think my truck has frame damage

[72c10projectc]

Well please tell me it isn't supposed to be this way


Posted via Mobile Device

[72c10projectc]

Does it look damaged
Posted via Mobile Device

[LockDoc]

-
If you are talking about the angled cross member, that is the way they are from the factory.

LockDoc

[TBONE1964]

What I can see on the photo is the panhard bar is bent very bad which will cause the rear end housing to shift to the left.

I am not sure what you are looking at by the photos. What do you think is wrong? The rear cross member is also bent and that will pull the rails closer together which will make it hard to mount the box correctly.

[72c10projectc]

Well there is more of a gap between the drivers side tire and frame than on the left.
Posted via Mobile Device

[BMERDOC]

Measure in an X pattern from the front bed mount to the rear of the frame to see how far out it is. If you think its outta square then this will tell you. Its an old truck so grade it on a curve but any measurments that seem excessive could be cause for alarm.

[72c10projectc]

That's last cross member is bent pretty bad to.
Posted via Mobile Device

[72c10projectc]

Ok got the rear cross member fixed and there is only a 1 inch difference in frame to tire gap. The drivers side is 14 inches from center of tire to frame and the passenger is 13
Posted via Mobile Device

[hugger6933]

Looking at your pics I would say some of the trouble may be farther forward. Take some groud to frame height measurments the box mount on the front up by the cab looks like it is higher on the driver side than it is on the pass side. That could be how it was jacked up or placed on stands.Get the truck on level footing and with all 4 tires at the same air pressure and the same size tires[ some people over look those two things and they may be the simplist]. Now that the ground is level start by the center of the truck and work in sections first with the cab section between the cab mounts if thing appear ok there you may want to skip the x measuring the cab mounts to save time but it may help you if you are also trying to line up sheetmetal to do that. At the very least take height measurements to assure that the cab is level. If not you can't really expect the box to be. If the cab is level then move to the front bed mounts they are so close to the cab mounts they should be ok, but measure anyway. If it is ok there move towards the rear until either you finish or your numers start moving out of phase with the way they should be, then you have found the begining of the problems. Once you've done that then take the x measurements from the front left mounting point to the right rear one then do the opposite. That number should be the same if not that is showing how much needs to be adjusted or at least half of that number anyway. You could come by the shop and I would be glad to put that thing up on the frame machine for you but you have a little pull to make it here be fore I could make a pull. One thing you need to be aware of if you do go to the frame place to have it pulled don't expect to wait or watch them pull on your truck. It just does'nt happen. Before I had my machine I used dozens of different guys and it is all the same they coulds not pull on it while I was there. They don't want you to see how long it takes to pull a frame back into shape , usally it only takes a very few min with todays equipment. It is the tie down that may take 9 forevers to do right but when that is done and the slack is gone the machine is gonna move it. A small thing like what we are talking here may only take 30 min or so after the tie down, but they don't want you to know that. A lot of those places have a min hook charge and it is because it takes so long to set the things up on the rack

[72c10projectc]

Ok did the above and its just shy of a 1/8 off on the across measurements and everything else is level just a crappy pic. So I think the panhard bar of a bent trailing arm may be the issue thanks hugger6933
Posted via Mobile Device

[BMERDOC]

Ha! I didn't even see it and TBONE1964 called it. I was looking too hard at the frame and tape measure! That panhard rod is definately bent.

That thing should be straight as an arrow...

[blasher]

Since we’re analyzing the pics, I’m nominating the upside-down shocks. I imagine they don't fit the other way or they would be. Wouldn't they pool water and moisture as pictured?

[72c10projectc]

Originally Posted by blasher

Since we’re analyzing the pics, I’m nominating the upside-down shocks. I imagine they don't fit the other way or they would be. Wouldn't they pool water and moisture as pictured?

OMG lol I didn't notice that hahahahaha
Posted via Mobile Device

[midniteblues]

Originally Posted by blasher

Since we’re analyzing the pics, I’m nominating the upside-down shocks. I imagine they don't fit the other way or they would be. Wouldn't they pool water and moisture as pictured?

good catch I dont think any of us were paying attention too them

just how does a track bar get bent like that

[hugger6933]

Since the measurment is off only an 1/8, to bring it back would need only a 1/16. You would only need to half the distance to make the x measurement back into square if that makes sense, it probably is in factory spec, at that time I think was the 1/8 inch back there, as they did not quite have the build tolerences they do today in case any of you have not have noticed the gaps on your rigs when working on them[ a very small joke there] but it is in spec, and I in my proffesonal opinion would not worry about that part. Now I probably would however look for another panhard bar. That could have gotten bent by maybesome sort of side impact at some time or maybe even a slide into a curb by a kid driving like they like to do sometimes[no offense kids, I was one ,once]. If that mystery bothers you I would look for indications of a changed bedside or a changed axle shaft. Those two items could lend a clue to the story potenail I have laid out for you. After building wrecks for many years I have all but quit trying to recreate what had happened in the wreck to me it will drive you batty making you wonder. Jim

[cdowns]

FACTORY SERVICE MANUAL has diagram with dimensions needed to measure the frame to see if it is up to factory specs

a cheap price to pay for good information

[twouvakind]

Originally Posted by blasher

Since we’re analyzing the pics, I’m nominating the upside-down shocks. I imagine they don't fit the other way or they would be. Wouldn't they pool water and moisture as pictured?

X2, wasn't going to nit pick though!

[72c10projectc]

Lol all is straight after I removed that panhard bar



Posted via Mobile Device

[72c10projectc]

Lol all is straight after I removed that panhard bar



Posted via Mobile Device
Posted via Mobile Device