Tweaked Frame Question

[mnido]

One side of my frame rail is tweaked from the front cross member to the rear cross member. I only noticed this after the body was removed. It tracks straight, sits level. When I level the frame the rail on the right is out of plumb approx. 3/16 of an inch. I am wondering if it is worth repairing and or if a frame shop can repair it while off the body. If I had a way to secure the frame to a jig, I could heat the rail at both ends and tweak it back to plumb. Any thoughts ? Thanks

 

[beaux312]

what do you mean out of plumb, is it twisted? do some cross measurments like a X. if it X's out it will be straight and square,probably not a whole lot to worry about

 

[mnido]

Yes, better said. It has a twist in it. When I put a level on the outside of the frame rail, it is twisted 3/16th. of an inch.

 

[Gerbow]

Im no expert at all, but it would be twisted there where the springs attach, correct? Could it possibly put a strain on the bushings and cause premature failure?

 

[Rustytruck]

Sure looks like its welded crooked the whole way from front to back and not twisted. check the upper and lower holes in the frame ends are square and plumb with each other. It looks like its out of plumb at all the crossmembers so they would have to be cut loose at the top and shimmed out and it all rewelded. I doubt you could just heat it up and twist it back in place. Porbably Fords quality is job 1 program.

 

[rustbucket]

Were all the body panels and door gaps even before you took the body off? If so, I wouldn't worry about it. You may just have to shim the body a bit. It was done at the factory that way.

 

[allenfahey]

As beaux312 stated the easiest way is to measure in an "X" pattern. If it's out then it's what's called diamond. You can't fix it by heating it and pulling it, even with a winch or come along. You will need a frame machine which can have as much as 10 tons of force. There aren't any Bronco specs in the databases at body shops. A body shop can measure it old school with a tram gauge. If it's out they can pull it into shape. Problem is they will probably charge you 2-3 hours just to setup and measure. Then 3-5 to pull it. If you are in the Baltimore area I know of a body man that has a frame machine at his house and he does side work.

I wouldn't worry about it if the gaps were good and as stated you can shim the body.

 

[mnido]

You know what, I am going to leave it alone. When I posted about how terrible the welds were I concluded I was to "picky". It was level, tracked straight...its just a product of production.

 

[Boss351]

Good catch but not much you can do beside cut it all apart and resquare it or paint it and try to square the axles and body to hide any leans it may cause when finished

 

[siderbox]

3/16" for our rigs, for the time they were made is not that bad.
Now for todays standards, that's almost junk.
From what you said about the way it sets and tracks I would leave it.
I've talked to some old timer body men at work about this kind of thing.
They have told stories that would make you be thankful for 3/16".

 

[mnido]

Thanks All !!! Alone it is..