Frame reinforcement at steering box?

[Busted Knuckles]

I'll have my '77 up on the rack in the next couple of weeks and I'm aware that these frames are very susceptible to cracking around the steering box. I assume I can cut a piece of plate steel to weld to the frame in this area. What have you experienced K-5'ers done? Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Chevy305]

go to ORD they have a weld in brace and a bolt on brace.

 

[MA87K5]

The hardest part about the brace and weld in plates install is the steering box removal.

 

[BulldogK5]

See the ORD parts. Cheaper than trying to fab your own because of the contours. Get both if you can.

 

[smalltowncowboy]

i am going to be doing this here soon too. i know about the vendors out there who sell bolt and weld on kits but i think i know what hes asking and why cant you just plate the outside of the frame like they do on toyotas and such?

 

[ryoken]

cuz the 4 bolt areas are raised.. I've looked at it, and may do my own.. may.. I have the weld-in, and bolt on, I will use the bolt on, but may do my own weld on...

my tentative idea is to flat plate it with chamfer cut holes at the 4 mount points, then thick fender washers welded in at those mount spots... I'll have to see if I think I can improve on it once I fit the weld-in one up and see how it looks......

 

[smalltowncowboy]

sounds like a good idea

 

[Desert Yeti]

As stated before, the contours of the frame make it a little more complicated than just a plate, but certainly do-able with some fab skill. I'm no fab guy, so I went with the kit from ORD and it fit nicely with a little massaging from a BFH. Not only did it fix the frame (mine was already badly cracked) but it improved the steering feel pretty dramatically.

Whether your fab it yourself or buy the kit, DO THIS! Doing the bolt-in brace in addition is a good idea too.

 

[thekevin]

Are these needed if you dont do much offroading, I dont plan on taking mine out just to offroad, but now during hunting season and fishing season it will be offroad some.

 

[dhcomp]

Yep. Many of these frames wear out from flexing, even on the street. Definitely get the bolt in kit, even if yours hasn't cracked yet. Better to prevent the crack then fix it later.

 

[pauly383]

Three things I can add :

Just the bolt on brace stiffens the steering up a whole hell of a lot . But cracks can still be there either before , or after you install it , so clean the crud off the frame and inspect it . I found mine cracked pretty bad 4 years after the bolt on brace .

A good stiff bumper between the framerails can further stiffen the front end . This cured my frame tweaking while flexing .

And the weld on brace , either bought , or made from a piece of old frame ( mine ) , adds even more stiffness , and completes the rig .