Frame machine question??
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2008
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Frame machine question??
my 74 f-100 had previously taken a hard hit on the frame .the area is right where the rear driver side front leaf spring hanger is.i replaced the hanger becaus eit was bent badly enough that my rim and tire turned outward took me a while to figure out my problem now that the hanger was replace the tire still stick out mor than it should but better than before so i figure the frame must be bent some???i dont know if a frame straightner macine can do anything to sorrect this do you guys know.
i dont know what the truck hit maybe a stump or something it happend sometime before i owned the truck it had been abused thats for sure
i dont know what the truck hit maybe a stump or something it happend sometime before i owned the truck it had been abused thats for sure
MSEE
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,386
Likes: 35
From: Austin, TX
A good frame machine can work wonders. Nowadays, frame machines come with profiles for modern cars that tell the frame machine how to bend each piece to the original factory shape. Our trucks, however, are so old and simple that they literally chain and yank. I wouldn't be surprised if they take the bed off to work it out. Find a good frame shop in your area and see what they say. I've seen places charge anywhere from $50 to $100 an hour for frame work.
New User
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 10
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another idea you might try would be to take some comparison measurements off of another truck you know is straight. you can measure off different bolts or rivets on the frame that are the same as your truck. This may at least give you an idea of how bad yours really is.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 269
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From: mechanicsville VA
my frame was bent the same way exept it was on the front leaf spring mount . i just took a cuttin torch where i thought the bend was, heated it up and the took a porta-pump inbetween the left and right frame rails.
Elder User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 947
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From: Spokane, Washington
I got hit by a semi and it knocked the back of my frame down which above the wheel well pitched it up a bit, so when I put a new bed on it, it doesnt sit quite right. Whenever I call a place to get the frame straightened they tell me it is 250 minimum, of course I have only called 4 places and there is more to chose from. My claims adjuster also said that the frame was a simple fix, and that the reason they didnt fix the truck for me was because of its age, which turned to be the reason they just gave me the truck back lol.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 176
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frame
Run a string line from front wheel to back on both sides. Turn wheel in and out and see if the string touches front and back on both wheels. Because of toe in you will have to readjust steering on each side a small amount.
Have someone drive behind you with a good eye and look for "Doggy Action".
last suggestion.
If the dent in the frame doesn't bother you and if the tires don't wear. Run it.
Have someone drive behind you with a good eye and look for "Doggy Action".
last suggestion.
If the dent in the frame doesn't bother you and if the tires don't wear. Run it.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,760
Likes: 8
From: Gadsden Purchase
Prob'ly won't go over $1000.
Don't know how important it is to -you-.
It is -very- important to me and $1000 was worth it after "a gal with no brakes"
ran into me. Totaled her boyfriend's fancy mustang, the jerk having her drive the
car knowing full well the brakes were bad.
I want mine to track as straight as I can get it and... mine does! ;)
Maybe straighter than from the factory? :)
Alvin in AZ '75 F150
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Elder User
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 672
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From: near Liverpool, England
I'd be inclined to take Zoomeroo's last advice piece, if it don't wear out a tyre or drive bad , drive it as it is. And I'd also say forget it if it still drives ok and doesn't wear that side tyre any faster than the one on the other side.......
.......I would tho' take it in and see if the front-end alignment is ok.
.......I would tho' take it in and see if the front-end alignment is ok.
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Elder User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 947
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From: Spokane, Washington
$250 is cheap!
Prob'ly won't go over $1000.
Don't know how important it is to -you-.
It is -very- important to me and $1000 was worth it after "a gal with no brakes"
ran into me. Totaled her boyfriend's fancy mustang, the jerk having her drive the
car knowing full well the brakes were bad.
I want mine to track as straight as I can get it and... mine does!
Maybe straighter than from the factory?
Alvin in AZ '75 F150
Prob'ly won't go over $1000.
Don't know how important it is to -you-.
It is -very- important to me and $1000 was worth it after "a gal with no brakes"
ran into me. Totaled her boyfriend's fancy mustang, the jerk having her drive the
car knowing full well the brakes were bad.
I want mine to track as straight as I can get it and... mine does!
Maybe straighter than from the factory?
Alvin in AZ '75 F150
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Senior User
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i dont like it so ill call a few local shops and see what they tell me mytire sits out futher than the passenger side and just knowing that drives me crazy.this is play toy truck not a daily driver and i had even thought of doing a pro street look with big 15x14 wheels and big 31 x19.5 tires so if i decide on this look the fab shop will be the one i need to check with thanx for all the advice guys
MSEE
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,386
Likes: 35
From: Austin, TX
Just curious, what happened to the truck? Last summer a drunk driver ran into my truck while I had it parked outside at night. It kicked the front end over a few inches. The guy didn't have a license, insurance, and barely spoke English... Anyway, my insurance covered it, and the truck came out looking better than it went in. I couldn't believe how good of a job they did. A good frame guy is the difference between keeping your truck and scrapping it.
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fmc400 i really dont know for sure what happened to the truck the damage was done before i purchased the truck i didnt notice until i purchased it.i replaced the spring hanger which was bent up ,thought that would solve the problem well it help alot but not all the problem i know its gotta be the frame bent some because ive even replace all the leaf springs and rear end from another truck
how much did it cost for the shop to fix ur frame???
how much did it cost for the shop to fix ur frame???
MSEE
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,386
Likes: 35
From: Austin, TX
They charged me the same hourly rate for all of the work, so I don't have a breakdown. It was about 4 days labor. But realigning the whole front clip, straightening the bumper, wheel alignment, replacing the entire grill, and all of the frame work and reshaping ran $1300 total. Insurance covered it all.
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,593
Likes: 2
From: Prairieville, La
I was almost stopped, turning into a carwash.The guy in the chevy truck thought his had auto-pilot at 70 mph.(he took a nap.) He knocked me into a four foot deep ditch. Guess he decided that wasn't enough, so he hit me again in the passengers door. We went 20 feet sideways,pulled up a natural gas main, and took the carwash steel pole down right behind my cab. The old ford and my foot ,pulled both of us out of the ditch and 34 feet off the hwy. Bent my frame behind the cab into the driveshaft.(damn pole.) The exhaust pipes came through the floor of the bed above the rear about a foot.I walked away,kept the truck and his insurance gave me $4,500. The frame was trashed. I don't think it could be fixed. I loved that truck. I have another story at another time about that truck.I'm not sure where to post it though. (has to do with police and were they filmed the new dukes of hazzard movie.)
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