Hello everyone! so ive spent the last 3 mo working on semi-restoring the 2000 Super Duty 4x4 7.3 Supercab to be road worthy and now im at the last part the redhead steering box install, I knew the frame was in bad shape up there but when everything was striped away ugh its a lot worse than I thought more rot and cracks than expected all over both sides front to back especially on the inside by rad support where I cant get at it to weld and the section where the bottom bolt for the steering box is cracked and rotted also. I was going to fish pate on both sides but like I said its worse than I thought BUT I do have another good frame horn, should I repair or replace its cut right at the crossmember can I cut weld and fish plate will it withstand the stresses im stuck but I almost feel I have no choice at this point I looked around everywhere and could not find any info on this subject any help would be greatly appreciated thank you

 

 

Thanks for the input but a lot more work than I care to get into im looking to do just the frame horn if its acceptable and has anyone ever done it?

 

 

outside view of front left frame horn / steering box mount holes one is not in view furthest from front of truck

inside frame horn at steering box lower mount hole other side of hole spacer is gone

front left inside frame horn rot next to rad support

 

thanks I wish I had more time and space for that mission I will work on that next summer I need a fix to get through the winter

 

I took your advice and cut the fishplates out of a donor horn plasma cut fit grind ,grind some more weld it was some work but is the job is complete

 

did the fish plate with a donor piece, it was some work like 16 hrs I had bought a new plasma cutter and it worked great it was a time saver better than using cutting discs anyway it came out nice also added the new red head steering box everything works ,so far so good thanks again will do the frame clip in april

 

Why wouldn't you cut it at the factory splice like mentioned above and repair it the proper/safe way? That's what ford or any body shop would have done

 

From the looks of the photos you posted of that frame, a pair of scissors would have worked just as well.

Heck, one swift kick might have done it.

So glad they don't salt the roads around here.