WUnderwood
Moderator
Keep this thread updated with your fix, if you would.
Frame horn repair?
- Thread starter J-Pipes
- Start date
J-Pipes
Active member
Plan too, I'll have to take the steering box loose/out to see how far back I need to go to get to good metal. Then the plan is cut out the bad and since I don't have a way to form the bends, it'll be put back together in pieces, probably 3/16" or 1/4", everything welded solid, and probably a little paint. I'm guess I'm going to have to drill new holes on the inside of the frame to mount the steering box back where it goes.
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Red Sleeper
Active member
Be sure you sleeve the holes for steering box mounting bolts.
Locating those holes can be a difficult task. Take many measurements and pictures before tear down.
Locating those holes can be a difficult task. Take many measurements and pictures before tear down.
J-Pipes
Active member
I'm hoping since the outside of the frame is fine, I can chase the holes from the outside. Going to ask around if anyone I know has a mag drill, only way I can think to be certain they'd be straight.
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TheBac
UPS guy
IMO, you'd be better off finding an entire front frame piece like that other guy did, then welding that in. Much easier to align, all holes will be correct. Fishplate the sections and it would be a strong repair. Then be extremely liberal with paint.
Good luck whichever way you go, though.
Good luck whichever way you go, though.
J-Pipes
Active member
That's what I wanted to do, but have been unable to find a good piece of frame, the only good ones where entire frames for near $1k, or a couple decent ones of complete trucks for ~$6-800. But those would have required a lot more work, and I just dont have much time to devote to this right now. I may have located a mag drill though, need to double check before this weekend.
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J-Pipes
Active member
Yes, just haven't found any good ones, everything has rust in Ohio! The complete trucks I found were 1/2 ton.
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95cummins5.9
Old man ***** gossiper
They are a little thinner.
99GreenCummins
That guy....
I have a front frame section I'd sell. From a 2000. I'm in Marietta. Cheap.
Meyers Farms
Active member
Sounds like this project is about to start coming together:Cheer:
J-Pipes
Active member
thatguy69
New member
That's what I thought too, until I cut one off myself
J-Pipes
Active member
Well, looks like I'll be headed to Marietta on Saturday! New plan is to cut the new piece of frame about a 1/4" short or so, and build a backing ring, or sleeve of sorts to fit inside the frame to ensure we get great penetration, then add fish plates to the outside.
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Good to hear!
Meyers Farms
Active member
Good news! Keep us updated.
J-Pipes
Active member
Well, made decent progress. The old is cut out, with the new piece partially welded in before we had to call it a day. Only hiccup, other than my cuts on the inside of the frame, is the while the holes for the steering box are in the outside of the frame, they didn't go through the inside. There are two sets of mounting hole, 2wd uses the rearward set, while 4wd uses the forward set. So I did have to chase the holes on through. Hopefully we are able to finish it up tomorrow.
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Red Sleeper
Active member
Looking good. Definitely a proper fix choosing this method.
Side bar:
When I had my 05 stripped down to the frame for the cab swap, I washed the frame rails out with just a water hose nozzle. Flushed front to back, back to front, and every hole in between I could access. Let it dry out, painted the frame, then squirted oil all inside the frame. It dripped oil for a few days out of frame holes.
Unbelievable the amount of dirt that was in there at 125k miles. Glad I did that.
Side bar:
When I had my 05 stripped down to the frame for the cab swap, I washed the frame rails out with just a water hose nozzle. Flushed front to back, back to front, and every hole in between I could access. Let it dry out, painted the frame, then squirted oil all inside the frame. It dripped oil for a few days out of frame holes.
Unbelievable the amount of dirt that was in there at 125k miles. Glad I did that.