Newbee with a P/S Frame TROUBLE

[mtchevytruck]

Bought my first Chevy!! I've owned over 50 vehicles and finally did it.

Picked up a 77' c10 Bonanza that has a fresh motor, lowered, 10" ralleys, with body work in process. Took it out after getting a few known problems corrected and felt a lot of wander and steering play. Thought may be due to the big sneakers, worn parts, poor alignment after being lowered (2"), etc. Got back and had my better half wiggle the steering wheel and to my dismay watched as the steering box rocked back and forth!! Look closer and see evidence of minor tear and wrinkle in inner fender well from this coming loose earlier and welding here and there around the mounting hole areas in the frame. The frame looks fine in front and behind this area and I looked it over pretty well and I'm not finding accident damage anywhere.

I guess I'm wondering if this is a common problem and if there are any recommendations on how to repair it correctly, what caused it, and how to keep it from happening again? I did purchase a 77' 2wd long bed parts truck with no motor along with it, but have not brought it home yet.

[Gobbles]

I'm not familiar with that issue but just wanted to say that is a wicked truck. Good choice, I hope you get it all cleared up!

[1BadSS]

It's a common issue with these trucks, more prone to happen in trucks with big front tires.

http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/cc/full.aspx?Page=134

At the bottom of the page.

[rfmaster]

Originally Posted by 1BadSS

It's a common issue with these trucks, more prone to happen in trucks with big front tires.

http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/cc/full.aspx?Page=134

At the bottom of the page.

The kit is listed for 4x - can it be used for 2 wheel drive truck as well??

//RF

[1BadSS]

Originally Posted by rfmaster

The kit is listed for 4x - can it be used for 2 wheel drive truck as well??

//RF

I'm not sure. I'm sure you could look into it and see if there are any differences.

[N2TRUX]

Its listed for a 4x4 because they were common to crack. Should fix your 2wd just fine too. If it were me, I would find a competent welder and have the frame welded then ad the support plate.

[87 chevy silverado]

not high jacking just an idea how i fixed mine
before we did anything







after all the welding and grinding was done and if u look i put in another cross member

[Blue Chevy 1987]

NNNOOOOOOO!!!!!! 2wd frame is different!!!! there is another kit for 2wd!!! i know this cause my truck used to be 2wd but i converted to 4wd. i ended up having to get a frame kit for a 2wd

http://www.autofab.com/sbgk%20100.htm

i bought mine at this site
http://www.central4wd.com/category.aspx?page=id%7C5522

[mtchevytruck]

??

[mtchevytruck]

http://www.autofab.com/sbgk%20100.htm

I can't figure out how this kit mounts and to what. This looks more like a bracing system instead of plates that are weld on and around the frame itself?

[mtchevytruck]

Originally Posted by mtchevytruck

http://www.autofab.com/sbgk%20100.htm

I can't figure out how this kit mounts and to what. This looks more like a bracing system instead of plates that are weld on and around the frame itself?

Called John at autofab (great guy, lots of help) and found that this is a brace kit that goes from the cross member to the back of the frame and bolts go through the brace, through repaired frame and into two of the gearbox holes. He also said most cross members need to be removed because the rivets work loose and also contribute to the frame cracking at the box mounting. So look close at the cross member. I checked mine and found it had worked loose and had a gap someone threw a glob of weld at as a fix. He said to pull it off fix the holes and bolt it back in with grade 8 hardware. Thanks for all the info.

[russgt]

Heres some more options,
http://offroaddesign.com/catalog/steeringkit.htm

[mtchevytruck]

Originally Posted by Blue Chevy 1987

NNNOOOOOOO!!!!!! 2wd frame is different!!!! there is another kit for 2wd!!! i know this cause my truck used to be 2wd but i converted to 4wd. i ended up having to get a frame kit for a 2wd

http://www.autofab.com/sbgk%20100.htm

i bought mine at this site
http://www.central4wd.com/category.aspx?page=id%7C5522

So to bump and recap. Looks like the patch at central and the brace kit at autofab are the best recipe for a 2wd? Or does anyone have a better parts source? I called LMC and they don't offer one for a 2wd.

