contact Trollhole, he may have a spare - he's in Mauldin, SC: Trollhole's Cruisers
So how bad is it? (Frame rot)
- Thread starter CHSFJ40
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- frame repair
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Lets see some pics of the whole rig.
But for sure I would not let that rig get past my mail box with the frame in that condition
The frame may be the only thing left after it hit the ditch
Thats unbelievably bad.. at that point Id think the tub is holding the truck from just collapsing if both sides are like that.
If youre a young mechanic this is a perfect learning experience. If you can get the help to lift the tub off you can swap all of your parts over with pretty basic tools. (wrenches screwdrivers prybars cherry picker). And in the process youll learn alot about the condition of your truck Course like the others have said if the frame is that bad youve probably got alot more thats as bad or worse.
Dont get discouraged though, attack that thing!
If youre a young mechanic this is a perfect learning experience. If you can get the help to lift the tub off you can swap all of your parts over with pretty basic tools. (wrenches screwdrivers prybars cherry picker). And in the process youll learn alot about the condition of your truck Course like the others have said if the frame is that bad youve probably got alot more thats as bad or worse.
Dont get discouraged though, attack that thing!
Don't get caught up in the emotion of it. Get some opinions on the whole rig before you jump into anything. Trying to restore a truck that is a 200.00 parts rig, can cost you 10,s of thousands.
I agree with others... you've likely got more than a $200 parts rig, but sinking $10k into it seems crazy.
I easily had 100 hrs into sandblasting, painting, and swapping in my new frame. None of it was hard... I did it solo with basic hand tools. We can walk you through the process if you want to learn.
The swap itself can be done in a weekend with a cherry picker in your driveway. If you can remove your hardtop, you've likely got the mechanical skill to do the job.
Contact your local clubhouse... you may be able to find some bodies who could be compensated for their help. All for not if you also need a new tub etc.
I easily had 100 hrs into sandblasting, painting, and swapping in my new frame. None of it was hard... I did it solo with basic hand tools. We can walk you through the process if you want to learn.
The swap itself can be done in a weekend with a cherry picker in your driveway. If you can remove your hardtop, you've likely got the mechanical skill to do the job.
Contact your local clubhouse... you may be able to find some bodies who could be compensated for their help. All for not if you also need a new tub etc.
My $.02
1. give your frame an in depth inspection, is this the only bad spot?
2. if so, stay out of the city, if you have other cruiser friends that live in the country ask them where the take their trucks locally for repairs
there's a lot of talent located in rural garages, where they are used to customers on low budgets and know what can be done or not. I bet
there are some good welders in rural SC. that don't charge and arm and leg.
3. if not then find another frame. The real cost here is is all the small things that need to be replaced, body mounts, axle u-bolts, brake and
fuel lines, wire harnesses etc. and then you'll look at what you have and say I should probably rebuild these front knuckles, reseal the
transmission and transfer, pinion drive seals, maybe a new clutch..... you get my drift.....Good Luck, let us know how it works out!
1. give your frame an in depth inspection, is this the only bad spot?
2. if so, stay out of the city, if you have other cruiser friends that live in the country ask them where the take their trucks locally for repairs
there's a lot of talent located in rural garages, where they are used to customers on low budgets and know what can be done or not. I bet
there are some good welders in rural SC. that don't charge and arm and leg.
3. if not then find another frame. The real cost here is is all the small things that need to be replaced, body mounts, axle u-bolts, brake and
fuel lines, wire harnesses etc. and then you'll look at what you have and say I should probably rebuild these front knuckles, reseal the
transmission and transfer, pinion drive seals, maybe a new clutch..... you get my drift.....Good Luck, let us know how it works out!
I agree with having it thoroughly checked out before writing the frame off per se ... if you have to, and are up to the task (work and financially), do a frame off ... the benefit is you'll have a rebuilt 40, the downside is time/cost ... a faster alternative is find a truck with a good frame/tub and use your truck as a parts donor assuming your parts are better ... make one out of two ... sell what you don't need ... a few frames in the sell section recently if you decide to go that route ...
The frame was the numero uno consideration when I bought my truck and I've invested in maintaining it i.e. POR15, etc ... I don't even whisper "salt" around my 40 ...
Good luck!
The frame was the numero uno consideration when I bought my truck and I've invested in maintaining it i.e. POR15, etc ... I don't even whisper "salt" around my 40 ...
Good luck!
That frame is FxxxED! I am not going to sugar coat it. Time for a new frame. I dont think you could find a decent part of that frame to even weld a new section to.
Find a new (old) one.
Find a new (old) one.
there is nothing fancy or special about the frames. if it is the only one you have to work with, it can be repaired.
there would be no rocket science or black magic involved, just remove the rust till you find decent metal to work with. my guess is once you get an inch or so away from the holes metal thickness returns to a more usable quantity.
this was repaired.
there would be no rocket science or black magic involved, just remove the rust till you find decent metal to work with. my guess is once you get an inch or so away from the holes metal thickness returns to a more usable quantity.
this was repaired.
- Thread starter
- #30
Thanks all. Been out of town, but here are a couple pics of the rig. I've really enjoyed learning basic engine repair on her so sucks her frame is in such rough shape. I have a neighbor who's done a lot of welding and will be asking his opinion. Outside any hope of patching, (praying for the skills of Brian and what he did 
) I'll be looking at frame swap.
) I'll be looking at frame swap.
other a few, what look minor areas, it looks like spending some time and money on the frame you have, could save a few other head aches involved with a frame swap.
Looks like your first two pics were different angles of the same spot. If that is the worst of it then it may not be too difficult to patch up. This group could give you a much better idea if you could get pics of several other locations. Rear cross member, around the spring hangers, body mount braces and other straight sections. The front looks decent from your above pics.
- Thread starter
- #33
Thanks motov8r! I'll get some additional pics up from the different viewpoints to give the group a better idea. This area is definitely the worst looking.
Shipping a whole used frame could be expensive just based on dimensions. I have shipped a used frame that was carefully sectioned in three pieces to fit a more standard pallet. It's not difficult to piece one back as long as the material you're welding is in good condition and you make splices where welding fish plating is easy