herkdriver007
1/2 ton status
Sweet frame you made there... Is that a Hobart 140?
CK5
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Has anyone made a full frame
- Thread starter jekquistk5
- Start date
Sweet frame you made there... Is that a Hobart 140?
Stomis
Professional Amateur
Yep. Used it for everything 1/8 to 1/8. The steering box plate and 1/4 suspension brackets I used a 220v welder.
badmix
1/2 ton status
That frame is badass...Honestly, Id say build the frame from scratch, get it coated with POR-15 or something and call it a day, youll have a frame that will last a life time.
If you patch your existing frame, now you have a band-aided frame. And I bet you will have just as much welding in patch work than you would a new frame. Plus you gotta think about integrity of that old frame, the rust, etc etc etc. I know it can be done, but I think a new one would be the way to go. If you have the welder, aint nothing but some material and time and a very good measuring tape.
If you patch your existing frame, now you have a band-aided frame. And I bet you will have just as much welding in patch work than you would a new frame. Plus you gotta think about integrity of that old frame, the rust, etc etc etc. I know it can be done, but I think a new one would be the way to go. If you have the welder, aint nothing but some material and time and a very good measuring tape.
I have a welder and the space to make a frame table in my barn. Just need to move the duramax to the attached garage.
Just throwing ideas out... If you're going to do a bunch of fab, does the donor frame have to be from a K5? If you found a pickup, burb, whatever, couldn't it be sectioned down to work for a K5? There must be something clean around.
Once you have a solid frame, you can just keep throwing waste oil, sticky grease, rustoleum, whatever at it to keep it in good shape. It's not like it has to look good like the sheet metal.
Once you have a solid frame, you can just keep throwing waste oil, sticky grease, rustoleum, whatever at it to keep it in good shape. It's not like it has to look good like the sheet metal.
I could do that. I found a k5 frame that I may take a look at but he wants 200 for it. Add the time to blast it and another 250 for frame boxing kit from kert I'm pretty sure I could build a complete tube frame for that . I may just start and see how bad my existing frame is and go from there.
There was a member who built a whole new frame from something like 2x6 rectangle tubing from scratch. Cut every piece to the same length to where each bend started and ended. Welded up all the butt joints and ended up with a frame that look exactly like a stock one from a distance but up close you saw it was boxed and more beefy.
And no I can't remember who the member was.
EstebanK5?
I remember he was doing a 2x6 frame build before he got out of the hobby.
There was a member who built a whole new frame from something like 2x6 rectangle tubing from scratch. Cut every piece to the same length to where each bend started and ended. Welded up all the butt joints and ended up with a frame that look exactly like a stock one from a distance but up close you saw it was boxed and more beefy.
And no I can't remember who the member was.
I remember seeing his build pics but I cant remember who it was. Don't remember the outcome either, as in I don't remember it getting finished.
handloader90
Building!
I know that this was brought up earlier in the thread, but I went and checked out TDK (Throttle Down Kustoms). That guy does some really nice work and has some good options out there.
I really like the "Hybrid frame" you can use the TJ Struts and suspension and throw a CJ7 tub on it.
I did a little research and I guess the thing that guys are doing is hot dip galvanizing the frames to get some good corrosion resistance inside and out in those frames and it seems to be pretty cheap around $200 or less.
I think I might get a frame from here in the next couple of years after my house is built and I have an area dedicated to my projects. A rolling chassis in a 1 car garage won't cut it for me.
I really like the "Hybrid frame" you can use the TJ Struts and suspension and throw a CJ7 tub on it.
I did a little research and I guess the thing that guys are doing is hot dip galvanizing the frames to get some good corrosion resistance inside and out in those frames and it seems to be pretty cheap around $200 or less.
I think I might get a frame from here in the next couple of years after my house is built and I have an area dedicated to my projects. A rolling chassis in a 1 car garage won't cut it for me.
My brother has an 80's 1-ton crewcab frame. It was cut about a foot behind the cab, he was going to 4-link the rear. It was sand blasted and every un-needed hole was welded shut. Currently has 56" long springs in the front with custom mounts. I'm not sure if he wants to sell it, but if it's something you would be interested in, I can ask him.
Build the frame Jess. what you want is pretty much what I have always wanted to do to and I cant find a single good reason to keep a stockish frame other than time. I assume you are already tinkering with suspension s drivetrains etc. Cleaner stronger better looking and won't rust nearly as fast because you can prevent the little pockets where rust first takes hold
This thread got me to thinking about the short box build. 2x6 and 2x4 .125 wl. Tubing. Possibly two sticks of the 2x6 and 1 of the 2x4 and you could get it done. Mostly 10 and 20 degree bends except at the firewall and rad core support. Bend under firewall would be a compound bend. Frame narrows from 34 to 28" right there.
Very tempting. Would certainly be a bad ass frame.
Very tempting. Would certainly be a bad ass frame.
Thats what I figured. I still have my wheeler that I don't plan on getting rid of until the k5 is complete. The k5 is probably a 3-4 year project and I am fine with that. I have the room, the resources and the time. I want to do things 100% right and not cut corners like my last build. I thought I could use the k5 frame but I just don't feel right with the amount of flake, and rot on it. Grabbing another frame would be the easiest route, but I like the challenge and do not think it would be that much more work. I have enough scrap wood left over from my barn that I could probably build most of the frame table for free. I'll have to crunch the numbers on how much it will cost, but I don't think it would be that much.
SouthernYank
1/2 ton status
Are you going to be building the new frame from bumper to bumper? I love frame builds and they're so much easier on solid axle trucks imo. Building new you always have your old frame as reference for bodymounts and all that other crap, will be following this build.
From frame end to frame end is the plan.
Did you get my PM?
Yes I did, but I still think that it is just as much work as building a full tube frame due to it being a crew cab frame.
It wasn't Esteban. It was a member who didn't have a high post count hence the reason he dropped off of earth and we never saw the completed outcome.
I remember the tub was an older one, like a '73 or so. And rusty, too. But that frame, man it was something.
Stomis
Professional Amateur
Just remember to start in the middle.
