welding crossmembers

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Apr 3, 2011 | 09:06 PM

lasthighboy

Thread Starter

Elder User

Joined: Jan 2004

Posts: 668

Likes: 3

From: NW Kans

welding crossmembers

I have a 77 f-150 i plan on doing a frame off resto on. I was wondering if i should weld the crossmembers to the framerails while i have it stripped down to stiffen the frame up a little bit. It is a 4x4 but wont be used hard offroad. just a nice fairly stock driver. Is welding it worth the effort? Or does the frame need to be able to flex on the rivets? I will not be boxing the frame, so will it put too much stress on the welds and cause them to crack? The frame appears to be solid so there will not be any repairs or anything where i will be removing the factory rivets. Just wondering if it is a good idea to add a little stiffness or not. thanks.

Apr 3, 2011 | 09:23 PM

78 PEB

Cargo Master

Joined: Oct 2010

Posts: 2,674

Likes: 16

From: Ideeho

I wouldnt reccomend welding them............why would you want to?

Apr 3, 2011 | 09:42 PM

hasteranger

Lead Driver

Joined: Mar 2010

Posts: 5,250

Likes: 11

From: West Virginia

the factory welded some crossmembers and riveted the others. I'm sure they had a reason for it. Some on this forum say never to weld a frame. I disagree, but at the same time, I don't see any advantage to welding the crossmembers and it is an excellent opportunity to weaken the frame if your welds aren't perfects. I do hate the factory rivets... grade 8 hardware works fine as a substitute.

Apr 3, 2011 | 09:55 PM

JustBlaze

Senior User

Joined: Sep 2010

Posts: 241

Likes: 0

From: Upstate NY

They did it on trucks for Das Bronco but on a street truck I wouldn't go through the bother. They did it to stiffen it up for offroading.

Apr 4, 2011 | 05:33 PM

ChaseTruck754

Lead Driver

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 6,993

Likes: 15

From: Costa Mesa, CA

I agree with taking the rivets out and replacing them with grade 8 bolts (I do this on mine with fin thread, "shanked" bolts) rather than welding them.

Take them out, paint, powder coat or whatever you will be doing to both the frame and cross member and then bolt them back in. This assures ALL areas get painted.

Apr 9, 2011 | 08:58 AM