welding and frame idea - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

xshadow · 08-07-2007, 11:17 PM

I want to reinforce my frame in a couple of places. I want to be sure it will hold up if I take it off road. I was thinking about welding a plate or angle iron about 12-18” long inside of the frame.

I only have access to a wire welder. Do you think the welds will be strong enough? I have one area with some pits. I want to be on the safe side and reinforce that area. It would probably never give me any problems but better safe than sorry. I may want to take it off road one day. I’m not experienced with welding so any advice would be helpful.

xshadow · 08-07-2007, 11:57 PM

My first plan was to place a piece of steel flat against the inside of the ( ] shaped) frame and weld it flat against the inside part of the frame. My other idea was to take a flat piece of steel and weld the inside piece of frame closed.so it looks like [] instead of ] ..a section about one foot long. Like i said I only have access to a wire welder.

1969k10stepside · 08-08-2007, 12:02 AM

On mine,I put a 3/8" thick steel plate along the inside of the frame.Not boxing it in,up against the original frame rails.It was cut so it barely fits in there.No space for it to move around in the frame rails up or down.Then,I bolted it on where there was already factory holes in the original frame,and where rivits once held the spring hangers on by removing the rivits,and bolting the hangers on and having the bolts go through the old frame,and the new steel..No welding required...

xshadow · 08-08-2007, 12:09 AM

I was thinking about doing that but my frame has only two holes already in the 12"-18" section. the holes are are about 3" from each other almost side by side. I don't think that will be enough. I would rather not drill new holes and make the frame even weaker. Nor do i want weld on it and make it weak either.

1969k10stepside · 08-08-2007, 12:11 AM

Bolt it on using factory holes in the frame.The only holes to be drilled would be ones in the new steel...

lowrollin70gmc · 08-09-2007, 06:29 PM

This is a little out of my realm, but deal with me on this.

If you are off roading, you may want some flex in your frame and boxing/plating it may not help and could hinder the situation. If the frame flexes except at where you beefed it up, there could be stess points where the new steel ends due to it's increased strength.

That's just my $.02, but for curiosity's sake where do you plan on putting this steel?

08-07-2007, 11:17 PM	#1
xshadow Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: va Posts: 553	welding and frame idea I want to reinforce my frame in a couple of places. I want to be sure it will hold up if I take it off road. I was thinking about welding a plate or angle iron about 12-18” long inside of the frame. I only have access to a wire welder. Do you think the welds will be strong enough? I have one area with some pits. I want to be on the safe side and reinforce that area. It would probably never give me any problems but better safe than sorry. I may want to take it off road one day. I’m not experienced with welding so any advice would be helpful.

08-07-2007, 11:57 PM	#2
xshadow Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: va Posts: 553	Re: welding and frame idea My first plan was to place a piece of steel flat against the inside of the ( ] shaped) frame and weld it flat against the inside part of the frame. My other idea was to take a flat piece of steel and weld the inside piece of frame closed.so it looks like [] instead of ] ..a section about one foot long. Like i said I only have access to a wire welder.

08-08-2007, 12:02 AM	#3
1969k10stepside Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: USA Posts: 21,019	Re: welding and frame idea On mine,I put a 3/8" thick steel plate along the inside of the frame.Not boxing it in,up against the original frame rails.It was cut so it barely fits in there.No space for it to move around in the frame rails up or down.Then,I bolted it on where there was already factory holes in the original frame,and where rivits once held the spring hangers on by removing the rivits,and bolting the hangers on and having the bolts go through the old frame,and the new steel..No welding required... Last edited by 1969k10stepside; 08-08-2007 at 12:03 AM.

08-08-2007, 12:09 AM	#4
xshadow Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: va Posts: 553	Re: welding and frame idea I was thinking about doing that but my frame has only two holes already in the 12"-18" section. the holes are are about 3" from each other almost side by side. I don't think that will be enough. I would rather not drill new holes and make the frame even weaker. Nor do i want weld on it and make it weak either. Last edited by xshadow; 08-08-2007 at 12:15 AM.

08-08-2007, 12:11 AM	#5
1969k10stepside Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: USA Posts: 21,019	Re: welding and frame idea Bolt it on using factory holes in the frame.The only holes to be drilled would be ones in the new steel...

08-09-2007, 06:29 PM	#6
lowrollin70gmc Too many projects Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Fargo, ND land of the flat hills Posts: 1,147	Re: welding and frame idea This is a little out of my realm, but deal with me on this. If you are off roading, you may want some flex in your frame and boxing/plating it may not help and could hinder the situation. If the frame flexes except at where you beefed it up, there could be stess points where the new steel ends due to it's increased strength. That's just my $.02, but for curiosity's sake where do you plan on putting this steel? __________________ Andrew 84 GMC C1500 SWB 6.2 Diesel/700R4/3.42 "Grandpa's odd duck" 70 GMC C1500 LWB My first truck: shaved, bagged, and more: the lowrollin70gmc 68 K20 Suburban 12V Cummins/NV5600/NP205/D60/11.5AAM 3.73s "Dakota Cadillac" 63 Chevy II Nova Coupe 250 I6/T56/4.56s "Economy car" 53 Willys Wagon 350/NV4500/BW4401/HP D44/9inch “Winter Wagon” 30 Model A 16 Focus ST



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