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I measured my frame today. Cris-cross from frame ear on the front of the frame to the cab mount holes. There is 3/8 of and inch difference from one side to the other. Is that normal or is the frame out of square. If so what do I need to do. Thanks RUSTY
I would assume after that many years and possible accidents they would be out of square. I do not know what is acceptable on these old trucks. If 3/8" is acceptable then don't worry about it. Others will be able to tell you if it is or not.
You might want to check the areas between the cross members. I have seen one or two sections be out and the middle be straight. The front warped one way and the rear another.
I would pull it back to square though, if it were mine. Hook a chain on the long dimension and pull it back some with a ratchet binder. In the steel fab shop we had to pull anything that moved from welding and get it withing about 1/16".
Is the cab off? If so, measure similarly (criss-cross) from the front cab mounts to something behind them, maybe the rear crossmember. It is real common for the front frame horns to get bent from minor hits.
3/8" diagonal difference means it only has to move 3/16" to square up. I wish mine was that close. These frames are made to flex, so I'd say that should be good.
Rusty, Check other points on your cross checks. I can see that the frame horns may be off due to farm trucks were used for towing, pushing many things such as old fence post, large rocks, large machinery, and other heavy vehicles. I would check points aft that have cross bracing. Like mflat said 3/16 is not much. Last saturday on trucks they shorten a long wheel base pickup to make a short wheel base by cutting the middle straight part of the frame. After, they cross checked the center of the frame rivit to rivit and had less than 1/4 and they were happy with the results. If all aft cross checks are ok, the front frame horns depend on how the bumper looks. I've seen some minor changes made and they end up screwing something else. Have a great day,chuck
The frame on my 51F1 is also about 3/8" out of square. When I put it together I had trouble with the drivers running board fitting properly. The box is also out of square sitting on the frame. It is making the tailgate chain hook on one side hard to hook in place. I plan to pull mine back apart this summer to fix it.