Frame plating/reinforcement questions

[NateMob]

Would plating the frame from trac bar mount to body mount in 1/8" steel be worth the trouble before I weld on new shock and coil buckets? Not racing just offroading/rockcrawling on '78 Big Bronco axles using Duff's offset coil buckets and F250 shock mounts. Plan would be to weld the perimeter of the plate and then some rosettes along the middle.

I assume most will say to 1/4" but wasn't sure if that would make the outer portion of the frame disproportionately stiff compared to the rest of the frame structure. Not to mention I have 1/8" on hand and 1/4" is getting spendy.

 

[DirtDonk]

Yes. If you have the ability and it's this far apart, I see no reason not to.
I'm not sure I'd plate it the entire distance you show, but at least the area between the front body mount and the spring tower. Not sure how much of that you're even using though, as you could be doing full custom suspension and everything.
I would consider even doing a top and/or bottom plate as well and tie them together with the side plate.
Then again, you said this is not a race vehicle or even a hard core off-roader. Correct? If that's the case then none of that is necessary because the Bronco frames were quite stout from the factory.
If you will be running tires larger than 33" and do plan to do some heavy wheeling, then by all means reinforce that are of the frame.

Are you gong to be mounting a steering gearbox in or near the same area as original? Trackbar mount and spring tower too?
For the box are you changing the type of box and location? Or all stock original stuff?
If you're relocating or changing the type of steering box, then you can re-engineer the inner frame reinforcements as well. Weld tubes of the appropriate size to the new side plate, drill larger holes in the frame, install the plate then weld the other ends of the tubes to the inner frame plate. Voila! Reinforcements galore.

Paul