FRAME?Is this supposed to be like this?? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

boataddict26 · 07-14-2003, 01:08 PM

I have two trucks, a 78 and 79. On both of them the frame looks like this. Are they bent? Is this normal?
Thanks in advance
Michael

boataddict26 · 07-14-2003, 01:09 PM

1

boataddict26 · 07-14-2003, 01:11 PM

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boataddict26 · 07-14-2003, 01:13 PM

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boataddict26 · 07-14-2003, 01:15 PM

Last one....

ElGracho · 07-14-2003, 01:22 PM

It's normal... I have four that look just like that.

boataddict26 · 07-14-2003, 01:25 PM

Thanks man!! I was getting nervous. That is weird though. Why did they do that?

BigRed · 07-14-2003, 01:31 PM

Hey, why you're under there, cut off that muffler heat shield. I had a pesky one on my '75 that was rattling like crazy!!! It did not good since the exhaust was rerouted.

*racedvl* · 07-14-2003, 01:33 PM

Hey, I wanna see pictures of that outdoor lift!

boataddict26 · 07-14-2003, 01:37 PM

Bigred: I plan on getting that stupid thing off of there just havent gotten around to it yet.
Racedvl: I will put up some pics in a minute!

boataddict26 · 07-14-2003, 01:59 PM

1

boataddict26 · 07-14-2003, 02:01 PM

2

bagged81 · 07-14-2003, 02:02 PM

I have always wondered about that. My 81 has the same thing. I always just thought that it had been wrecked. Thanks for clearing that up. I feel so much better.

boataddict26 · 07-14-2003, 02:03 PM

3

bigblock73 · 07-14-2003, 02:09 PM

I am gonna go against the grain...my 73 DOES NOT have any bends like that in the frame...and i have it down to the frame as we speak (err...type). Mine is a 2WD...not sure if that matters.

...Jeff

boataddict26 · 07-14-2003, 02:10 PM

I thought mine had been in a reck too. Glad it hasent.

boataddict26 · 07-14-2003, 02:11 PM

Mine is a 2wd also.

love it loud · 07-14-2003, 02:44 PM

mine's exactly like that too.. sledge hammer fixed it nicely

boataddict26 · 07-14-2003, 02:52 PM

Sledge hammers will fix just about anything!!

I will have to go "Fix" mine.

love it loud · 07-14-2003, 03:09 PM

I noticed this while sandblasting the frame.. about freaked out!!! I just assumed it was the aftermath of a wreck seeing as the frame has already been welded on each side a few inches from that spot.. but it looks like that's just how they were made seeing as there's about 10 other ones already from all over the country that are bent the exact same way in the exact same spot.. I'm sure it's fine, it was just bothering me, and since the frame was already stripped and on saw horses I just flipped it outside down and "persuaded" it straight with a sledge hammer.. the straighter you can get it "cold" without heating it up the better.. don't wanna heat a frame.. bad for the metal, besides, i think the sledge hammer would be a lil upset if it saw you using anything else

KIILew · 07-14-2003, 03:10 PM

Michael:

As most of the others are saying or implying, your frame is normal. In fact, that "bow" was a frame modification starting in the 1978 model year (documented in GM New Product literature) to better accomodate the increased use of catalytic converters than had been the case previously.

Of course, my '79 Big 10 has the same frame appearance, while my '74 C1500 does not. So...no need to panic!

Ken

**swervin ervin** · 07-14-2003, 03:18 PM

Ken beat me to it. It's because of the conveter. Both my 79 and 85 have this bow. I guess they did it because of the heat.

**swervin ervin** · 07-14-2003, 03:20 PM

Oh, and while I'm thinking about it. Michael, why do you have an outdoor lift?? Was there a building around it at one time or something?

boataddict26 · 07-14-2003, 03:35 PM

Thanks for the info guyes. I guess the ol sledge hammer will have to wait for something else that needs to be fixed!!

Swervin, There has never been anything around the lift. Hopefully one day there will be a nice shop built up around it though. My dad bought it for us a few years ago. Thought it would come in handy and IT HAS!! I love it. If any one needs to do some work on the underside come on over. Your welcome to it!!

