frame crossmembers to weld or not to weld

[original balzer]

OK so maybe one or 2 of you might remember my old K5... its been a long long time ago since it it was still alive.

Anyway one of the major factors to its demise, (aside from a fatal error with the title), was loose rivets in some of the crossmembers. One crossmember, I dont remember witch is loose enough to rattle it around by hand.

Well I want to build a trazer now. So my question is do I just weld it up or should I knock the rivets out and use grade 8 bolts to re-secure them?

I know the frame flexes and twists even on a short blazer frame (hence the loose rivets??? LOL) so Im not sure that welding would be a great idea and might cause stress cracks later. Now before anyone goes there, I know the frame is mild steel and can be welded despite the old wives tales. My concern is tieing the 2 rails together to basically make it one piece. Making the frame stiffer doesn't concern me. In fact I might like that better.

Fast, easy, cheap and dirty, solution is to weld them up nice and solid. The bolts sound like more work, sweat and time.

 

[odin]

Better yet.
Ditch the weak stock crossmembers and build your own.

 

[Stomis]

Better yet.
Ditch the weak stock crossmembers and build your own.

Yeah if we're talking about having the capacity to weld them then you have the capacity to make some nicer crossmembers.

That being said welding them is the easy way out. Way less work. Weld it correctly and they wont crack. Drilling and re-bolting them back in is just as acceptable but more work.

Personally the only crossmember worth leaving in that frame is the engine crossmember. And even then with the issue with crossover its better to just make a nice 2x3 1/8 wall piece to replace it.


Honestly once you tube the back of that trazer with a hoop and some frame tie ins your frame is gonna be rock solid.

 

[original balzer]

Personally the only crossmember worth leaving in that frame is the engine crossmember. And even then with the issue with crossover its better to just make a nice 2x3 1/8 wall piece to replace it.


Honestly once you tube the back of that trazer with a hoop and some frame tie ins your frame is gonna be rock solid.

LOL its funny you say that. Thats the first one getting replaced I already have either Kurts or ORD's tubular crossmember for a big block. I cant rememer who I got it from.

And I hadnt even thought about that second part thats a good point. Thanks

 

[rdn2blazer]

Weld solid unless a disassenbalable crossmember is a benifit.

 

[NorCal_Chris]

Just dont weld it vertical or we will all die

 

[cybrfire]

I think it depends on the crossmember. Some are nice to be quickly removable.

Some it would be nice if a chunk was removable like the engine crossmember. Center removable is nice.