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Odds Of Bent Frame Question

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Old Mar 2, 2008 | 07:00 PM
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From: San Fernando Valley,CA
Question Odds Of Bent Frame Question

I was wrecked into and I am wondering what you all think the chances are that the frame is bent.When I look at the frame itself it looks straight but you never know with such damage.Is there a way to check the frame without taking it to a shop?Maybe with measuring?The axle is broken at the wheel and seems that it took all the impact.I found a bed($300)and I found a rear end($100)but I want to check the frame before I spend any money.Sorry about the picture quality I took it at dusk.I will try to get better ones tomorrow.Thanks in advance for any help.


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Old Mar 2, 2008 | 07:04 PM
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Ide say measure it and get some other peoples measurements to go by. It could bend fairly easily. Its 1/8" wall. Could turn it into a sick buggy with a tubed back section Sorry about the accident that does suck
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Old Mar 2, 2008 | 07:18 PM
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you can get dimensions from the FSM, You'll need a tool to do the measurements. I think they call it a tram guage. you can make one of these with out much difficulty.
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Old Mar 2, 2008 | 07:19 PM
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Does anyone have the measurement so I can compare and how do I measure,criss cross or ?
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Old Mar 2, 2008 | 07:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Targetnut
you can get dimensions from the FSM, You'll need a tool to do the measurements. I think they call it a tram guage. you can make one of these with out much difficulty.
Looks like a glorified tape measurer

I just use my eye
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Old Mar 2, 2008 | 07:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Hrddrvs
Does anyone have the measurement so I can compare and how do I measure,criss cross or ?
I dont think youll need to do crisscross measurements you just need the rear portion and a few other diagonal measurements to compare to
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Old Mar 2, 2008 | 07:30 PM
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Thanks so far for the info. and I welcome any advice.I will be taking the bed off in a few days.That will be new to me but should'nt be too difficult.After that I should get a real good look at it's condition.
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Old Mar 2, 2008 | 07:33 PM
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Hopefully your all good. Keep us posted on how it turns out. Good luck
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Old May 14, 2009 | 06:34 PM
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I just put a new bed on and I think it's bent about a half inch.The bed gap between the cab and bed is 1" on one side and 1 1/2" on the other.I tried and tried to get the gap even but the bolts wont allow it.Can I still drive it no problem?I will try again tomorrow to get it even.I'm thinking maybe I can file the bolt holes on the bed.The gap is really not that noticible.Anyway,what do you all think?
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Old May 14, 2009 | 10:29 PM
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Id say drive it till the wheels fall off and be thankful its not the front thats bent..


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Old May 14, 2009 | 10:53 PM
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Originally Posted by scuba
Id say drive it till the wheels fall off and be thankful its not the front thats bent..
lol Let's just hope the wheels aren't falling off any time soon...
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Old May 14, 2009 | 11:12 PM
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Keep the wheel bearings good and the lug nuts tight and I'd say he can keep that problem from happenin

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Old May 14, 2009 | 11:21 PM
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Originally Posted by scuba
Id say drive it till the wheels fall off and be thankful its not the front thats bent..
one of the wheels fell off already
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Old May 15, 2009 | 11:45 AM
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From: San Fernando Valley,CA
I replaced the axle and leaf springs.Everything is nice and tight.
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Old May 15, 2009 | 11:52 AM
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It won't be the first truck to go down the road sideways...
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Old May 15, 2009 | 02:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Hrddrvs
I just put a new bed on and I think it's bent about a half inch.The bed gap between the cab and bed is 1" on one side and 1 1/2" on the other.I tried and tried to get the gap even but the bolts wont allow it.Can I still drive it no problem?I will try again tomorrow to get it even.I'm thinking maybe I can file the bolt holes on the bed.The gap is really not that noticible.Anyway,what do you all think?
Could be that your new bed is just tweaked a little. I bet if you took it into an alignment shop now that your have your wheels back on they could tell you for sure on your frame. I would say just keep your tires rotated. You might burn tires up a little faster than you did. But hey is a 15 year old truck right?

Last edited by Chutchman; May 15, 2009 at 03:00 PM.
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Old May 15, 2009 | 09:52 PM
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with that gap your frame is most likely bent. you just dropped $400 bucks in parts why not have the frame pulled as well? for another couple hundred you could probably have it fixed. every body shop i have ever worked at has given free estimates, find a local shop and see what they say. it is technically called a tram guage but i prefer the slang term monkey-on-a-stick.
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Old May 15, 2009 | 10:53 PM
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sure some of the bed mounts arent a lil tweaked. The 4 towers up front could of bent some... seems plausible to me. From the damage in the pictures seems likely the two on that pass side could of gotten tweaked
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Old May 17, 2009 | 07:21 PM
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it looks like it took a direct hit in the wheel, its more than just bed mounts.
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Old May 18, 2009 | 01:39 PM
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It did take the hit directly to the wheels.I drives perfectly straight as far as I can see.I will take it to a shop for a look as long as it's a free estimate.If they say it's around $200-$300 that sounds fair.
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