Is the frame supposed to be like this??? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

1980GMC · 03-04-2008, 09:07 AM

I dont have a pictures so Ill try to describe it as best as possible.

About 7" behind the tranny crossmember on the drivers side the frame looks funky. By funky I mean not this shape --> ] Its like the bottom flat part of the rail just sags.

Its not damaged, it looks like it was made that way which puzzles me.

Excuse the crudeness of this drawing but my camera isnt working.

Thanks for all the help,

Wes

pcmcobra · 03-04-2008, 09:23 AM

yes

pissonNOS · 03-04-2008, 09:23 AM

i believe this was catalytic converts? i could be wrong tho

f.monroe · 03-04-2008, 09:24 AM

That is correct . I think GM got lazy or something around 1980 or so and the driver side frame rail looks like that . Looks weak to me also but I have seen Many trucks like that . Must be some sort of crumple zone built into the frame to aid in a crash . Frank

flamingbig10 · 03-04-2008, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1980GMC

I dont have a pictures so Ill try to describe it as best as possible.

About 7" behind the tranny crossmember on the drivers side the frame looks funky. By funky I mean not this shape --> ] Its like the bottom flat part of the rail just sags.

Its not damaged, it looks like it was made that way which puzzles me.

Excuse the crudeness of this drawing but my camera isnt working.

Thanks for all the help,

Wes

Mines a 80 also and its the same way,

ElGracho · 03-04-2008, 09:30 AM

It's not that GM was lazy. If they were lazy, they wouldn't build a die to bend a straight frame.

The bend is there to give clearance the for the catalytic converter. The original GM pellet type converters were huge and got really hot. The bend was to keep that section of frame away from the cat.

My 75 Gentleman Jim has it all the way up to the 87 diesel I used to have (even though it didn't have a cat, the frame was the same as the rest...)

1980GMC · 03-04-2008, 09:36 AM

Thanks for all the quick replies everyone.

So if I ever wanted to lay frame would I have to bend that? or leave it?

Dinos63 · 03-04-2008, 09:48 AM

That was a good question, and good answer, when i got mine we thought it was hit or pulled out of ditch, we had to heat it and flatin it out when we lowered it

1980GMC · 03-04-2008, 09:58 AM

Haha I assumed the same about mine and was wondering if there was something I wasnt told about by the PO.

Thanks for all the help everyone.

03-04-2008, 09:07 AM	#1
1980GMC Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Alberta Posts: 117	Is the frame supposed to be like this??? I dont have a pictures so Ill try to describe it as best as possible. About 7" behind the tranny crossmember on the drivers side the frame looks funky. By funky I mean not this shape --> ] Its like the bottom flat part of the rail just sags. Its not damaged, it looks like it was made that way which puzzles me. Excuse the crudeness of this drawing but my camera isnt working. Thanks for all the help, Wes __________________ Wes 1980 GMC Sierra SCSB-2WD 1986 Chevrolet C10 SCSB-2WD

03-04-2008, 09:23 AM	#2
pcmcobra Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 1,684	Re: Is the frame supposed to be like this??? yes __________________ 1986 C10 SWB 6.0/6l90e Miami...Flee it like a native

03-04-2008, 09:23 AM	#3
pissonNOS senior member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: fort macleod alberta Posts: 2,770	Re: Is the frame supposed to be like this??? i believe this was catalytic converts? i could be wrong tho __________________ 69 GMC bagged

03-04-2008, 09:24 AM	#4
f.monroe Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Caldwell,Tx. Posts: 3,648	Re: Is the frame supposed to be like this??? That is correct . I think GM got lazy or something around 1980 or so and the driver side frame rail looks like that . Looks weak to me also but I have seen Many trucks like that . Must be some sort of crumple zone built into the frame to aid in a crash . Frank __________________ Born and proudly residing in a Red State !

03-04-2008, 09:30 AM	#6
ElGracho Gentleman Jim Driver Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 1,553	Re: Is the frame supposed to be like this??? It's not that GM was lazy. If they were lazy, they wouldn't build a die to bend a straight frame. The bend is there to give clearance the for the catalytic converter. The original GM pellet type converters were huge and got really hot. The bend was to keep that section of frame away from the cat. My 75 Gentleman Jim has it all the way up to the 87 diesel I used to have (even though it didn't have a cat, the frame was the same as the rest...) __________________ Joe '75 GMC Gentleman Jim '84 Chev C10 Short Wide - Super duper plain (manual steering, manual brakes, no dome light, no cig lighter) '85 Chev C10 Short Wide - Super plain Vortec 4.8 4L60E trans also: '81 K30, '83 C30 Crew Dually, '84 M1028 CUCV, '85 M1009 CUCV, another '85 C10 SWB, '89 R3500 Flatbed

03-04-2008, 09:36 AM	#7
1980GMC Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Alberta Posts: 117	Re: Is the frame supposed to be like this??? Thanks for all the quick replies everyone. So if I ever wanted to lay frame would I have to bend that? or leave it? __________________ Wes 1980 GMC Sierra SCSB-2WD 1986 Chevrolet C10 SCSB-2WD Last edited by 1980GMC; 03-04-2008 at 09:49 AM.

03-04-2008, 09:48 AM	#8
Dinos63 chevy only Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 6,619	Re: Is the frame supposed to be like this??? That was a good question, and good answer, when i got mine we thought it was hit or pulled out of ditch, we had to heat it and flatin it out when we lowered it __________________ CHEVY ONLY... Nothin Else !

03-04-2008, 09:58 AM	#9
1980GMC Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Alberta Posts: 117	Re: Is the frame supposed to be like this??? Haha I assumed the same about mine and was wondering if there was something I wasnt told about by the PO. Thanks for all the help everyone. __________________ Wes 1980 GMC Sierra SCSB-2WD 1986 Chevrolet C10 SCSB-2WD



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