front crossmember repair - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

beautimus · 01-18-2017, 08:21 PM

just messing around in the shop with the truck project, and decided to take a stab at repairing the cut up front cross member. A lot of these trucks seem to have the crossmember either bent, or cut up like mine. Sometimes a good one is tough to find, and can be costly to purchase. So i just couldn't bring myself to toss it without trying to save it.
pic1 i tried to square up the torched opening with a grinder, that should make it easer to patch.

beautimus · 01-18-2017, 08:22 PM

pic 2 made a patch out of 3/16 steel. i heated it up and bent it, using a torch , bench vise and a big hammer. this made a made a piece of angle iron with a radius that was pretty close to the original. then i made pie cuts so that i could curve the upper lip.

beautimus · 01-18-2017, 08:26 PM

pic 3 ground the patch and crossmember to fit and tacked in place. you can kinda tell that in general it fits pretty good. still gotta do a little hammer work
but i am liking it.

beautimus · 01-18-2017, 08:31 PM

pic 4 and 5 welded in. i gotta few under cut spots that need to be filled in
i will probably run a bead back over those spots tomorrow when i finish weld the back side. Then, hopefully, i can clean it all up with a flap disc, and put some primer and paint on it. we will see. more tomorrow. tony

midniteblues · 01-19-2017, 12:03 AM

Between the time and effort and not too mention the $ obtaining another crossmember.
The time and effort and skill honing making this repair is a no Brainer to me.

Good job.

67 chevelle · 01-19-2017, 08:21 AM

Looks great

01-18-2017, 08:21 PM	#1
beautimus Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: woodstock, alabama, usa Posts: 938	front crossmember repair just messing around in the shop with the truck project, and decided to take a stab at repairing the cut up front cross member. A lot of these trucks seem to have the crossmember either bent, or cut up like mine. Sometimes a good one is tough to find, and can be costly to purchase. So i just couldn't bring myself to toss it without trying to save it. pic1 i tried to square up the torched opening with a grinder, that should make it easer to patch. Attached Images __________________ i survived cancer and kidney stones, but my kids are killing me.

01-18-2017, 08:22 PM	#2
beautimus Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: woodstock, alabama, usa Posts: 938	Re: front crossmember repair pic 2 made a patch out of 3/16 steel. i heated it up and bent it, using a torch , bench vise and a big hammer. this made a made a piece of angle iron with a radius that was pretty close to the original. then i made pie cuts so that i could curve the upper lip. Attached Images __________________ i survived cancer and kidney stones, but my kids are killing me.

01-18-2017, 08:26 PM	#3
beautimus Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: woodstock, alabama, usa Posts: 938	Re: front crossmember repair pic 3 ground the patch and crossmember to fit and tacked in place. you can kinda tell that in general it fits pretty good. still gotta do a little hammer work but i am liking it. Attached Images __________________ i survived cancer and kidney stones, but my kids are killing me.

01-18-2017, 08:31 PM	#4
beautimus Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: woodstock, alabama, usa Posts: 938	Re: front crossmember repair pic 4 and 5 welded in. i gotta few under cut spots that need to be filled in i will probably run a bead back over those spots tomorrow when i finish weld the back side. Then, hopefully, i can clean it all up with a flap disc, and put some primer and paint on it. we will see. more tomorrow. tony Attached Images __________________ i survived cancer and kidney stones, but my kids are killing me. Last edited by beautimus; 01-18-2017 at 08:33 PM. Reason: need to add pics

01-19-2017, 12:03 AM	#5
midniteblues Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: strausstown pa Posts: 3,394	Re: front crossmember repair Between the time and effort and not too mention the $ obtaining another crossmember. The time and effort and skill honing making this repair is a no Brainer to me. Good job. __________________ 81 camaro 355 4/spd 342 posi my first love. 67 swb step 454/4spd ott 373 posi 4/7 drop. 2000 s10 zr2 little blue truck that never gets stuck. '74 heald super bronc vt8. tecumseh powered moon rover.

01-19-2017, 08:21 AM	#6
67 chevelle Registered User Join Date: May 2013 Location: WEST PALM FLORIDA Posts: 1,174	Re: front crossmember repair Looks great __________________ 68 Long Fleet , ly6 , turbo 350 , 3-5 drop , original paint , front discs 67 Small window , 7 foot bed , tweaked 6.0 LSX 2004R Medium Olive 58 Apache fleet , 235 , offy intake , dual exhaust , 4 on the floor , red/white 69 Long Fleet , Custom , 6.0, 4l60 , AC , Medium Olive



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