OK guys I have now seen it all, I was under my rig today trying to figure out my loose steering and I find my cradle is literally splitting. Now about 3 months ago I ran all new brake lines and it was not like this, so this has happened in the last few months. I only drive it like 5000 miles a year so maybe 1000 miles Max in the last few months. She is empty most times and occasionally I haul some equipment to work around the house, get mulch, or lumber things like that no massive weight. I have two questions now. How does one actually split the engine cradle and does anyone make them after market? Junk yards around here don't keep these truck, no one wants them and they r worth more in scrap then in parts. So if a bone yard is my only option what vehicles, (truck, van, ambulance) will the cradle work from. I don't wanna scrap the truck but I'm not sure where ill be able to find the parts. Any ideas guys?

 

Closer picture

 

There is a lot of grease and oil on it. Its not rotted in any way and has a nice ring to it when hit with a hammer

 

Go-go-gadget WELDER!

 

And whilst welding it I bet you could add some braces to it and make it better than new.

 

And don't feel too bad, if we didn't have bad luck....


....we'd have GOOD luck and life wouldn't crap all over us all the time.

 

Lol well I guess bad luck gives me reasons to fix thing lol. And hey. What would life be be if things never went wrong. But honestly I did not think that could be welded back but if its a viable option then that may be what I got to do. Ill down the truck cause there is no way I will drive it like that, and gather some parts up while I pull the engine gonna do oil cooler which is leaking and the head gaskets cause I need those too, driver side weeping a bit. Looks like I got my winter project

 

Yep, i would not hesitate to weld it. Drill a 1/4" hole or so at the end of the crack and weld away. Like chev said you could grind it flush once welded and fishplate it or something. Depending on your welder and sillz with said welder i would just try welding it and seeing how it holds up myself.

 

OK sweet that's not so bad then, I was fearing the next 6 months searching for parts. My welder will never be able to do that, doubt it has the power and my skills are not up to that task. Ill weld exhaust or brackets for thing but nothing structural, don't think I have the skill. But I should be able to get my brother to do it, be a 12 pack job if I pull it lol. Im not letting this truck go out like this lol. Thanks guys

 

Damn that's some major structual falure, you have to have something else going on you should clean up that part of the frame and inspect it better.

 

I agree with kobaltblue, something caused that, if its not rust, something else went wrong. That looks like right where the TTB bracket is, which can explain the steering issue. Did you hit something hard with the passenger wheel? Maybe a pothole or curb? Just taking some wild guesses.

 

Wow that's a new one for sure!


Never seen, or heard of this happening.

 

That's a fairly common issue I think. I worked for company that had one ton van chasis (handi cap) busses. And several of them were welded in this area. Part of the PM was checking for cracks or checking the welds.

 

No that's the weird part I can't remember hitting anything and I'm the only one who drives it, just not something I have ever seen or herd of. I'm thinking, I'm just gonna pull the motor and see where it stands. I'm not looking to open a can of worms but if my brother can weld it back up then that's what ill do. But ill keep my eyes open for a replacement as well. Its just weird to me, that's a pretty good chunk of steel to be peeling open like that. But it looks like this will be my winters project as I'm low on free time and I have a feeling this is gonna take a lot of it. I'm just glad I noticed it before I had the wife and kid in it, I hate to think what would have happen if it failed while I was cruising down the highway