y5mgisi
1 ton status
Bummer dude! At least when you fix it you should probably have no more worries about that area.
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.
73 K20....crossmember time
- Thread starter wetoolowdingbangow
- Start date
wetoolowdingbangow
1/2 ton status
Exactly. It sucks but at the same time by having my truck drug out of a trail ive gotten an advanced course in the weakpoints of the truck. I hate when the truck is down but the more stuff I tackle over winter, the more I can wheel next year!
Bummer man! Least you caught it before you where out on trail and it broke. Don't forget even after welding and plating to put a steering box brace in it.
wetoolowdingbangow
1/2 ton status
Yeah exactly! Funny thing is theres a steering brace kit on there already.
Just got caught up.
sucks about the frame but now you have the opportunity to bulletproof it.
Nice work on the transmission, I love my manual more and more everyday.
sucks about the frame but now you have the opportunity to bulletproof it.
Nice work on the transmission, I love my manual more and more everyday.
Is the brace kit cracked as well? Or did someone put the brace on over the cracked frame?
wetoolowdingbangow
1/2 ton status
Hey thanks guy!! Yeah i keep having to tell myself that it will be a more badass truck when im done! I cant wait to try my manual....its going to crawl way better.
Its wierd but it cracked on top of the frame and goes down into the support somewhere. When I got stuck badly and was abandoned on the trail a guy had to pull me directly to the left of the truck so thats why it peeled apart.
Mine cracked similar to that its pretty common, I bet the cracks behind the plate kit propagated some, just grind the cracks down into a V and fill them back in, face it with plate and put a X of square tube in-between the frame there and never worry about it again.
wetoolowdingbangow
1/2 ton status
Interesting. Thats the plan. I was debating on doing an X or just straight across with gussets. I think the X would be stronger. I could do it out of DOM tube, just need to come up with something to mount that manifold block for the front brakes.
No need to use DOM for a gusset like that, and the prop valve just use s self tapping screw.. I would highly suggest an X for torsional strength, the other idea is get some rectangle tube similar to the size of the frame and use that.
wetoolowdingbangow
1/2 ton status
Yeah i just have some laying around. I think i can deal with the prop valve easy enough. Worst comes to worst i can make a mounting plate. An X it is!
wetoolowdingbangow
1/2 ton status
Anyone have experience boxing the frame with diy4xs kit? Im wondering it it can be fully done without lifting the body off? Maybe i should do the 1 inch body lift before hand?
Why not lift it up high enough so that you can weld it properly? Then drop it back down on 1" pucks?
wetoolowdingbangow
1/2 ton status
sounds like a good idea. I was thinking i could get away with just doing the front section but it would be smart to do it all while the tranny and tcase are out.
wetoolowdingbangow
1/2 ton status
Well as it turns out diy4x doesnt make a frame box kit for my 85. Only 73 to 78. So they were nice enough to sell me the front portion since its unchanged throughout time. I know that ive been reading you should do the whole frame but im on my own for the rest of it. Im hoping it wont cause any issues. I intend on boxing the whole frame but its not going to happen just yet.
I think where the boxing terminates I could add a plate to the bottom of the frame to keep it from splitting? It may be just fine without...just dont want any issues.
Ive got the radiator and engine drained of coolant, maybe do the oil next. I removed the battery, e fans and now im working on getting the ac out with no intent of it returning.
Ive found a really easy to make, high clearance engine crossmember thats removable so ill need to take measurements for that. I think its probably wise to pull the motor to make this all easier...
I think where the boxing terminates I could add a plate to the bottom of the frame to keep it from splitting? It may be just fine without...just dont want any issues.
Ive got the radiator and engine drained of coolant, maybe do the oil next. I removed the battery, e fans and now im working on getting the ac out with no intent of it returning.
Ive found a really easy to make, high clearance engine crossmember thats removable so ill need to take measurements for that. I think its probably wise to pull the motor to make this all easier...
Well that's cool at least you have the hard to get to stuff.. One note, only stitch weld it, don't weld the entire length leave some space between runs, this will help with cracking. Also alternate top to bottom to spread some of the heat out.
wetoolowdingbangow
1/2 ton status
Ok thanks! Ive seen some trucks that havent been fully boxed and they stitch weld. Definitely a good idea.
wetoolowdingbangow
1/2 ton status
I think I found an entire tbi setup including the fuse block for $100 nearby. I just sent an email so hopefully I score it!!
wetoolowdingbangow
1/2 ton status
Wow there was a 350 chevy sitting under that ac compressor!
Good riddance to this radiator plug. Should be even cooler with this junk out of the way...
The cooler on the left is for oil...not sure that was a factory thing? Itll stay. Tranny cooler will obviously go away.
Got the hood off pretty easy. Makes a big difference! Nothings better than an unfinished garage and truck lol.
Looks pretty good now. I cant wait to get the rest of the ac/smog stuff out of this truck. Simplifying the engine bay is high on my list since I have to pull the motor anyway.
Finally here is the tbi stuff. It was a great score. The guy literally took everything related to the tbi and fuse block out so I have the entire harness. The fuel pump and distributor are there too but ill probably junk them and start out fresh.
Good riddance to this radiator plug. Should be even cooler with this junk out of the way...
The cooler on the left is for oil...not sure that was a factory thing? Itll stay. Tranny cooler will obviously go away.
Got the hood off pretty easy. Makes a big difference! Nothings better than an unfinished garage and truck lol.
Looks pretty good now. I cant wait to get the rest of the ac/smog stuff out of this truck. Simplifying the engine bay is high on my list since I have to pull the motor anyway.
Finally here is the tbi stuff. It was a great score. The guy literally took everything related to the tbi and fuse block out so I have the entire harness. The fuel pump and distributor are there too but ill probably junk them and start out fresh.
Oil cooler was factory.
Looks good, nice score on the TBI stuff.
Looks good, nice score on the TBI stuff.
