Frame shape

[L_Brown]

I have not started tearing down the truck yet, all the guys at my work are saying the frame is going to be to rusted to use.
What is the opinion on this from people who have rebuilt them.

[dwcsr]

Only rarely do I see a frame to rusted to use and there are enough in Texas to get a replacement if it is bad.

[55metalmonkey]

Do you have any pics of your frame or at least have had a good look at it?

Most of the frames on these trucks are pretty durable, even a fair bit of rust might look bad initialy but once it's cleaned off the frame is accualy in good shape, even areas where the metal has started to pit or areas where multiple layers of scaling rust look bad are generaly Ok since it takes about 1/64th" of steel to make near 1/2" thick slab of rust.

As long as there is no rusted out holes/ or the metal thinned out to where it is obviously weak & deformed then you should be fine but you never know untill you scrape the rust off.

[L_Brown]

I just laid under it and to me it looks like it will be fine once its blasted.

[mr48chev]

The best way to find out who the "self styled experts" are in your hood is to start a new project.

I've had two frames out of probably 15 trucks that were too rusted out to use. One had laid in the mud with no running gear for a number of years and the other was one I got from a farmer who had used it to haul fertilizer for years on end. That one had the front hangers on the rear springs almost rusted off it.

[dubie]

you boys have clearly not done any classic truck shopping in Canada then. Even the one I got from the wrecker had sections that had to be cut out and have new channel welded in and that one was in nice shape. I've seen more rotten frames that contribute to an early retirement for a lot of older trucks and cars up here.

[gale]

Do they salt the roads in Canada? My '67 C20 came from Hammond, IN and the frame is very rusty from the trailing arm crossmember to the rear. Oil leaks kept everything forward looking good. I'll take the scale off and prime it.

[55metalmonkey]

Originally Posted by dubie

you boys have clearly not done any classic truck shopping in Canada then. Even the one I got from the wrecker had sections that had to be cut out and have new channel welded in and that one was in nice shape. I've seen more rotten frames that contribute to an early retirement for a lot of older trucks and cars up here.

All my restos have been on Canadian cars/trucks...... Victoria BC though, doesn't count really since it rarely snows here and they don't salt the roads when it does

[dubie]

yeah Victoria doesn't count They mix salt in with the gravel for our roads through out Manitoba and Saskatchewan so everything gets it's fair share of winter rot

[OrrieG]

Take a screwdriver and start poking around. Pay attention to places where the crossmembers are riveted and sandwiched to the frame. I found that leaky pan and tranny seals and over zealous lubing of springs helped a lot. Just about anything can be repaired relatively easily especialyy if its a TF frames that is a simple straight channel except at the kickup, which is rarely the problem.

[dubie]

the front spring perches on the rear leafs is where I found a problem. We had to remove the one and weld in a new piece of channel. Other than that, check where every cross member attaches to the frame. Dirt and rust like to hide in there

[_Ogre]

your whole truck is probably too rusty to fix, send it to me i will make sure it has a proper funeral.

seriously? i've never seen a tf frame too rusty, even up here in michigan
unless it sat on the mud or used to haul salt or fertilizer. plow trucks take a beating too.
here in the rust belt, the frame is usually the only useful part on the truck.

[L_Brown]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

your whole truck is probably too rusty to fix, send it to me i will make sure it has a proper funeral.

HAHAHAHA

thanks for all the reply's, I know it will be just fine.

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

The best way to find out who the "self styled experts" are in your hood is to start a new project.

True. I learned a long time ago to stop listening to people who knew everything but had no evidence to prove their knowledge. I also learned after gaining my own knowledge (and continue to gain knowledge), most of the very opinionated people had no knowledge or were actually hacks.

[starterman99]

Armchair experts are a dime a dozen.Just go to a local car show and watch and listen.You will get all the advice and knowledge they have gathered watching how someone did it in an hour on TV.