K10 Frame repair/differences??? *pics*

[85 Jimmy]

Last night one of my buddy's got stuck and when I pulled him out it tore the frame at one of the rivets on the front crossmember, it also bent the frame out...

Would it be easier to cut the bad part of the frame out on both sides and fab up some frame rails or just replace the frame?

If we replace the frame what years should we look for? He has a 79 K10

 

[85 Jimmy]

ok... does anyone know what year frames will work?

 

[dremu]

Well, 73-80 frames should be identical or dang close. 81-87 may differ for the radiator support in the new style front clip.

You might try and bend/patch the frame, depending on how thrashed it is. If a Hi-lift won't do it, a body shop can put the hydraulic gizmo on to straighten it ... whether or not that's cost effective you'll hafta find out for yourself.

A frame swap is at the least time-consuming, seeing as you gotta deal with the body mounts and the suspension stuff along with all the plumbing, wiring, etc.

*If* you can get it welded well (fish plated, well-cleaned, strong welding machine) I suppose you could cut the front chunk of a good frame off and weld it on. I'd not want to try and fab one for the front 'cuz of all the bends and getting the suspension mounted precisely.

Oh yeah, and we wanna see pix of the carnage

-- A

 

[85 Jimmy]

pics