[Blue Chevy 1987]

There was a weld in plate kit on there too for 2wd frame. I also had problem with cross member I put grade 8 bolts in as well. I also added 2 pieces of angle iron to act as extra cross members
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[mtchevytruck]

Hey. Thanks for the help. Decided after doing all the patching possible on my frame and repairing the cross member, I'm going to do both, welding the new patch over the repaired area from Central 4wd and installing the brace kit from Autofab. After all, it's is the steering. Thanks Gobbles for the kind words. Beauty is in the eyes of the wrench holder, right?

[customizer76]

Sorry you had that problem but I sure thank you for posting the info up here to fix it. I also have a pretty nice size sneaker on the front of my 79 and was wondering what to do to beef it up a little. Got my kit on the way now.
By the way that is a nice looking truck you got there.

[Blue Chevy 1987]

The patch from central worked great. Not sure on the brace.
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[TheWhiteElephant]

I had a '79 Blazer that I used both the brace and the weld-in plates from...

http://www.offroaddesign.com/catalog/steeringkit.htm

Installed both for maximum protection. Easy to install.

There is a proper way to fix the cracks, by the way. Grind the areas to clean them up. Find the end of the crack and drill a hole through the frame at the end of the crack. This will "stop" the crack from traveling. Some suggest to grind along the crack to create a crevice for the weld to penetrate into. Then you can weld the crack.

[TheWhiteElephant]

Voila! Just found a step by step using the Autofab kit. It is identical to the ORD kit I used...

http://www.4wheeloffroad.com/brandpa...ame/index.html

[Blue Chevy 1987]

ORD is all for 4 wheel drive. he needs 2wd stuff. the parts are different

[mtchevytruck]

The 4wheeloffroad.com article recommended TIG or MIG for welding. Wouldn't arc welding be as good or better?

[TheWhiteElephant]

Originally Posted by mtchevytruck

The 4wheeloffroad.com article recommended TIG or MIG for welding. Wouldn't arc welding be as good or better?

Probably so. I'm not a welder, but as far as I know, it should be okay.

[Blue Chevy 1987]

Don't see why not as long as its a good weld. I mig welded mine cause that's what I got lol
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[mtchevytruck]

Update on frame tears/cracks. So I purchased the patch kit and the brace because I'm and over kill kind of guy. Pulled fender well and steering box with relatedstuff in less than 45 min. Not a bad job. Found additional problems.

Some farm boy (not unlike myself) tried fixing this before and made some ugly massive welds with out grinding, left chunks missing, installed oversize washers, cross threaded one of the bolts into the box and gobbed about 3/4" of weld between the frame and cross member where the rivet left and a gap remained in addition to other gobs.

I have a good exhaust man nearby, lots of manufacturing time under his belt and all the tools. I worked along side of him and it took us 7 hrs. from the point I had everything out of the way to on the road! This includes undoing the bad and removing the cross member for straightening and bolt install. Not for the faint of heart. We both originally thought it would be a 2-3hr ordeal. A lift is almost a must, especially if you toy is lowered, unless you have the nose off and a good back. A plasma cutter is a great tool tool. He charged me $350 for the job which killed me but I can't complain, $50 hr labor now days is pretty cheap.

It's better than new now. What I didn't figure in is that both patches and the brace need modified, such as bending, cutting, drilling, and forming. And this needs done in stages. Everything in the end has to be happy so your not stressing the steering box tab/ears that the bolts go through and it fits flush. Not an easy job to do correctly. Especially with the area being tweaked already by a steering box tearing away, let alone a farm boys poor attempt at a repair.

All said and done if your paying to have it done you will have a minimum of $200 in parts and figure $250-$400 in labor. Good thing to know when buying your next used truck. Cheers.

[rfmaster]

Thanks for update. I hope the truck works out for you. If you have finished photos to share that would be much appreciated.

//RF