dmanblazer
1/2 ton status
Is there a difference in thickness of frames from '79 to '82
CK5
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Frame Thickness
- Thread starter dmanblazer
- Start date
I think they went with better metals because they went thinner on later years.dmanblazer said:
roadnotca
3/4 ton status
Are you talking about different thickness between K5,C/K10 vs. C/K20 & 30?
roadnotca said:
No.
Difference between years o production for the same weight class.
roadnotca
3/4 ton status
Maybe the better question is how many different thicknesses are there and what are they?
dmanblazer
1/2 ton status
I have a '79 K5 and just found a '82 for $700 I would like to use my engine, rear end and transfer case (NP 205), but if there is a difference in frame thickness I'll just swap bodies. My '79 is all ate out with rust the only thing that isn't are my doors and floors, the "82 is in nice shape.
The reason I'm concerned about it is my buddy had an '86 C1500 and I had an '80 and he kept tearing the frame around the suspension and I didn't, I compared the two and mine was thicker, and everybody keeps talking about ripping the steering box off the frame on their K5's and mine hasn't yet so now I have to know.
The reason I'm concerned about it is my buddy had an '86 C1500 and I had an '80 and he kept tearing the frame around the suspension and I didn't, I compared the two and mine was thicker, and everybody keeps talking about ripping the steering box off the frame on their K5's and mine hasn't yet so now I have to know.
dmanblazer said:
The later models are thinner, but not weaker.
Some frames break faster than others because when they stamp the frames, some times they have scratches from the process and that creates stress cracks if it's worked hard, some frames come out cleaner and they last a long time without cracking, although a long time will not mean never, if yours is in good shape brace it so it doesn't crack.
Now for your original question, use the cleaner truck of the 2 you have, don't think about the frame only but about the truck that needs less work or looks better, since the frame is not cracked yet, it's easy to make sure it doesn't by bracing it now with a bolt on brace.
If you are handy with metal you don;'t need to buy one, you can make one, it's not that hard.
A search might turn it up, but we had a thread going a few years back where a bunch of us mic'd our frames. Consensus was they didn't change the thickness over the years...and the average thickness was 0.151". IIRC the variation in what we all measured was only about 5 thou.
Rene
Rene
roadnotca
3/4 ton status
And that's the thickness of the "plates" in the frame reinforcement kit from ORD.
dmanblazer
1/2 ton status
roadnotca said:And that's the thickness of the "plates" in the frame reinforcement kit from ORD.
Maybe one of these days I can set my K5 up right.
Does anyone know if 38 x bigger than 12.50 x 15 or 16.5 will fit on a K5 with a 4" sups. lift and a 3" body lift, without having to cut the fenders or adding zero rates?
dmanblazer
1/2 ton status
dmanblazer said:
ttt!
dmanblazer said:
with the added 3" body lift you most probably can fit them.
