How would you go about fixing this?

[bwilli2]

The very end of the rear frame rails are bent in. On both sides. Dimpled.



Its location and that I don't want to take off the running board supports makes the 'turn it sideways and bang it until it's straight' a bit difficult.

On the drivers side I put the torch to it, with a big plate on the outside and tried using a big C clamp to slowly draw it flat. It got better, but not what I'd call straight.

Just looking for some other ideas.

[mr48chev]

I'd use a big chunk of steel for a dolly and take a big hammer to the inside of the ding. If you had a short section of railroad track the flat side would be about perfect to put up against that.

It looks like the dimples were made when someone put a bumper on it with brackets that went inside the rails and when they tightened the bolts it pulled the frame in. From that chunk of iron bolted to the top of the rail I'd think that there was one big ugly bumper on it at one time.

[bwilli2]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

...From that chunk of iron bolted to the top of the rail I'd think that there was one big ugly bumper on it at one time.

That big plate is just sitting there. It was what the V8 was mounted to. I was using that as the flat plate I had the C clamp pressing against. If I an figure out a way to brace it so the whole frame won't move, a BFH would work.

[sqrlnts]

I think your on to something, i would just add some heat to make things move a little easier.

[mr48chev]

I had to flip the frame over because my neck was getting a crik in it looking at the photo.

I think if you use a piece of heavy iron as a dolly and brace it so that the force only affects that spot when you hit it you won't have to worry about bothering the rest of the frame rail.

[bwilli2]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

I had to flip the frame over because my neck was getting a crik in it looking at the photo.

Yeah, sorry. I saw that when I posed it and should have fixed it.

[OrrieG]

I would clamp across to the other frame rail on the outside (I use 3/4" wood working pipe clamps) then porta power (or bottle jack and creative use of 4x4) on the inside. I have done the same thing before. When you apply pressure you need to hammer on the outside at the edges of the bend to relieve the tension there (just like doing body work). Make you keep track of the other side so you do not create another problem. You might also be able to get a push point from the cross member too.

[hard3]

heat and the biggest crescent wrench you can find to straighten , then bfh to smooth out

[papastrk]

You might straighten this without heating. As previously posted, use as heavy a plate, I-beam, whatever as a dolly. C-clamp to the frame rail and use a heavy hammer to work the crease flat a little at a time evenly down the full length of the crease. It will take many blows to straighten this. Just take your time. Keep the backup plate tight against the frame as you go. Use heat as a last resort. If you see that you just can't get it straight enough, cut out a section and weld in new plate.