cracked frame

[shrtbx]

I just noticed the other day that frame is starting to crack next to the steering wheel box. Its not too bad now but i need to fix it pronto. Im headed out on a trip in a few days. Does anyone sell some sort of kit for this since its a common occurance, or do i just need to get it welded up.

[tvblazer78]

Originally Posted by shrtbx

I just noticed the other day that frame is starting to crack next to the steering wheel box. Its not too bad now but i need to fix it pronto. Im headed out on a trip in a few days. Does anyone sell some sort of kit for this since its a common occurance, or do i just need to get it welded up.

This is very common and yes they do have a kit to fix this. But I do not have any info about. Some one will post something for you very soon...

[tractor1963]

M.O.R.E. offroad a frame repair kit,so does Offroad design,is the truck 2wd or 4wd?

[shrtbx]

Its a 2 wheel drive.

[454HO]

Autofab has a gusset kit for 2WD - http://www.autofab.com/sbgk%20100.htm

My '77 had cracks in the frame. I welded them up myself and then made a brace to triangulate the frame and front crossmember. It wasn't quite as nice as the one in the link above. And I ended up scrapping the truck so I don't know if it would have held up or not.

[Prerunner1982]

I also had this problem and my steering box ripped a hole in my frame about the size of a half dollar. I was able to make something work, and it did for a couple of years.. Eventually though the frame also cracked at where it meets the suspension crossmember.. so the truck was retired.

Off Road Design is a good company with good products, but I dont know if the fix for the 4wd will work on a 2wd frame.

If you have a welder and access to metal you could try making your own. I would put a plate to distribute the stress over a wider area and put a brace to triagulate with another crossmember.

[asphaltburner]

Yo! OMG!
This is a COMMON problem!!? Geeze, with what Chevy trucks, or is it ALL Chevy trucks?
Mine's a '78 3/4 ton 4x4, FRANKENTRUCK. My frame is perfect, and I'd rather prevent than repair,...what parts of the frame? Todd.

[project 67 sub]

Originally Posted by asphaltburner

Yo! OMG!
This is a COMMON problem!!? Geeze, with what Chevy trucks, or is it ALL Chevy trucks?
Mine's a '78 3/4 ton 4x4, FRANKENTRUCK. My frame is perfect, and I'd rather prevent than repair,...what parts of the frame? Todd.

where the steering gear box bolts up to on the frame

[69face]

ive had two 2wd trucks with the same problem. the first one i just welded and gussetted and the second one i welded, an then put a matching 1/4 inch plate behind the gearbox. i drilled holes throught the second plate and got 1/4 inch longer grade 8 bolt and i havent had a problem for about a year now. i the truck wasnt so low i would take pictures

[Ds86C10]

mine has a wicked crack in the frame by the steering box.. to fix it im boxing the frame up front.

[lvschevytrucks]

not to steal this thread but mine is cracking by the rear leaf spring, Its a 4x4 do they make a kit for it

[Prerunner1982]

Here's what mine looked like..



Frame at front crossmember..

[shrtbx]

would kind of symptoms would i experience with problem like mine. Aside from the whole steering box coming loose.

[shrtbx]

69face...do you own a shop out here in los angeles?

[killthewabbit]

Got my repair kit and brace kit from offroaddesign.com about 5 months ago. Here's a link to the vid of what was happening with mine...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSEnHBrqMvo

Mine's solid as a rock now.

[SkylineNXS]

Thats insane....

BRAD

[old Rusty C10]

my buddy had this happen and he made a couple of pieces of steel himself and welded it on and it worked fine for the remaining five years he had the truck after that

[bowtiecb]

i had that happen when i had my 80, and had to chain the box to the frame just to make it to a welder, took about ten tries to get out of the drive way. but have anybody had this prob on a 86-87 model

[Prerunner1982]

Originally Posted by shrtbx

would kind of symptoms would i experience with problem like mine. Aside from the whole steering box coming loose.

If it is just cracked you may not experience any symptoms.. with all the other bolts holding the box on a crack probably wouldnt allow much flex. However, like mine have one of the bolts pull all the way through and your steering become VERY sloppy. You have to over steer each direction considerably to keep it where you want it because the box is flexing the frame.

