Frame

[SwitchbladeII]

I am in the process of restoring a 1957 Step Side (not to stock) Due to what I want to do and what has to be done to the frame, I am considering going to a TCI frame. I am looking for some feedback on TCI and open to suggestions on other brands. I found a five year old forum were a user had some issues with TCI. I hope to hear from someone who has purchased one recently. I am concerned about the predrilled locations for cross sills and bumper brackets. Since the frames are boxed treaded inserts have to be welded in and in the correct location. I don't know how bed bolts would be tightened. I will be calling TCI and possibly a few others but always good to get fellow gear head input! Thanks in advance!

[Kim57]

Welcome.
I haven't a clue about the TCI frames but the frames that these trucks came on are a very good starting point for any number of ways that you may want to go.
Unless it is in real bad shape you may consider just upgrading it.
Kim

[ChuckDriver]

The Roadster Shop has a real nice looking one too!


http://roadstershop.com/product/full...truck-chassis/

[MiraclePieCo]

I have used TCI frames on Ford trucks. They are state of the art, an excellent upgrade. I was very happy with mine.

[MiraclePieCo]

PS: I see you are concerned about the threaded inserts since the frame is enclosed. I was worried about those too. Actually mine had nutserts, or riv-nuts as some call them - none were welded. TCI did their homework; turned out they were all mounted in the perfect locations and no modifications were required. Although I have sold the truck, the nutserts are still holding to this day.

[SwitchbladeII]

Thank to all for the replies. My frame could be saved but needs straightening and the prior owner installed a Volare/Aspen front end and butchered the front frame section. It's repairable but after repairing, adding the IFS, rear end and 4 link, I will be about 60 to 70 percent of the cost of a TCI frame. Keep the feed back coming I do appreciate it.

[_Ogre]

the heart stopping price keeps a new frame out of most of our budgets
if you can afford a new frame you'd be miles ahead starting out on your project
look around: tci, fatman and a few more offer frames with many options
you can buy a bare frame or a rolling chassis

[mr48chev]

I think the price is what stops 90 percent of the guys from even looking at a custom frame be it TCI Roadster Shop or Morrison or maybe one or two other long time chassis builders set up to do a truck chassis No limit has a complete roller chassis but it is more on the line of a pro touring chassis. Another one one to look into is industrialchassis.com Steve builds chassis individually that can be set up the way you want them.

[SwitchbladeII]

Update! As I was trying to justify buying a new frame I came across a stock unmolested frame. It still has the original front and rear suspension along with the six lug rims. None of which I will be using, so if anyone has interest in any of it, PM me. Thanks again to all that replied to my post!

[mr48chev]

When I read your first post I figured that the frame you had had seen the "modified with a cutting torch" treatment some time in it's life. Worst I've seen was a 53 Chevy truck that had a big chunk torched out of the right frame rail to clear the oil filter on a 390 Ford engine rather than use a remote oil filter.

[SwitchbladeII]

That's what you get when you put a Ford engine where it don't belong! Besides it looking butchered it probably weakened the frame especially with that boat anchor of a motor. From what I could find out the modifications to my frame were done years ago when there were not to many options. The front frame was cut up and pulled in to accommodate the front end. It was driven that way for many years so I guess it was safe enough but nothing I wanted to drive. Nothing in front lined up properly, fenders, bumpers or core support. It could of been fixed but not to the point where it was back to close to the way it left the factory plus the kink in the rear of the frame made it not worth fixing, If I hadn't lucked out and found this frame I was about to order a TCI frame, they have a sale going until the end of the month.

[tmoble]

boat anchor?? battleship anchor, ocean liner anchor, super tanker anchor. jeeze, I hate those things. heavy as hell, big as a mountain, but make up for it by being under-powered and easy to blow up.

just the memory of working on those things makes me feel queasy.

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by SwitchbladeII

Update! As I was trying to justify buying a new frame I came across a stock unmolested frame.

lot more budget friendly that way
mustII and some rear suspension with a new axle make for an economical hyway cruiser
before you toss the rear springs: i used a 3rd gen trans am rear end flipped on top of the stock springs
cheap and effective for the last 27,000 miles

[mr48chev]

Good to see someone intending to build a really nice truck rather than hunting for a "cheap easy" way to stick a truck together for a change. This may be one to follow..

[SwitchbladeII]

I have never chosen the "cheap and easy" route but sometimes I get carried away and get too anal about a project. I am glad I found this frame if I had gone the TCI route I would have done the body to match. This was not my original intention I want to build a decent looking and dependable ride. I'm building a driver. I have always said about my prior rides "If you see it on a trailer it's either broken or being stolen" I do have a twelve bolt that came out of my original frame and probably will be using it along with TCI parabolic rear leafs with a MKII type front with coils.

[Az. Hank]

Ok now that the frame is squared away....We Need Pictures :-)

[joedoh]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Good to see someone intending to build a really nice truck rather than hunting for a "cheap easy" way to stick a truck together for a change. This may be one to follow..

heck, glad to see someone doing work at all! did you still need some help getting your truck going after the 20 year project hiatus mr48?