Basically broken frame
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 910
Likes: 8
From: West-Central New York
Basically broken frame
My brother's 1992 F350 has broken both frame rails right behind the front mount for the front leaf springs. The full cracks are directly between the front spring mounting point and the radiator support body bushings.
The truck has a 2 month old reman. engine, aftermarket tranny, brandnew 35's, and very little rust. It wasn't supposed to be a throw away vehicle
I'm including a photo so you can get a better idea of the problem.
I'm looking for suggestions or opinions.
Option 1: straighten, patch, bolt, weld.
Option 2: complete frame replacement costing what the truck is worth
Option 3: send it over a cliff and file an insurance claim.
Here is a link to a photobucket.
I'm basically just asking for the best way to repair it.
The lift on this truck was done with extended front shackles instead of new springs (previous owner). It's fairly obvious the applied leverage caused these tears.
Should I be worried that this will happen again?
The truck has a 2 month old reman. engine, aftermarket tranny, brandnew 35's, and very little rust. It wasn't supposed to be a throw away vehicle
I'm including a photo so you can get a better idea of the problem.
I'm looking for suggestions or opinions.
Option 1: straighten, patch, bolt, weld.
Option 2: complete frame replacement costing what the truck is worth
Option 3: send it over a cliff and file an insurance claim.
Here is a link to a photobucket.
I'm basically just asking for the best way to repair it.
The lift on this truck was done with extended front shackles instead of new springs (previous owner). It's fairly obvious the applied leverage caused these tears.
Should I be worried that this will happen again?
Last edited by dcf4x4; Feb 25, 2009 at 09:50 PM. Reason: a photo paste didn't work
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,621
Likes: 1
From: Sweetwater Texas
I would straighten it, then find a some 1/2 plate, and cut the longest piece you can out of it and make it just barely squeeze inside the C channel, then put at least 4 1/2 bolts on either side of the crack.
It will hold without a problem my uncle cut the frame and shortened the frame on his semi and then did the same procedure I told you, the truck has since hauled tons of loads many miles without a problem.
It will hold without a problem my uncle cut the frame and shortened the frame on his semi and then did the same procedure I told you, the truck has since hauled tons of loads many miles without a problem.
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Joined: Jun 2006
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Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,442
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From: La Grande, OR
it looks like the previous owner must have jumped it and landed square on the front end or something to cause that much stress on the frame to split it like that
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i would straighten the crack weld it, grind down the welds, make a 3/8ths in steel plate that slips over the frame so it holds the side and top and bottom, weld it on, then drill some holes and bolt it on with half in bolts
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 197
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From: Martins Creek, PA
I would to, also I like to make the 3/8 (or even 1/4) plate edges not square <==> Gives the weld more surface, and also distributes the strain off any one point of the weld.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 910
Likes: 8
From: West-Central New York
Thanks for the ideas.
Due to the position of the tear I might just rebuild the frame horns from the radiator support forwards. Maybe just replace it with a tube design. It's just such an awkward position that anything we do will be very difficult. A jigsaw puzzle of pieces would never stand the obvious torque put on those drop shackle mounts.
The tear down begins early Monday morning. I'm not looking forward to it! If I think about it I'll post some pictures of the project just so others can see the flaw in drop shackle mounts. Yes, they're a cheap lift but it stopped being cheap when that frame started to tear.
Due to the position of the tear I might just rebuild the frame horns from the radiator support forwards. Maybe just replace it with a tube design. It's just such an awkward position that anything we do will be very difficult. A jigsaw puzzle of pieces would never stand the obvious torque put on those drop shackle mounts.
The tear down begins early Monday morning. I'm not looking forward to it! If I think about it I'll post some pictures of the project just so others can see the flaw in drop shackle mounts. Yes, they're a cheap lift but it stopped being cheap when that frame started to tear.
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