PM me for directions.
Mike

*racedvl* · 07-14-2003, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by swervin ervin
Oh, and while I'm thinking about it. Michael, why do you have an outdoor lift?? Was there a building around it at one time or something?

That's what I'm thinking. I just don't see that thing holding up very well, out in the weather. Plus is there a cement pad around that thing? I just see rain and what not really being a problem. Other wise, that is sweet as all heck! I wish I had some sort of lift outside. . .

07-14-2003, 01:08 PM	#1
boataddict26 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: North Central Florida Posts: 726	FRAME?Is this supposed to be like this?? I have two trucks, a 78 and 79. On both of them the frame looks like this. Are they bent? Is this normal? Thanks in advance Michael __________________ 1978 Chevy C10 Currently under resto. 350 Getting face lift. .060, JEpistons, Modify heads. More will come with money.

07-14-2003, 01:09 PM	#2
boataddict26 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: North Central Florida Posts: 726	1 Attached Images __________________ 1978 Chevy C10 Currently under resto. 350 Getting face lift. .060, JEpistons, Modify heads. More will come with money.

07-14-2003, 01:11 PM	#3
boataddict26 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: North Central Florida Posts: 726	2 Attached Images __________________ 1978 Chevy C10 Currently under resto. 350 Getting face lift. .060, JEpistons, Modify heads. More will come with money.

07-14-2003, 01:13 PM	#4
boataddict26 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: North Central Florida Posts: 726	3 Attached Images __________________ 1978 Chevy C10 Currently under resto. 350 Getting face lift. .060, JEpistons, Modify heads. More will come with money.

07-14-2003, 01:15 PM	#5
boataddict26 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: North Central Florida Posts: 726	Last one.... Attached Images __________________ 1978 Chevy C10 Currently under resto. 350 Getting face lift. .060, JEpistons, Modify heads. More will come with money.

07-14-2003, 01:22 PM	#6
ElGracho Gentleman Jim Driver Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 1,553	It's normal... I have four that look just like that. __________________ Joe '75 GMC Gentleman Jim '84 Chev C10 Short Wide - Super duper plain (manual steering, manual brakes, no dome light, no cig lighter) '85 Chev C10 Short Wide - Super plain Vortec 4.8 4L60E trans also: '81 K30, '83 C30 Crew Dually, '84 M1028 CUCV, '85 M1009 CUCV, another '85 C10 SWB, '89 R3500 Flatbed

07-14-2003, 01:25 PM	#7
boataddict26 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: North Central Florida Posts: 726	Thanks man!! I was getting nervous. That is weird though. Why did they do that? __________________ 1978 Chevy C10 Currently under resto. 350 Getting face lift. .060, JEpistons, Modify heads. More will come with money.

07-14-2003, 01:31 PM	#8
BigRed Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: DFW, TX Posts: 1,680	Hey, why you're under there, cut off that muffler heat shield. I had a pesky one on my '75 that was rattling like crazy!!! It did not good since the exhaust was rerouted. __________________ Scott Shelbourne

07-14-2003, 01:33 PM	#9
racedvl Account Suspended Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Woodstock, IL Posts: 7,020	Hey, I wanna see pictures of that outdoor lift!

07-14-2003, 01:37 PM	#10
boataddict26 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: North Central Florida Posts: 726	Bigred: I plan on getting that stupid thing off of there just havent gotten around to it yet. Racedvl: I will put up some pics in a minute! __________________ 1978 Chevy C10 Currently under resto. 350 Getting face lift. .060, JEpistons, Modify heads. More will come with money.

07-14-2003, 01:59 PM	#11
boataddict26 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: North Central Florida Posts: 726	1 Attached Images __________________ 1978 Chevy C10 Currently under resto. 350 Getting face lift. .060, JEpistons, Modify heads. More will come with money.

07-14-2003, 02:01 PM	#12
boataddict26 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: North Central Florida Posts: 726	2 Attached Images __________________ 1978 Chevy C10 Currently under resto. 350 Getting face lift. .060, JEpistons, Modify heads. More will come with money.

