boxed frame - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

jcnelson · 01-21-2015, 06:39 PM

just wandering if anyone has boxed there frame. I love the look, but it looks like a lot of work.

hugger6933 · 01-21-2015, 10:26 PM

It is a ton of work and why would you need to? Unless you have 1,000 hp or so you won't need a boxed frame for the rigidity of the frame to help the suspension work. Sure newer trucks are boxed and the newest still are boxed all the way almost to the rear bumper brackets but they were designed that way and they had crash worthiness in mind when on the drawing table. Also hydroformed frame rails are made to have crash zones or they are better known as crumple zones. The main purpose for them is to bend a certain way in a certain impact to keep the frame and drive train out of the passenger compartment. That is not gonna happen with a boxing of a regular frame your not gonna have that control. That could lead to a very unwanted ending in some circumstances. All of that to say this you really don't need it they built trucks for many years without boxed rails and those trucks a lot of them are still working and riding now. Jim

1972RedNeck · 01-21-2015, 11:25 PM

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=483985

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=310493

**special-K** · 01-21-2015, 11:38 PM

I can see no reason to do. These trucks were very well designed from factory. I know boxed frames have a tendency to rot out and you only see it when you're laying under your truck

jcnelson · 01-22-2015, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hugger6933

It is a ton of work and why would you need to? Unless you have 1,000 hp or so you won't need a boxed frame for the rigidity of the frame to help the suspension work. Sure newer trucks are boxed and the newest still are boxed all the way almost to the rear bumper brackets but they were designed that way and they had crash worthiness in mind when on the drawing table. Also hydroformed frame rails are made to have crash zones or they are better known as crumple zones. The main purpose for them is to bend a certain way in a certain impact to keep the frame and drive train out of the passenger compartment. That is not gonna happen with a boxing of a regular frame your not gonna have that control. That could lead to a very unwanted ending in some circumstances. All of that to say this you really don't need it they built trucks for many years without boxed rails and those trucks a lot of them are still working and riding now. Jim

thanks. I just like the look, I'm not concerned about the how strong they are. I know these trucks can handle what ever you throw at them. I'm kicking around idea's in my head. probably wont do it. that's a lot of work.

1972RedNeck · 01-22-2015, 10:40 PM

I know an old rancher up the road that drives a '72 K20 that he broke the frame on a couple of times.

Vintage Windmills · 01-22-2015, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1972RedNeck

I know an old rancher up the road that drives a '72 K20 that he broke the frame on a couple of times.

Wow, what type of loads did he haul?

I have noticed some 67 to 72's where the bed has "kissed" the back of the cab. Under high loads/bumps the bolts that hold the bedsides to the header panel can contact the back of the cab. The frame flexes a tad too much, even though it doesn't yield (stay bent).

**CUSTOM/10** · 01-23-2015, 08:35 AM

I split the frame on my 1st 72 swb 4x4 a few times. But I use & abused the truck for years before that happened. I plowed with it every winter, hauled firewood, use it like a skidder, loaded it up with stone until the front end was hardly on the ground, and yes dented the corners of my cab from the bed hitting it. Eventually had to swap frames, but I would never box a frame, too much work to do it right. But that's me, many have been done. The truck I'm building now will live a pampered life, it will never be driven in the snow, and probably won't hall anything heavier than a bag of trash to the dump....
That’s a ton of work to do just for the looks !

dirtyjim · 01-23-2015, 03:44 PM

I boxed a 72 that I had in high school. I had the cab and bed off so I thought why not. while I was boxing it I also ran 1" conduit inside the frame too for the wiring. I was working part time for a street rod shop then and it was pretty common to run conduit for the wiring and even the brake lines inside the frame before boxing them

01-21-2015, 06:39 PM	#1
jcnelson Registered User Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: jacksonville florida Posts: 128	boxed frame just wandering if anyone has boxed there frame. I love the look, but it looks like a lot of work.

01-21-2015, 10:26 PM	#2
hugger6933 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Marianna Arkansas Posts: 7,261	Re: boxed frame It is a ton of work and why would you need to? Unless you have 1,000 hp or so you won't need a boxed frame for the rigidity of the frame to help the suspension work. Sure newer trucks are boxed and the newest still are boxed all the way almost to the rear bumper brackets but they were designed that way and they had crash worthiness in mind when on the drawing table. Also hydroformed frame rails are made to have crash zones or they are better known as crumple zones. The main purpose for them is to bend a certain way in a certain impact to keep the frame and drive train out of the passenger compartment. That is not gonna happen with a boxing of a regular frame your not gonna have that control. That could lead to a very unwanted ending in some circumstances. All of that to say this you really don't need it they built trucks for many years without boxed rails and those trucks a lot of them are still working and riding now. Jim

01-21-2015, 11:38 PM	#4
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,862	Re: boxed frame I can see no reason to do. These trucks were very well designed from factory. I know boxed frames have a tendency to rot out and you only see it when you're laying under your truck __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

01-23-2015, 08:35 AM	#8
CUSTOM/10 Senior Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Sandown, NH Posts: 2,806	Re: boxed frame I split the frame on my 1st 72 swb 4x4 a few times. But I use & abused the truck for years before that happened. I plowed with it every winter, hauled firewood, use it like a skidder, loaded it up with stone until the front end was hardly on the ground, and yes dented the corners of my cab from the bed hitting it. Eventually had to swap frames, but I would never box a frame, too much work to do it right. But that's me, many have been done. The truck I'm building now will live a pampered life, it will never be driven in the snow, and probably won't hall anything heavier than a bag of trash to the dump.... That’s a ton of work to do just for the looks ! __________________ Gary 72 SWB 4x4 My 72 SWB Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=259859

01-23-2015, 03:44 PM	#9
dirtyjim Registered User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: alvin, texas Posts: 622	Re: boxed frame I boxed a 72 that I had in high school. I had the cab and bed off so I thought why not. while I was boxing it I also ran 1" conduit inside the frame too for the wiring. I was working part time for a street rod shop then and it was pretty common to run conduit for the wiring and even the brake lines inside the frame before boxing them __________________ 1967 C10 lwb two tone, 305 & rat fink style floor shifted 700r4, 20" steelies 2004 2500HD utility bed aka Brutus



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