Well, I messed up! I should have known better!

[nikwho]

For that cross member to bend like it did without pulling rivets and/or bolts, simple geometry tells me that it narrowed the distance between the frame rails. I won't be able to put my mind at ease, even with having successfully pulling it back into shape. I will end up removing it, determinin the appropriate distance between the rails and building a new cross member for that part of the frame and getting it right. The truck dropped approx. A foot before landing the cross member on the jack! That's a lot of energy! I will get it all squared away and get it into an alignment shop after installing some new geometry correcting a-arms. I was shocked that it changed the driveability of the truck, too, believe me! But, these cross members are what determines the distance between the frame rails. You taco one and it will most certainly change the distance between the frame rails! Anywho, it came back into shape surprisingly easily! I inched my big 7,500lb truck forward VERY slowly, fractions of an inch at a time. It worked out very nicely! It's back to near factory location, though, I will very likely be replacing the cross member, reguardless.

NC

[nikwho]

Here's a couple of pictures of the wheel installed:

[dmjlambert]

I like that, thanks for the pictures and the link to where you got that. Information such as how the 5 bolt pattern matches between Grant and Forever Sharp is what makes this forum great, I much appreciate the knowledge exchange. I am thinking about making an order myself. Very nice.

[scooterpimp]

Never use a floor jack that cost less than your steering wheel. Lol. Glad ya didn't get hurt!

[nikwho]

Originally Posted by scooterpimp

Never use a floor jack that cost less than your steering wheel. Lol. Glad ya didn't get hurt!

HAHAHAHA. That's AWESOME advice!

[dmjlambert]

I need to find a $19 jack to go with my $15 steering wheel...

[blue 72 gmc 4x4]

Bummer! I see your in Flag, me too! I have a friend who has a front frame section with a good x-member in it...I think. Have I seen your truck around? You've probably seen my avatar around town.

[nikwho]

Yes sir. I've seen your truck. I've talked to you at our car show, too. I ran the Summit Fire Dept. Car Show for years. We've chatted on here, I believe, when I was building my '59 Chevy Apache, too. You might have seen my '68 GMC parked at the fire station on Hwy. 89. It's a '68 GMC C15 short bed. It's orange, but the bed is in primer right now.

[suprachrgd82]

Sounds like the bent cross member is tugging on the frame rails and drastically affecting the front end alignment. It would be wise to remove it soon and replace it with one of the correct width. Too much toe-in/out can cause the twitchiness you are experiencing.