Rear Frame Cross member

[ChevyJr]

Does anyone know where I could locate this piece of the frame online or on the forum?

I've measured from both sides of the frame and it appears to have been straightened at some point. I need to find the correct frame measurements for a C10 Shortbed to ensure that in fact happened, but I am installing a rear mount gas tank and what to replace this before doing so. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Lugnutz65]

Originally Posted by ChevyJr

Does anyone know where I could locate this piece of the frame online or on the forum?

I've measured from both sides of the frame and it appears to have been straightened at some point. I need to find the correct frame measurements for a C10 Shortbed to ensure that in fact happened, but I am installing a rear mount gas tank and what to replace this before doing so. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I think you will need to get that piece from a donor truck. My 1965 frame was very straight but the rear frame crossmember was bent by the previous owner hooking a chain to it and trying to pull a stump - at least that is my theory.

I had to get a straight piece to replace it from the salvage yard. Grind off the rivets. I drilled the rivets out and luckily it worked. The salvage piece fits like it should so I know the frame rails are not damaged.

Please notice that the big crossmember (not the little skinny one) that is 2nd from the very back is installed at a slight angle. That is the way it is designed. I think it allows clearance for the panhard bar (track bar). I just don't want you to think it's crooked. The 4th photo shows the frame of a 66 parts truck I sold. You can see that the large crossmember that is 2nd from the rear has a slight angle. It is supposed to be at a slight angle, but the rear most crossmember goes straight across.

[chevyrestoguy]

Originally Posted by ChevyJr

Does anyone know where I could locate this piece of the frame online or on the forum?

I've measured from both sides of the frame and it appears to have been straightened at some point. I need to find the correct frame measurements for a C10 Shortbed to ensure that in fact happened, but I am installing a rear mount gas tank and what to replace this before doing so. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

If you can wait about a week, I'll have one removed from my '64. I don't plan to reuse it, because I'm doing a custom spare tire mount and adding a hitch assembly. If you need measurements in the meantime, let me know.
Alex

[Mikes66ChevyC10]

Originally Posted by Lugnutz65

I think you will need to get that piece from a donor truck. My 1965 frame was very straight but the rear frame crossmember was bent by the previous owner hooking a chain to it and trying to pull a stump - at least that is my theory.

I had to get a straight piece to replace it from the salvage yard. Grind off the rivets. I drilled the rivets out and luckily it worked. The salvage piece fits like it should so I know the frame rails are not damaged.

Please notice that the big crossmember (not the little skinny one) that is 2nd from the very back is installed at a slight angle. That is the way it is designed. I think it allows clearance for the panhard bar (track bar). I just don't want you to think it's crooked. The 4th photo shows the frame of a 66 parts truck I sold. You can see that the large crossmember that is 2nd from the rear has a slight angle. It is supposed to be at a slight angle, but the rear most crossmember goes straight across.

Thank you for posting your pictures especially the 4th one!! We got the bed of my 66 C10 off yesterday and I noticed how the cross member (the big one and the little one for the spare tire) were not straight so I thought for sure my frame was bent. My frame looks exactly like the one in the 4th picture were you can see the slight angle. So happy to find out it's normal!

[jdp]

So this is normal? I just installed a new tank under the bed of my 65 and I noticed that the rear cross member right in front of where I put the tank is slightly askew. When standing at the tailgate and looking down onto the tank (beds ripped out), it looks like the left side of the cross member was attached a couple inches forward of the right side. I've had my truck up on the lift and the frame looks clean, no signs of being bent.

[chevy_mike]

Yes this is by design. One for clearance of the panhard bar but MOST importantly, this is to help keep the frame from "racking". If all of them were equal length, it could allow the frame to create a parallelogram. By placing this one crossmember at an angle, making it longer then the rest, you would have to expand or compress the frame at that point to get it to rack into a parallelogram. Those GM guys were pretty smart.

[McCoyAZ]

So Chevy Mike....

I need to move that cross member that is askew up about 6 inches to get the clearance I need for my short stepper tank.....as long as I move it forward equal distance I would be okay with doing that? And I am going to weld a flat bar across the rear as well.

Don't mean to hi jack this thread but it is exactly what I was just going to ask.

[chevy_mike]

I don't know if you have enough straight frame to move it but in theory, if you move it equally forward, you would be fine. If you have a coil rear setup, I don't know if the panhard bar is going to clear. If leaf springs, likely won't be a problem but check clearances.