86 K5 frame cracked, ADVICE???

[big_vick]

Alright I just put a 4" lift on my truck this weekend and while putting on the transfer case lowering kit I unbolted the cross member, lowered the transfer case I instantly

The frame were it connects to the cross member broke in a lil triangle shape through both the bolt holes that hold it to the frame.

looks kinda like this

Any Ideas on how to go about fixing this? For now I just put the piece back in place and bolted it down but I don't really wanna go wheeling until I get this fixed.

 

[76zimmer]

Do you have a welder?

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Yep a welder is going to drastically change how you can fix this, also you really don't want to install a t-case lowering kit.

 

[sweetk30]

grind a bevel on cracks.

weld up the cracks .

then if your holes are that close make your own spacer kit to drop the crossmember from the wider holes to spread the load out more.

and you do know that droping the crossmember will help the rear driveline angles. but hurts the front angles.

 

[big_vick]

grind a bevel on cracks.

weld up the cracks .

then if your holes are that close make your own spacer kit to drop the crossmember from the wider holes to spread the load out more.

and you do know that droping the crossmember will help the rear driveline angles. but hurts the front angles.

Well its been about 10 years since I've used a welder and I have no access to one so I'll look around for a good welding shop and have them do it.

So should I take the drop kit off then? I just used the stock spacers that came on the truck.

 

[Blue85]

If you're going to drop it, it's better to use some solid stock instead of the spacers - to spread the load out across the frame. I would repair the frame and then move the holes further apart on that side (does the cross-member have another set of holes that just need spacers to reach?) or use some flat stock above and below the frame to spread out the load.

 

[wendellk5]

grind a bevel on cracks.

weld up the cracks .

then if your holes are that close make your own spacer kit to drop the crossmember from the wider holes to spread the load out more.

and you do know that droping the crossmember will help the rear driveline angles. but hurts the front angles.

x200

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

grind a bevel on cracks.

weld up the cracks .

then if your holes are that close make your own spacer kit to drop the crossmember from the wider holes to spread the load out more.

and you do know that droping the crossmember will help the rear driveline angles. but hurts the front angles.

When you do this make sure to drill a hole at each end of the crack.



And yes, the factory "spacers" are not meant to be used like that at all and will crack the frame if you put it between the crossmember and frame.