Frame Reinforcements

[snailwagon]

I'm curious who here has modified their stock frame for reinforcement/ stiffening issues?

The front cross member of my 1969 is a major issue right now, each repair of a crack introduces the next weak point to crack. The early pigs did not have reinforcement that later pigs had, the front crossmember received some extra metal pretty quick in fj55 history. For this, I am going to copy the later design that utilizes the frame and the spring hangers for mounting the front cross member.

But, I am thinking of adding another crossmember somewhere. A tight squeeze around the front of the trans would be a nice spot.

 

[tonkota]

Do you have the stock setup or pretty close? If you do I would put in a real x-member at the transmission. I don't really care for how my 3 spd was setup. It looked like it was just hanging there and only a belly pan for frame stiffening.

Now, be a good mudmember and mail me a sample of your brew.

 

[ridgerunner]

I've never had an issue with a stock frame (doesn't mean it doesn't happen) however is the frame straight? 55 frames are perhaps the burilest Cruiser frame out there. Perhaps an impact has lead to a crook frame giving you cross member problems?

My other 55 has a frame rail 13mm shorter than the other due to an accident. Both cross members still straight and strong.

 

[snailwagon]

Now, be a good mudmember and mail me a sample of your brew.

Haul your ass down from WA and come get some in pismo this november.

My setup is mostly stock, the 4spd w/ a 3spd x-fer case.

The pic shows how toyota adressed the problem on the front crossmember, early pigs do not have this reinforcement. On the pig in question (the one in the pic only has 60,000 on the odometer ), the entire region b/w the cross member and frame near the center arm is shot, as is the lower and backside of the crossmember on the passenger side. I am going to clean this up and add some type of reinforcement.

My frame is crooked, I obtained it like that, one rail sits higher than the other, but it drives straight. I assume this was the cause of these problems. also, a pig flexes a lot, the body, the frame, the works. New things for my pig are: the roof now pops in and out under sever articulation, and the doors can fly open when flexing and impacting on rocks.

A trans crossmember may be a good idea, the weight of the drivetrain is a ridiculous amount to not be supported.