Chevy with broken frame

[wrenchbender]

This 3/4 ton chevy 4x4 has been over loaded at least once well maybe twice The guy ask if I could for a strange noise comming from the rear of the truck this is what I found.

[Timinmb]

****, that's one nasty break. What are they making those frames from ??

Is it some kind of high carbon steel? I know they use a very different forming process on modern frames.

[wrenchbender]

One side was broken completly other side had about an inch on top of the frame left holding it together. I had to remove the bed to make the repairs.

[Mike W]

I will try to refrain from any Chevy jokes.

[wrenchbender]

Originally Posted by Timinmb

****, that's one nasty break. What are they making those frames from ??

Is it some kind of high carbon steel? I know they use a very different forming process on modern frames.

Timinmb, it's about 14 gage steel nothing speacial here strength comes from forming and there ain't much here.

[wrenchbender]

Originally Posted by Mike W

I will try to refrain from any Chevy jokes.

Ahh, go ahead Mike

[TOMWELDS]

14ga! I would fish plate the frames rear section if you're gonna load her up. I never knew they went that thin. My 1ton series is 3/16".

[KartRacer55]

Tell that guy first off... nice job with breaking the frame, but second of all, to wash that **** thing. Is that a plate you put over the weld?

Jim

[TOMWELDS]

Easier yet, box the frame.

[wrenchbender]

Hey Tom, I put a 1/8" plate on it and it was a good bit thicker than the frame the 14gage is just a guess. This thing has a class III hitch and this guy thinks he can pull his dump trailer with 4 tons of gravel all the time. Your truck must be a little older than this one seeing as it has a real frame not a not so bright engineers idea of one.

[wrenchbender]

Originally Posted by KartRacer55

Tell that guy first off... nice job with breaking the frame, but second of all, to wash that **** thing. Is that a plate you put over the weld?

Jim

Yes that is 1/8" fish plate.

[TOMWELDS]

I have an '85 GMC 3500. I would box both sides of that frame with 10 ga and PRAY.

[wrenchbender]

Originally Posted by TOMWELDS

I have an '85 GMC 3500. I would box both sides of that frame with 10 ga and PRAY.

When the bed is bolted down it acts as part of the frame work if the bed bolts work loose then you can bet that the frame is going to break.

[Manny]

We work on a lot of car haulers at my shop and frequently have units loaded with pick-ups through. When GM did their latest "update" on them a few years ago I was in the market for a new truck and was eyeing some of them up, at least until I talked to the drivers that were hauling them that is. The new frames, at least on the half-tons, can now be bent merely in chaining them down for transport, on the older ones this was never a concern. It seems that GM has really gone light duty this last time around, they sure aren't as tough as the older ones. Our new 2500HD Duramax seems to be built for work, but anything less sure doesn't seem to be. I've always owned Fords anyways, having given a crash test to a '95 F150 and emerging unscathed and able to drive it home after totaling the Honda Accord that hit me left me a big fan of Fords. Built Ford Tough is more than a motto in my experiance.
Manny

PS: Nice job fixing the frame. If he's going to keep working that unit he better have you plate both frame rails from front to back.

[theonlybull]

i've heard about the bent chev frames. id you can bend the frames from tieing them down incorrectly, imagine what a good load could do to them....

i've never thought twice about loadin' my 79 f-100, i've had well over a ton on her. i compaired one of them 3/4 ton duramaxes to my f-100 2wd. less clearance under the front end, rear end, and middle. the rear is higher, but the spard hangs down enough to make up for it... c'mon chebbie, these are supposed to be heavey duty work trucks.....