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welding to the frame ??

original balzer

original balzer

1/2 ton status
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Nov 17, 2004
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Turned out my CC frame was cracked as I mentioned b4 in another post.
A friend of mine who used to work at a body shop fixing frames came by and welded it up. It wasnt as long as I first thought the crack in the frame was only about 1.5" long the rust scale covering it had a crack about 3" long. He ground it down and sorta v'ed the crack welded it up and ground it down smooth cant even tell it was there.

Now the question is. He said we should go ahead and weld the spring hangers on the rear. Do you think its safe to trust his welding if he has a good history of welding/straightening frames? I went ahead and let him start on it. We pre heated the frame and hanger, he welded a few sections, and said it needed to cool and he had some things to go do so he will come back and finish later.

I want to bolt on the front hanger at least until I get shackle angles good. I lopped off about 5'7" of the frame. If my figures are good it should be 11' wheel base. Aout the same as a reg cab long bed.

For pics and better explaination check my blog I should have most of it there in a day or 2.

Balzer
 
Did you see if he drilled a hole at the ends of the crack? It's alwasy a good idea to drill a hole at the end of the crack before you weld it up. Sometimes even a good weld on a crack will continue to crack at the end.
 
Well he didnt exactly "drill" a hole he used the grinder and made a roundish indent I didnt question him cuz he is suposed to have fixed alot fo frames. That info came from him and the owner of the body shop he used to work at.
He claims to have fixed ALOT of steering box areas on chevys.

Maybe I was too quick to trust his work maybe not. I guess time will tell. He did weld both sides of the frame though. He V notched it on the inside welded it then did it on the outside the same way then ground them both down smooth. Alowing time between welds and grinding to cool of corse. Also he used a rose bud tip on the torch to heat a rather large area around the welds.

In my mind Im not too worried about the crack repair as the spring hangers being welded on. It will be better to judge after he is completely finished though I guess. I just dont know about frames I have always herd "DO NOT weld to frames" but I would think if a guy knows what he is doing it should be fine. And he did seam to be conserned about getting it too hot, fast welds and natural cool down.

I do know to temper something like a sword or a knife you heat it up real hot and cool it down real fast. That makes them harder and more brittle. So does less heat and slow cool down leave the same temper it had before the weld?

Balzer
 
I have heard that you shouldn't weld to (or even drill) heavy truck frames, but light duty frames like ours are fine.
 
If you're not supposed to weld to your frame then there are a whole lot of people in trouble:D.

Seriously though, weld away...sounds to me like he did he fine job, I think a 12 pack is in order;)
 
He came back this evening and welded everything solid. He didnt have the rod he wanted for a cap pass so he will come back next weekend and "cap" it all. Looks good to me. The 3x6 rec. tube crossmember went from a "pling" sound when tapped to a "BONG" sound. Yea thats not a real technical description but I think its cool. Gettin stoked on this build. I know I havent gotten very far yet but it still seams to be moveing along quickly.

I cant wait to get the K5 drug up here and start tearing it appart. Then I will have parts galore to continue with the build. My main goal is to get it moveing under its own power. Even if its on small tires and open diffs it will be at BB08 come hell or high water.

Balzer
 
habitatxskate said:
do not weld, bolt using existing bolt holes.
Click to expand...

Ok, explain to me why I can't weld to my frame :rolleyes:

Please don't tell me that someone else told you that you can't do it, we've all heard it 1,000,000 times.

I've already explained why I think K5's frames are fine to weld to.
 
There are no problems welding to any frame. There would be no 3 and 4 link trucks without cross members and link tabs welded to frames. And why did he preheat a frame? It's no more than .188 thick. If I read right, your buddy used a stick welder, .188 is well within the capabilities of almost any stick welder. Just clean it up and weld it, preheat is not needed and could actually be detrimental. Even if it is "only" mild steel, when you heat it, weld it etc, it changes. Not to mention, the more heat you pour into something, the more it WILL warp.
 
I was told during when I took a night welding class that truck and car frames perfectly ok to weld. But when welding heavy truck frames you must have a Rod of same or great tensile strength as the frame. IE if you have a frame capabil of 80,000 lbs you cant use a 6011 or 6013 due to only haveing a 60,000 tensile strength
 
My Helm manual says the frame has a 39 ksi yield. That would put the tensile strength around 63 ksi. Most common welding rod and wires will work fine ie. 6011, 7018, ER70S-6.
 
I just let him do his thing and didnt interfere. I dont know why he heated it but he didnt make it HOT just warm to the touch as it was a cold day. I feel much better now that you all have confirmed I wasnt going wrong letting him weld the spring hangers on. It just those old myths that people like to spread because they herd someone else say it I guess. Like dogs and chocolate. It wont hurt them unless they eat alot like a whole chocolate cake. But that wouldnt be very wise for a human to do either.

Anyway now that I know alot more about it Im sure I will be fine to tack stuff into position and let him come weld it solid. One thing is for certain, hes definatly a better welder than I.

Thanx guys

Balzer
 
BGKYK5 said:
I have heard that you shouldn't weld to (or even drill) heavy truck frames, but light duty frames like ours are fine.
Click to expand...

Just to clarify, I was referring to 18 wheeler, line haul, over the road, class 8 type trucks. If I remember correctly it had something to do with the possibility of ruining the heat treat of the frame - although I can't imagine how big that oven must be to heat an entire heavy truck frame.

As far as I know all pickup trucks and SUVs have mild steel non-heat treated frames. Weld away.
 
unless they eat alot like a whole chocolate cake. But that wouldnt be very wise for a human to do either.

Aww Fu@! guys ill be back later gotta go call the poision control center as i just finished eating a Whole chocolate cake! :haha::haha::haha:


I agree though weld away. i mean just look a typical motor plate for a cherry picker those are welded together and you can lift a big block with tranny and trans on one of those.
 
It is a heat treat thing. Or a chocolate cake thing. Can't decide...weld it!
 
lol ever try to weld a chocolate cake? is this the cooking forum or k5 forum i always get confused!
 
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