Frame Flex issues...

[Metal Twister]

While I know this is not and issue while having the stock Chevy body attached to the frame I'm thinking someone here might be able to shed some insight to my issue on frame flex. I attached a jeep fsj body to a 74 Jimmy frame not to long ago. went wheeling this weekend and had a blast. Then I saw the pics of the rig and had no idea this was happening underneath me.

The bumper is made parallel to the body... The frame is in good shape and not cracked yet anywhere. I was thinking about tying the body, frame, and semi roll cage /roof rack together to stiffen thing up tight. Possible frame boxing in a few weak points and of course the steering box mount mod. Anything else that you could suggest? additional x braces in the frame or ?

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

How is the body attached to the frame?

 

[DavidB]

How is the body attached to the frame?

Hey guys, I haven't been around in a long time, but I'm thinking about putting some of my Chevy pieces back together into a rig soon, probably a crew cab.

MT is a friend of mine, we were wheeling this last weekend, first trip on the rig.

Mounted at the FSJ mounts...but the front one broke off. IMO, the FSJ body does not have the strength or rigidity of the K5 body, so the frame needs to be boxed, maybe a 1 ton swap? and an integrated cab/engine cage.

 

[Metal Twister]

How is the body attached to the frame?

The Blazer frame is much narrower than the fsj frame so I used 8" long 2 X 1.5 X 3/16" Chanel welded open side down to the side of the frame rail. Drilled them to use the stock Body holes in the Jeep body and used the rubber pads and mounting bolts from the GMC. Mounts are nice and stout and not flexing... In the pics the front clip got pulled loose on the passenger side front so it looks a bit worse as the front clip is separated from the frame. I think it gives the illusion of more flex than what is really happening?

 

[ktmoutfront]

Box the frame and really stout cross members. I opted to tie the cage to the frame. No flex at all.

 

[Metal Twister]

Box the frame and really stout cross members. I opted to tie the cage to the frame. No flex at all.

Just curious where you placed your cross members? X or K members?

 

[Metal Twister]

Hey guys, I haven't been around in a long time, but I'm thinking about putting some of my Chevy pieces back together into a rig soon, probably a crew cab.

MT is a friend of mine, we were wheeling this last weekend, first trip on the rig.

Mounted at the FSJ mounts...but the front one broke off. IMO, the FSJ body does not have the strength or rigidity of the K5 body, so the frame needs to be boxed, maybe a 1 ton swap? and an integrated cab/engine cage.

Hey Dave thanks for chiming in here... Cant tell you how much fun we had this weekend The guys are all charged up to get back down there! I'm hot to do the mods and be done with this issue as well.

 

[ktmoutfront]

I didn't box mine. Did 2 others and double a Bronco frame. On the blazers I added a 2.5", 1/4 wall square tube behind the front bumper, under the engine in place of the original. One behind the transfer case and one in front of the gas tank. Then combined the rear bumper as a welded cross member. Then boxed the frame rail. A lot of work.

On mine the cage is .120wall 2" DOM. Welded to floor plates that also have internal non shear sleeves through them, then welded to the frame. Winch mount for the front is behind the front bumper and over sized. Trans cross member is also the mount for the front links, over built. Rear bumper is welded to the frame. Cage goes through the firewall and ties to the frame in 3 places on each side.

Should have just built a buggy.

 

[Metal Twister]

I didn't box mine. Did 2 others and double a Bronco frame. On the blazers I added a 2.5", 1/4 wall square tube behind the front bumper, under the engine in place of the original. One behind the transfer case and one in front of the gas tank. Then combined the rear bumper as a welded cross member. Then boxed the frame rail. A lot of work.

On mine the cage is .120wall 2" DOM. Welded to floor plates that also have internal non shear sleeves through them, then welded to the frame. Winch mount for the front is behind the front bumper and over sized. Trans cross member is also the mount for the front links, over built. Rear bumper is welded to the frame. Cage goes through the firewall and ties to the frame in 3 places on each side.

Should have just built a buggy.

Thanks for the info. Sounds very stout and I think Im going to follow your lead on this one. Cant have messed up pics of the rig floating around the net! LOL