Hey guys
I need some help regarding frame repairs. I need to know what my options are and what I am looking at in terms of an effective repair. About 2 months ago I was heading down into virginia from new jersey to pick up a project vehicle with my 82 F350 Wrecker. Needless to say, after being on the road close to 13 hours, and just after crossing that loooong chesapeake bay bridge..13.00 bux each way, I think I fell asleep for a brief second and the truck veered off the road and into a ditch andhit one of those HUGE concrete culverts. Im really lucky to be alive (although I have several bad cuts, bumps and bruises).
The truck suffered a massive hit on the passenger side front; the big pushbar was bent all the way back and bent back the front stabilizer bar. However, the tie rods were OK. Upon teardown, the front radiator support is toast as is the left front quarterpanel, windshield and hood. the passenger side frame horn is bent back upon itself and pushed out some. However, everything beyond that back to the big main front crossmember, looks intact. (This is the crossmember that is inline with the shock towers. The radius arms and brackets are all OK and there are NO visible signs of torn rivets. The driver side frame horn is OK and the steering box and associated linkage is intact.
I need a new stabililzer bar and brackets but I cant seem to find any at local parts stores. Pictures are worth a thousand words but I dont know how to post pics on here. I really want to fix this thing but i dont know where to begin because any kind of metal fabrication is a mystery to me; I envy guys that can do it in their sleep. Ideas anyone?
Thanks a bunch
Ben

 

if youre not good at working with metal, youll have to pay someone who is to straighten it

 

We have a place in Denver called Bear Frame & Axle, they have a good reputation. If I were you, I'd look in the phone book and call around.

-ct

 

Yes, I hate to discourage anyone from doing their own work, but a vehicle frame is not a good place to learn how to weld.

 

Yeah, that really sucks man. I'm a machinist/fabricator and even I wouldn't want to try something like that.

You could probably get it pretty straight with heat and effort, but a good shop will put it on a frame rack and measure everything while putting it back to factory specs.

Good luck with it.

 

i think last i seen junkyards wanted 300 bucks for the 80's frames

 

Also the metal used in the frame does not take kindly to but the best of welders and materials, if heated wrong, it will distort the steel and crack even worse.

 

Truck frames go for around a hundred bucks in these parts. Problem is, you gotta strip all the stuff off it first in the junkyard without air tools or torches ...... Not easy.

 

Thanks for the replies
I have a good set of harris cutting torches here; that is how I managed to get the big push bumper off. As far as stripping the wrecker bed off...well...that sucka looks very heavy..all that diamond plate? Wow. Even if I were to get it all off, I never rebuilt a truck from a bare frame up. I don't even know what to do first. Matter of fact, I have an old 73 highboy frame in my backyard that needs a donor cab and bed and it is just sitting for the simple reason above. Its a complete rolling chassis ready to be blasted and rebuilt back to stock. I guess Im just a little apprehensive about undertaking such a task because Im worried that it will never get back together.
As for frame shops...I was afraid that I was gonna have to go that route. Now I have to find a reputable frame shop in jersey....anyone have one in mind that is familiar with my Area? I want to be able to drop my truck off and not have to worry that it will come back in worse shape........
Thanks again!

 

Ben,

You DO know there are lot's of wrecker shops in NJ, not just Nu$$baum's, right?

 

The truck has an older Weld-Built sling type wrecker body on it..I know that Nussbaum has its on wrecker line..I think....Weld-Built is up in NY..I dont know if they would even repair such an old truck......not to mention the cost to get it there.......

 

Yes, but most of these shops have the fabrication and repair abilitys to easily fix this sort of damage. They don't care who built it as long as you can pay their bill.
I also recall another place down there too, that did vending trucks (weinie wagons, roach coaches ect..) Not cheap either.
I just think of it as a line to follow, and see what you can shake out.

EDIT: Were you Ok?

 

I was hurt pretty darn bad....even though it has been 2 months or so...I still feel the aches and pains from the accident....needless to say, I am VERY lucky to be alive!

 

As are your family and friends! Glad to hear you're on the road to recovery.
More than once it's taken me almost a week to realize just how busted up I am. I don't really bruise and everything hurts.
Hoping you find a good way to straighten out your wrecker!