thanks, bob
Edited by hornet_pa, 17 May 2006 - 06:51 PM.
broken frame at steering box.
Started by
hornet_pa
, May 17 2006 06:49 PM
2 replies to this topic
#1
hornet_pa
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Posted 17 May 2006 - 06:49 PM
i have fixed my friends 78 half ton 4x4 frame where it cracked "badly" by the steering box. i have seen 3 other trucks this has happen to also. big tires seem to cause it. has anyone seen any kind of box suport brace or know some kind of tricks to keep it from happing? im building my 79 soon and i don't want this happing to my nice clean frame it took me so long to find!
thanks, bob
thanks, bob
#2
miesk5
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Posted 20 May 2006 - 05:00 AM
Same happened on three Ford F series we've owned in 70's.
BTW, I had save following info in a Word file bec. I had a feeling we would get another 70s F 4x4 someday to restore.
In response to this Q; "...who has fixed a cracked frame-78 F-150 4x4"
"my frame is cracked at the steering box. should i weld up the cracks or plate it? where should it be plated at, inside or out?"
replies:
"...Drill a small hole at the end of each crack if you can. Get a pro or someone that can get some penetration to weld up the cracks from both sides if necessary. Grind the welds down flush with the rest of the surface. Weld a 3/16 or 1/4" plate on the side of the frame opposite the box mounting surface that extends at least 4" beyond the mounting holes. Don't go overboard with the welding, use 1"/1" skip welds to preserve some of the original frame temper. Match drill the mounting holes thru the new plate. Use longer grade 8 bolts and lockwashers with locktite to secure the box. Torque to original specs.
To keep the relative position of all the parts the same you do not want to extend the plate under the track bar or spring tower. You need to put the plate on the side of the frame away from the steering box mounting surface. Weld the cracks in the mounting surface and grind smooth. If you move the box or track bar mount sideways you will have to realign the truck. If the track bar mount moves, the whole axle assy will move with respect to the frame. If you have to mount the plate under the box remember to realign the truck.
I have a 2WD F250 and the box is on the inside of the frame. I don't know which side of the frame the box sits on a 4WD and none of my books shows the location either. The frame is boxed on a 4WD, and on a 2WD it is a C-channel with a short section of box.
Then put the plate on the inside and just weld up all the cracks on the outside. If you are re-aligning the truck anyway put the plate on the outside but you will need to align your steering column also. This gets into more work and I don't know how much adjustment room you have on your column. Check the column first. If you don't have enough adjustment for a 3/16 or 1/4" plate see if you have enough for a 1/8" plate. Then use a 3/16" on the inside.
If the box gets moved sideways because of a plate under it the steering column no longer aligns with it. It will be close, and you get more misalignment crawling over rocks, you just don't want to run continually with a misalignment. It is kind of hard on rag joints.
You will need to loosen the bolts under the dash on your steering column. You will need to loosen the bolts at the firewall also so that you can slide the lower end of the steering column over to mate up with the box. When it is all aligned again, then you tighten all the bolts.
This is only required if you weld a plate in between the box and the mounting surface.
btw- I would put in an adjustable track bar to get your axle centered up under the frame. I would also run the proper pitman arm for your lift; 3" lift, 3" drop in the pitman." by t1st
and "...one other thing. never weld a square plate to a frame.. either cuts the ends at an angle, or like a fish plate.. a 90 degree weld on a frame will cause it to crack and break again.. just a hint from a professional welder, who's fixed many trucks, including myown..." by bull
frrep784x4
-----------------------------------
BTW, I had save following info in a Word file bec. I had a feeling we would get another 70s F 4x4 someday to restore.
In response to this Q; "...who has fixed a cracked frame-78 F-150 4x4"
"my frame is cracked at the steering box. should i weld up the cracks or plate it? where should it be plated at, inside or out?"
replies:
"...Drill a small hole at the end of each crack if you can. Get a pro or someone that can get some penetration to weld up the cracks from both sides if necessary. Grind the welds down flush with the rest of the surface. Weld a 3/16 or 1/4" plate on the side of the frame opposite the box mounting surface that extends at least 4" beyond the mounting holes. Don't go overboard with the welding, use 1"/1" skip welds to preserve some of the original frame temper. Match drill the mounting holes thru the new plate. Use longer grade 8 bolts and lockwashers with locktite to secure the box. Torque to original specs.
To keep the relative position of all the parts the same you do not want to extend the plate under the track bar or spring tower. You need to put the plate on the side of the frame away from the steering box mounting surface. Weld the cracks in the mounting surface and grind smooth. If you move the box or track bar mount sideways you will have to realign the truck. If the track bar mount moves, the whole axle assy will move with respect to the frame. If you have to mount the plate under the box remember to realign the truck.
I have a 2WD F250 and the box is on the inside of the frame. I don't know which side of the frame the box sits on a 4WD and none of my books shows the location either. The frame is boxed on a 4WD, and on a 2WD it is a C-channel with a short section of box.
Then put the plate on the inside and just weld up all the cracks on the outside. If you are re-aligning the truck anyway put the plate on the outside but you will need to align your steering column also. This gets into more work and I don't know how much adjustment room you have on your column. Check the column first. If you don't have enough adjustment for a 3/16 or 1/4" plate see if you have enough for a 1/8" plate. Then use a 3/16" on the inside.
If the box gets moved sideways because of a plate under it the steering column no longer aligns with it. It will be close, and you get more misalignment crawling over rocks, you just don't want to run continually with a misalignment. It is kind of hard on rag joints.
You will need to loosen the bolts under the dash on your steering column. You will need to loosen the bolts at the firewall also so that you can slide the lower end of the steering column over to mate up with the box. When it is all aligned again, then you tighten all the bolts.
This is only required if you weld a plate in between the box and the mounting surface.
btw- I would put in an adjustable track bar to get your axle centered up under the frame. I would also run the proper pitman arm for your lift; 3" lift, 3" drop in the pitman." by t1st
and "...one other thing. never weld a square plate to a frame.. either cuts the ends at an angle, or like a fish plate.. a 90 degree weld on a frame will cause it to crack and break again.. just a hint from a professional welder, who's fixed many trucks, including myown..." by bull
frrep784x4
-----------------------------------
i have fixed my friends 78 half ton 4x4 frame where it cracked "badly" by the steering box. i have seen 3 other trucks this has happen to also. big tires seem to cause it. has anyone seen any kind of box suport brace or know some kind of tricks to keep it from happing? im building my 79 soon and i don't want this happing to my nice clean frame it took me so long to find!
thanks, bob
96 Bronco, E4OD, Man Xfer Case & Hubs
See my Big Bronco & F Series Technical & Parts LINKS site. Will need to clean up dead links & add many more new links some day. Thanks to Mr. Schwim! http://schwimserver5.com/?index=1128
Thanks to All Who Serve
See my Big Bronco & F Series Technical & Parts LINKS site. Will need to clean up dead links & add many more new links some day. Thanks to Mr. Schwim! http://schwimserver5.com/?index=1128
Thanks to All Who Serve
#3
ibleedfordblue
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Posted 18 January 2007 - 11:12 PM
I AM GOING TO TRY TO RE-BOX THE INSIDE OF MY BRONCO FRAME WITH TUBING BETWEEN THE INNER AND OUTER OF THE FRAME SO THAT THE BOLTS GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH AND NOT CRUSH THE FRAME. MORE WORK BUT I THINK IT WILL BE A PERMANANT FIX. WHAT DO YOU THINK? I TOO HAVE CRACKED 2 FRAMES ON A 150 4X4.
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