How bad is this? I bent my crossmember :(

[BrentBTK]

So, I was jacking up the front of the truck and it slipped off the jack and the crossmember below the front of the engine caught the full weigh and bent up into the balancer. I was able to get a big pipe wrench on it and bend it clear of the motor so it will run and took it for a test drive. It still seems to track straight, but I'm concerned what I may have done to the front end geometry. Specifically, when the crossmember bent and twisted up, did it pull the frame ends closer together? If anyone has an inside measurement for a point on frame rails in front of that crossmember, I would really appreciate it. The next question is, should I try to find a new one, and if I do, do I just knock out the rivets and bolt the new one in place? All this because I tried to put a sway bar on the font that didn't fit my new control arms anyway. Gotta love it! Attached pics are of it bent up into the balancer before I managed to bend it clear.

[BAD1916]

I can’t help with measurements(I found out my front framerails past the cross member is bent) but I would bet you are good if the front end was all together. With the radiator support bolted in as well as bumper I doubt it would bend the frame. Hopefully it’s all where it should be.

[Grumpy old man]

become a subscribing member and place a Want To Buy (WTB) ad in the parts section , Drill the rivits and bolt the replacement in place , I highly doubt you bent the frame rails , Those cross members bend pretty easy most of the time from someone wrapping a chain around them to pull the truck .

[MJN]

once you have the crossmember out of the way be sure to check your balancer to make sure the outer ring did not get pushed out of place. If it shows any sign of movement then I would replace it before the outer ring separates from the rubber and causes more damage.

[tutone]

Brent, tell me exactly where you want the measurement and I will run out to the shop and get it for you.

[1970 CST]

27 3/4" from the inside of the rail, measured from the inside of the frame as shown below. Highly doubtfull that the frame rails would have bent. Glad to see you're using Jack Stands! Safety first.

[tutone]

Brent, tell me exactly where you want the measurement and I will run out to the shop and get it for you. If this will work let me know. Frame rail to frame rail edge?

[Thundarr]

That same crossmember is what was torn up on my salvage 72 when they yanked out the motor with a forklift. It ripped out the metal on the crossmember but the rivets and the frame rails were untouched. But it trashed the centerlink too.


Just like Grumpy recommended for me too, I put in a WTB post and a forum member hooked me up. I had to grind and drill out the rivets and bolt the new one back in. There was some flex in the frame rails with out it, but the new crossmember stiffened it back up. I'm sure your motor sitting on the mounts added rigidity too. The tough part for you would be be getting access to all that from underneath. I had the luxury of a wide open engine compartment.


Having seen how malleable the crossmember was in comparison to the frame rails, I would say your frame is fine. I would get it bent back as close to original as you can and then do an alignment. Honestly, without taking off the front end, you're going to have a hell of a time trying to get access to those upper rivets. Good luck!

[tutone]

Going with your picture, I stretched a piece of wire on the inside of the rails. Exactly 27 7/8"

[BrentBTK]

Thanks fellas! Much appreciate the measurements and words. 1970CST, if the stands had been in place before the slip, this never would have happened. It was enough to put the fear of God in me! Thankfully I was clear. I'm putting in a new crate motor in a few weeks. That may be just the time to try to get this bent one out or at least straightened.

[bry593]

i'd be more concerned about the balancer, crank and front bearing.....

[BrentBTK]

Originally Posted by bry593

i'd be more concerned about the balancer, crank and front bearing.....

Yep. See above. New crate motor is happening very soon. This thing only has to run a couple more weeks. Runs as bad as it did before the mishap, lol.

[Caddylackn]

That is one nice thing about cast iron, it will break before it will permanently bend. If your balancer is not cracked it should be fine.

If your center link or sway bar didn't get bent, than I think the alignment will be fine.