull is not what takes the large amounts of time, it is the tie down. But then again that is true for the majority of the ones that are put on the frame machine. Good luck Jim

[davepl]

My '69 Pontiac is a one-family car that took a hit in the front in 1986, about three weeks after I got my license. First and only accident ever.

Anyhow, about 10 years ago I noticed the car sat about an inch high on one side. The frame was too, but only by about 1/4 inch. So it sounds sort of familiar.

I presume something was bent from the original accident (where they did pull a piece of the frame). I had a (no pun) frame-off restoration done on the car and it came back perfectly level, but there was no frame straightening needed or involved.

Long story short, if you add up a bunch of tolerances from body panels and suspension and frame and mounts, and if they all are off in the same direction, they can add up to quite a big difference without any -major- underlying issue.

Just make sure it doesn't dogtrack. Only Ford trucks are supposed to.