did a cut and removable of 33" on a crew cab frame to make it a std cab frame . almost 4 years no problems plowing snow or pulling 10k trailer with it and doing it all with a 110 volt mig . . . its all in the prep .
CK5
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Steering box frame crack.
- Thread starter TJ1978
- Start date
wasted wages
1 ton status
Hard to beat a Miller 211 as a good quality starter machine. If you do decide to go with a 120 setup, make sure you feed it with a 30 amp breaker and at least #10 wire.
Voltage drop is your enemy... keep the power cord as short as possible, ANY extension cord has to be up to the task...better to make your own out of #10 3 wire SO cord or Romex...
Voltage drop is your enemy... keep the power cord as short as possible, ANY extension cord has to be up to the task...better to make your own out of #10 3 wire SO cord or Romex...
April 13th I drop the truck off to have the cracks fixed and the ORD weld-on steering box brace welded on. Hopefully all goes well. Hehe
A note on the smaller mig machines to keep in mind is that they can’t handle longer wire leads either. The motor that turns the spool will get worn out quick if you try to run an extended lead on the lower priced machines. That means it’ll have to be right next to you on everything you weld.
That’s a good point. First thing I did on my Miller was put a longer whip on it.
Do not change out your drag link ends until after this is done. No idea how the shop may treat them while it’s in there.
I was planning on waiting... out of curiosity what could they do you ruin them?
let the box hang it's total weight on them while they do the plate welding, or worse use a pickle fork, only reason a pickle fork exist cause some spaghetti armed dude could pop a ball joint and had welder and grinder. Last resort for parts you don't want to reuse = Pickle fork
Plates arrived
get the vernier caliper, and let us know how thick the material
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Will do
Another approach is to make a friend with an Ironworker, then pay him in beer to weld your stuff. Works for me.
Battery is dead but maybe this will help?
Both pieces are the same thickness
Both pieces are the same thickness
Instructions
I will say the piece that goes on the bottom, will definitely need heat and bashing to get it flush to the frame.
I bought the cheapies off Amazon and am going to compare thickness with ORD
I let mine go, without paying any attention to it, for way too long.While browsing another members steering problems. I went to take a picture of the ORD bolt on steering brace for him to buy. Upon doing this, which I never noticed before, and having the truck almost 5 years now. The brace has been on it almost since I bought and it stays on the street. I have a couple cracks.
I found what appears to be an old weld "fix" that seem to have separate on the inside and another small hairline crack on the outer frame.
Anyway, I don't have a welder and have no experience. Can I buy this along with longer bolts and all is well and have a shop weld it up?
Weld On Frame Repair Kit for '73-91 GM Trucks
Weld in frame repair kit 67-91 Straight Axlewww.offroaddesign.com
Is it ok to drive it as is on the street with 35' tires?
View attachment 440403
View attachment 440404
When I did finally get to looking at it, the frame had nearly cracked in half. Causing the steering wheel to be 1/2 turn off of center.
I had to use a ratchet strap to pull the frame back together, with the frame under the cab sitting on a jackstand, it was very sketchy, and took a ton of welding and "adding" reinforcement to get it back to where I wasn't scared of it.
@BoondocK5
Damn, mine are just hairline now. The one on the inside of the frame is a bit bigger but hopefully this weld-on kit and the ORD bolt on support it should be bullet proof
Damn, mine are just hairline now. The one on the inside of the frame is a bit bigger but hopefully this weld-on kit and the ORD bolt on support it should be bullet proof
wasted wages
1 ton status
Just do it right....drill stop holes, V notch the cracks and
weld er up... slap the iron to it, and burn it in good.
It'll be fine...
I already drilled stop the holes. The shop can do the rest... I hope. Hahahahaha