07-14-2003, 02:02 PM	#13
bagged81 Signals in the bumper. Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: East TN Posts: 856	I have always wondered about that. My 81 has the same thing. I always just thought that it had been wrecked. Thanks for clearing that up. I feel so much better. __________________ Jeff C. 1981 Chevrolet Silverado - Under major construction...again. link 1962 Chevrolet Impala 4D Sedan moredoorclassics.com 1936 Ford Pickup - Frame-off in progress link 1979 Chevrolet Camper Special Flatbed link

07-14-2003, 02:03 PM	#14
boataddict26 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: North Central Florida Posts: 726	3 Attached Images __________________ 1978 Chevy C10 Currently under resto. 350 Getting face lift. .060, JEpistons, Modify heads. More will come with money.

07-14-2003, 02:09 PM	#15
bigblock73 yeller Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Twin Cities Posts: 13,824	I am gonna go against the grain...my 73 DOES NOT have any bends like that in the frame...and i have it down to the frame as we speak (err...type). Mine is a 2WD...not sure if that matters. ...Jeff



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07-14-2003, 02:10 PM	#16
boataddict26 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: North Central Florida Posts: 726	I thought mine had been in a reck too. Glad it hasent. __________________ 1978 Chevy C10 Currently under resto. 350 Getting face lift. .060, JEpistons, Modify heads. More will come with money.

07-14-2003, 02:11 PM	#17
boataddict26 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: North Central Florida Posts: 726	Mine is a 2wd also. __________________ 1978 Chevy C10 Currently under resto. 350 Getting face lift. .060, JEpistons, Modify heads. More will come with money.

07-14-2003, 02:44 PM	#18
love it loud Calibration Engineer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Windsor, Ontario, Canada Posts: 361	mine's exactly like that too.. sledge hammer fixed it nicely __________________ CANADIAN CONNECTION

07-14-2003, 02:52 PM	#19
boataddict26 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: North Central Florida Posts: 726	Sledge hammers will fix just about anything!! I will have to go "Fix" mine. __________________ 1978 Chevy C10 Currently under resto. 350 Getting face lift. .060, JEpistons, Modify heads. More will come with money.

07-14-2003, 03:09 PM	#20
love it loud Calibration Engineer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Windsor, Ontario, Canada Posts: 361	I noticed this while sandblasting the frame.. about freaked out!!! I just assumed it was the aftermath of a wreck seeing as the frame has already been welded on each side a few inches from that spot.. but it looks like that's just how they were made seeing as there's about 10 other ones already from all over the country that are bent the exact same way in the exact same spot.. I'm sure it's fine, it was just bothering me, and since the frame was already stripped and on saw horses I just flipped it outside down and "persuaded" it straight with a sledge hammer.. the straighter you can get it "cold" without heating it up the better.. don't wanna heat a frame.. bad for the metal, besides, i think the sledge hammer would be a lil upset if it saw you using anything else __________________ CANADIAN CONNECTION

07-14-2003, 03:10 PM	#21
KIILew Active Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Prosser, WA 99350 Posts: 147	Michael: As most of the others are saying or implying, your frame is normal. In fact, that "bow" was a frame modification starting in the 1978 model year (documented in GM New Product literature) to better accomodate the increased use of catalytic converters than had been the case previously. Of course, my '79 Big 10 has the same frame appearance, while my '74 C1500 does not. So...no need to panic! Ken

07-14-2003, 03:18 PM	#22
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	Ken beat me to it. It's because of the conveter. Both my 79 and 85 have this bow. I guess they did it because of the heat. __________________ Mike 1985 Chevy C-10

07-14-2003, 03:20 PM	#23
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	Oh, and while I'm thinking about it. Michael, why do you have an outdoor lift?? Was there a building around it at one time or something?

07-14-2003, 03:35 PM	#24
boataddict26 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: North Central Florida Posts: 726	Thanks for the info guyes. I guess the ol sledge hammer will have to wait for something else that needs to be fixed!! Swervin, There has never been anything around the lift. Hopefully one day there will be a nice shop built up around it though. My dad bought it for us a few years ago. Thought it would come in handy and IT HAS!! I love it. If any one needs to do some work on the underside come on over. Your welcome to it!! PM me for directions. Mike __________________ 1978 Chevy C10 Currently under resto. 350 Getting face lift. .060, JEpistons, Modify heads. More will come with money.

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