Author Topic: Cracked in frame - 1987 Chevy Silverado  (Read 17941 times)

Offline Mike Phillips

  • Junior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 626
Cracked in frame - 1987 Chevy Silverado
« on: April 28, 2017, 10:01:30 AM »
Cracked in frame - 1987 Chevy  Silverado

Ugh...

This is why I don't like "buying" someone else's build and prefer to build my own trucks.

Looks like there was a crack in the frame and instead of starting by fixing the crack they just patched over it.

So now I get to do it right the second time.

Pulled the motor to access the inside of the frame.  Cleaned up 30 years of grime with Oven Cleaner and today I meet with my welder buddy to make the repair.

Here's a couple of pics...

This is the outside patch- looks like they cut off a mirror image section of frame off another truck and welded it to the outside of the frame on my truck.



Here's the problem though- the never addressed the actual crack and it's grown.







I'll update with the repair.

Note to self - never buy - always build.

:)



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Offline Mike Phillips

  • Junior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 626
Re: Cracked in frame - 1987 Chevy Silverado
« Reply #1 on: April 28, 2017, 10:03:34 AM »
My favorite degreaser!



Just be sure to wear the appropriate eye and skin protection.

:)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Offline blazer74

  • Junior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 786
  • Newbie
Re: Cracked in frame - 1987 Chevy Silverado
« Reply #2 on: April 28, 2017, 06:09:42 PM »
Went to the trouble of making a nice patch repair and never finished it correctly.

Offline VileZambonie

  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 18979
Re: Cracked in frame - 1987 Chevy Silverado
« Reply #3 on: April 28, 2017, 07:05:23 PM »
Yeah wear a mask too with that crap.

Looks like a pretty easy fix. You'll be good in no time.
,                           ___ 
                         /  _ _ _\_
              ⌠¯¯¯¯¯'   [☼===☼]
              `()_);-;()_)--o--)_)

74 GMC, 75 K5, 84 GMC, 85 K20, 86 k20, 79 K10

Offline Mike Phillips

  • Junior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 626
Re: Cracked in frame - 1987 Chevy Silverado
« Reply #4 on: April 28, 2017, 07:32:21 PM »
Did some more cleaning and removed a bracket in front of the crossmember and took these pictures.





In front of the crossmember



Close-up



Me today...



:)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Offline FlatBlack77

  • Junior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 894
  • Cheap Fast Reliable - Pick 2
Re: Cracked in frame - 1987 Chevy Silverado
« Reply #5 on: April 28, 2017, 07:32:57 PM »
probably would have been a half decent repair if they would have drill holes at the end of the crack to stop it from getting worse
"When you are a hammer, everything looks like a nail"
'77 C/10 - 350/350 mild street motor

Offline 1967KaiserM715

  • Junior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 914
  • 1985 GMC K1500 w/ 6.5 TD
Re: Cracked in frame - 1987 Chevy Silverado
« Reply #6 on: April 29, 2017, 05:52:43 AM »
I'm going to recommend the steering box brace from ORD or FabWorks. OR if your handy with angles and welding you could make your own.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Current Vehicles:1985 GMC K10(Daily) 1991 GMC K2500(Daily) 1975 Beetle(not running) 1985 Mercedes 300D(not running) 1952 M35    1967 M715(not running)
 1986 Chevy K30(under repair)

Offline Mike Phillips

  • Junior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 626
Re: Cracked in frame - 1987 Chevy Silverado
« Reply #7 on: May 14, 2017, 09:42:30 AM »
Return led to this project yesterday.  Need to move the front crossmember out of the way for my friend Robbie DiTerlizzi to get in there and do some welding.

Here's my friend Rob torching out the rivets.  Rob worked as a car dismantler for 10 years.  He's an artist with a torch.

















Then a little air chiseling...




Crossmember out of the way...





:)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Offline Mike Phillips

  • Junior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 626
Re: Cracked in frame - 1987 Chevy Silverado
« Reply #8 on: June 03, 2017, 07:40:10 AM »

I'm going to recommend the steering box brace from ORD or FabWorks.


Ordered the brace from FabWorks, will share some pics of the install today.

:)


Offline Mike Phillips

  • Junior Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 626
Re: Cracked in frame - 1987 Chevy Silverado
« Reply #9 on: June 04, 2017, 12:00:43 PM »
Done.

Brackets are installed.  I took enough pictures showing the entire process.  If the Mod like I can put together a full write-up on the project.

Couple of pics...







































Time to put the motor back in...

:)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Offline Irish_Alley

  • Tim
  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 13319
  • Family is not an important thing. It's everything.
Re: Cracked in frame - 1987 Chevy Silverado
« Reply #10 on: June 04, 2017, 12:38:10 PM »
lots and lots of pictures, nice. this will make a good write up. stickied for now
If you can’t tell yourself the truth, who can you tell it to?~Irish_Alley

When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth ~Sherlock Holmes

Online bd

  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6438
Re: Cracked in frame - 1987 Chevy Silverado
« Reply #11 on: June 04, 2017, 02:03:01 PM »
Mike, great job!

I recommend that if you haven't already done so, create sufficient clearance between the brake line and brace, so there is no possibility of rub-through...





I also recommend that you replace the front, short bracket lower attaching bolts with Grade 8 flange bolts and torque prevailing Grade 8 flange nuts...



Looking forward to your completed write up.
Rich
It's difficult to know just how much you don't know until you know it.
In other words... if people learn by making mistakes, by now I should know just about everything!!!
87 R10 Silverado Fleetside 355 MPFI 700R4 3.42 Locker (aka Rusty, aka Mater)

Offline ehjorten

  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1198
Re: Cracked in frame - 1987 Chevy Silverado
« Reply #12 on: March 27, 2019, 09:25:47 AM »
One thing to note...if you have an oil cooler, you will want to clearance the bottom flange of the large brace, where the oil cooler lines come through the crossmember.  there is heavy interference with the oil cooler lines.  I made a write-up about it and sent it to ORD, from where I got my brace kit, but never heard anything back as far as improvements to the product.





-Erik-
1991 V3500 - Gen V TBI 454, 4L80E, NP205, 14 bolt FF, D60, 8" Lift on 35s
1977 K20 Silverado - 350, THM350, NP203, 14 bolt FF, D44, Stock Lift on 31s
1969 Chevelle Malibu Sport Coupe - EFI350, THM350
1968 Chevrolet Step-side Pickup - 300HP L6