most of the light you see is from that one photo is actually from a hole that's supposed to be there, the square one. those two side where the frame is bad actually completely lined up on both sides. One (inside) spans the entire width of the bump stop. The other (outside) actually starts towards the rear end of the bump stop location.

Now remember that bed frame has two solid steel frame rails that bolt down to the truck frame.

The rear cross-member that is back there (the one that holds the OEM spare tire) is starting to go as well. But It appears as though it's just the cross-member and not the shackle hangers. But I am no expert.

The round cross member back there is actually in pretty good shape.

 

two auto body shops I just called one advertising frame repair say they won't do it and have no clue who does. I mean really? You can straighten a frame but you can patch holes? No wonder why these trucks get junked alot around here. One said it would be too much of a liability. Yeah ok whatever you won't be touching my truck anytime soon because obviously you have no faith in your ability to weld.

 

now this is what I am talking about: http://www.rc4x4.org/rcforum/index.p...c,14087.0.html
I absolutely love the off-road fab community. You won't find too many lazy butts out there unlike so called body and frame shops.
Most of these guys do this because they like to do it, not because they just want the money.

Not even 5 minutes after PMing him my number he calls me. Gonna run down his shop like 5 minutes away tomorrow sometime for him to look at it.
P.S. I won't hold the heep thing against him.

 

Talked to the guy about the frame today. He said $400. That's to re-plate the passenger bump stop area and the upper shock mount as well as fix the rotting area at the rear crossmember and either leave that crossmemeber off or replace it if I want with either round tube or 2" x 4" x 1/8" square tube. I am leaning towards just leaving it off since I have that 1/4" 2 x 4 bumper back there. But I know I have asked about removing that crossmember before and it was a consensus that thing doesn't do anything for structural integrity at all and it's only purpose was for the spare tire mount which I never plan on reusing anyway. What y'all think? He also said he normally just uses 1/8" material for most of his stuff.

 

geez man....that's harsh reality right there. I guess it's inevitable around here. but dang the price.

 

considering just the leaf spring hangers cost me $350 to do both sides, I actually think that is somewhat of a good price.

 

ugh.
i hate spending any money

 

or just do a simple frame-swap



$400 doesn't seem too terrible, but you're right; it could be better

 

If I had the time, place and money to replace every single bushing in this truck, I'd think about the frame swap and grab the one off Lumpy, but that ain't happening any time soon so. And then I would still have to trust the body to stay together when doing so. Now with that said if I can find a good rolling chassis 84-88 pickup for $400 you can guess what I would do with it.

 

Truck goes into the shop for surgery Web June 8th. He said he should have it for about two days. Now I got to figure out what I want him to do with the spare tire crossmember. In either case that's gonna be gone, but I am contemplating having him put a new one in above the axle to mount the shocks to later on like this / \. Just not sure exactly where it should be placed and if I want to square or round tube it. Not sure if those 11.5" travel dodge 2500 shocks will work there or not. I am gonna do my best to be there to document the process but with a 5 year old, I am not sure if she's gonna stay at family's next week or come home. She's been up there for a week already. lol.

 

i think a square cross member there would be optimal for mounting shocks. round tube is great for longitudinal strength, and square is good for lateral loads, like shocks

my $0.02

 

I know Tofer did his with tube. But 4crawler mentions he bent his round tube and went with a real trick setup that I am not even gonna attempt to duplicate. lol. Then there is the budbuilt way which I kinda like but I wanna say it utilizes the round OEM crossmemebr near the tank. I'll have to dig around because I never really researched it, but is a good time to. I still got time to troll around a little.

 

3 weeks! better hurry up!

 

Wow, heavy duty stuff in the works, B! Hope he does a really nice job! Can't wait to see the pics of his work.

 

Cutting it close yeah ???? I hope you guys at RBX's place get everything done to get him ready as well. Only thing I got to do before I take it to the shop is something that I've been meaning to do and put a disconnect in the light wiring to make it easier for him to remove the bed. Just got to get that part of the loom apart to see how many wires are in it.

 

 

that frame rot gives me the eebe jeebees

 

I wanna say that's what that yellow full size International Pickup is there for too. But not certain.

 

Ran by the shop a few minutes ago to grab my drill I left in it to help my mom move etc etc, and the truck wasn't even moved from where I parked it, but the key wasn't there so I hope he at least grabbed the key.

 

Of course this is AFTER I put the truck in the shop. But then again, I'd have nowhere to work on it. I'd have to move in with Jerry for a month.

http://scranton.craigslist.org/pts/2430085404.html