Frame Dimensions - Is this a surprise? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

65GMCFirstride · 02-13-2011, 10:40 PM

My son and I are restoring a 65 GMC Truck. I noticed the front bumper bolts were about an inch from their original holes when we bought it. Everything else seemed straight (door gaps, bed and cab alignment, etc.). It drives great...straight down the road. We have it apart now and you can visually see the front frame rails are pushed to the passenger side a bit. So, I decided to measure it. The measurements show the front frame rails are out the most, but all dimensions are off a bit. I am taking to the frame specialist soon to let them do a more scientific analysis, but I am interesting in knowing "Is it common that the dimensions are .25 to.5" off on a 46 year old truck or is my frame Whacked?" Thanks!

Rich 5150 69 · 02-13-2011, 11:03 PM

From what I`ve read 1/8 th to 1/4 was pretty much the norm, .5 was a stretch, may have been bumped or pulled out of ditch at one point in its life, watch a lot of new trucks going down the road espescially fords seem to be the worst for dog tracking...

LostMy65 · 02-15-2011, 10:47 PM

Mine is off by a small amount also.
On mine, if you pull from (A) to (C) there's a 1/2" difference in the opposite direction.

I was just searching to see where here in Portland to get this checked/fixed, and your thread popped up.

Great job with the drawing above.

vin63 · 02-16-2011, 12:15 PM

Yes, the tolerances were about that to begin with, and then add several decades of use. Just be glad it's not an X body...ugh, dealing with first and second generation Chevy IIs and Novas, I'm happy if things are within 0.625".

02-13-2011, 10:40 PM	#1
65GMCFirstride Registered User Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 125	Frame Dimensions - Is this a surprise? My son and I are restoring a 65 GMC Truck. I noticed the front bumper bolts were about an inch from their original holes when we bought it. Everything else seemed straight (door gaps, bed and cab alignment, etc.). It drives great...straight down the road. We have it apart now and you can visually see the front frame rails are pushed to the passenger side a bit. So, I decided to measure it. The measurements show the front frame rails are out the most, but all dimensions are off a bit. I am taking to the frame specialist soon to let them do a more scientific analysis, but I am interesting in knowing "Is it common that the dimensions are .25 to.5" off on a 46 year old truck or is my frame Whacked?" Thanks! Attached Images

02-13-2011, 11:03 PM	#2
Rich 5150 69 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Galt, Calif Posts: 2,437	Re: Frame Dimensions - Is this a surprise? From what I`ve read 1/8 th to 1/4 was pretty much the norm, .5 was a stretch, may have been bumped or pulled out of ditch at one point in its life, watch a lot of new trucks going down the road espescially fords seem to be the worst for dog tracking... __________________ `64 C10 vortec 350/350/373 posi `69 RS/SS 350/350/308 `37 Ford 406/350/324 traclock `68 Dart 370/904/323 suregrip Last edited by Rich 5150 69; 02-13-2011 at 11:03 PM.

02-15-2011, 10:47 PM	#3
LostMy65 But Found Her 25yrs Later! Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Oregon City, Oregon Posts: 10,530	Re: Frame Dimensions - Is this a surprise? Mine is off by a small amount also. On mine, if you pull from (A) to (C) there's a 1/2" difference in the opposite direction. I was just searching to see where here in Portland to get this checked/fixed, and your thread popped up. Great job with the drawing above. __________________ I lost my 65 - Found it 25 years later: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=426650 66 C20 Service Truck: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=428035 Last edited by LostMy65; 02-15-2011 at 10:48 PM.

02-16-2011, 12:15 PM	#4
vin63 It's Better With Nitro Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Chino Hills, CA Posts: 2,262	Re: Frame Dimensions - Is this a surprise? Yes, the tolerances were about that to begin with, and then add several decades of use. Just be glad it's not an X body...ugh, dealing with first and second generation Chevy IIs and Novas, I'm happy if things are within 0.625". __________________ 1963 C-10: Deluxe-optioned cab, shortbed, fleetside Pontiac 462 ci, Kauffman D-Port alum. heads 4L80E, narrowed sheetmetal Ford 9-inch Tubular front and rear suspension Custom 6-piston front disc and 4-piston rear disc brakes

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