71 fleetside frame

[lrmarquez80]

I'm needing some advice. I'm restoring a 71 chevy fleetside shortbed. I'm wanting to find a place in Amarillo tx or near by that will check my frame to see if its bent. I'm want this build to be perfect so I really need this checked. I also need to know if you can take the bare frame to the frame shop without suspension or with old suspension. I don't want to buy all the new suspension just to get it checked if the frame is no good. If I cant find anyone that will check it, I am going to take all the old suspension off and try to check the specs on my own. Any Ideas anyone?

[boynton]

The frame shop I use in central Texas can square it with just a bare frame because they have all of the measurements. If you just want to check it you can just pull some X measurements in serval places. This will tell you real quick what you have.

[hugger6933]

Most frame shops won't deal with you unless it has the wheels on it so they can at least roll it on to the rack. Take the X measurements and skip the step of having someone else look at it .
Start with the cab mount measure from drivers front to pass rear then swap sides those two readings should be the same. Next measure from the front cab mount to the core support mount then do the other side it should be the same, Same goes for the bed mounts. If you X out those three spots and they read real close then your straight enough to build that frame.If you carry it to a shop and leave it first thing they do [and the only thing they may do] is X out the frame like I just described. Jim

[lrmarquez80]

thanks for the advice.... I'm currently removing all the suspension hoping that's what is giving it the little sag.

[Vandals909]

How close is close enough on the measurements? Is being off by 1/4 to 1/2 way to much?

thanks

[lrmarquez80]

I guess I got lucky with my frame, once I took off the old the suspension, it was level and measured just fine by doing X measurements. I would assume that anything more than a 1/4" would need some attention but I'm no expert.
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[hugger6933]

I would have figured back then 1/2 inch would probably be acceptable. As late as the 88-98 C series truck I measured the wheel base on a truck right off the transporter on the dealers lot, and it was a little over 3/4 inch off from side to side checking the wheelbase. I know it sounds a little lazy maybe but that is why the holes are slotted or elongated. As long as the X measurements are pretty good I'll say your clear for flight. Now keep in mind if you are taking a X measurement and it shows 1/2 inch off it only means that you are off by half that amount so if you do indeed have a 1/4 inch off in the X it is really only 1/16th of an inch and 1/2 inch is just a quarter. That may not make sense to you but this one just trust me. Have I ever steered you wrong? You know I have been doing this almost my whole life. Jim[I've had my body shop since 1987]

[Vandals909]

The truck drove straight before I torn it down.

How many shims behind the upper control are commons on a lowered truck? Looks like it has about 6 or 7 on each side.

Maybe a setup of new arms with the longer upper arm would be a good idea on my lowered truck