[shrtbx]

thats what i figured. In the rain it was really bad but odd thing was it only got crazy twice. Felt like i was loosing control. Hey prerunner where is a good spot to get tires in oklhahoma city. I might get some when i get up there in a few days. I talked to a tire shop in my home town of ADA and they told me 144.00 for a cooper 275/60 r15!!! I can get those same tires down here for 75.00.

[73chevyman]

friend of mine just welded up the steering box and frame completely broke. welded it back no problems or flexing like you see in that video

[Prerunner1982]

Originally Posted by shrtbx

thats what i figured. In the rain it was really bad but odd thing was it only got crazy twice. Felt like i was loosing control. Hey prerunner where is a good spot to get tires in oklhahoma city. I might get some when i get up there in a few days. I talked to a tire shop in my home town of ADA and they told me 144.00 for a cooper 275/60 r15!!! I can get those same tires down here for 75.00.

Really I dont know. Most of my tires I have gotten barely used. I bought the wife's tires from Hibdons ( http://www.tiresplus.com/ , I think that is their website, they are called Hibdon tires Plus) and they are pretty good. I usually take my vehicles to them for alignments and flats (fix my own now). They are building a few Discount tire stores here now and you can check them online, http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direct/home.do

I needed some tires for my Jeep and broke down an got some from Walmart of all places, but they were only $55 bucks each. They are Goodyear Wrangler Radials and only available in 235s, not the best tire but for cheap they are fine.

When/Why are you heading this direction? Christmas?

[69face]

Originally Posted by shrtbx

69face...do you own a shop out here in los angeles?

no i dont own a shop but i have a pretty long driveway, a garage with 220v(for my compressor and welders), and most tools

[shrtbx]

Well i just got back from getting the frame issue fixed. Thanks 454HO for suggesting AUTOFAB. Its not often that i come across establishments that i can truly vouch for when it comes to integrity, quality and all around just good business sense.
John, owner of AUTOFAB has got to be one of the nicest/honest and sincere guys i have ever met. His team reworked my frame in the area around the powersteering box, patched it, welded it, and painted it all up. When i left the shop it was like driving an totally different truck. The crack in the frame was worse than i thought. It had severe cracks in not one but two areas. I was told that just from looking at it the are area of the frame with the two cracks would have given way in 2-3 days. Scary when i think about all the freeway driving and pot holes i go over here in los angeles. I will be headed back out to AUTOFAB for some more work on few other projects i have on other cars. The establishment is a true mom and pop operation that is A++++++ and truly an asset to truck enthusiast.

I also learned while talking to john that he is the original designer/fabricator of the brace for our trucks. He started making them back in the early 80s for chevys engineering flaw. Come to find out that a few companies actually buy the braces from him and sell them under their own names. He also gave me the scoop on a few big name aftermarket companies that have actually used his original design without permission and others that have similar copy cat designs.

All and all guys...From my my now personal experience with this whole frame thing i want to just stress that these are a must for our trucks. I saw the damage on mine and all i could say was wow. The braces are simple to bolt on and were made primarily to prevent the flexing and cracking of the frame. I unfortunately was unlucky but for you guys that havent had a crack yet....install one. Its not a matter of if its gonn happen its a matter of when. If you dont get one then atleast check that area everyonce in a while to make sure everything is kosher.

Sorry if i sound like and infommercial but i really think its more of a safety issue. I love GM..but they kinda dropped the ball on this one.

If you guys are curious about what the damage looks like, check out his website in a few days. Evidently mine was pretty bad, and it was one of the few 2WD trucks that he has seen with the problem. The photos are alot worse than it looks too.

[454HO]

Originally Posted by shrtbx

Well i just got back from getting the frame issue fixed. Thanks 454HO for suggesting AUTOFAB.

Cool. Glad it worked out for you. My '86 frame is solid... I think. But I have one of these on my list of things to buy. I'm sure the weight of the 454 combined with the 265 wide tires will eventually take it's toll.