Author Topic: Possible bent frame on a 74 c15  (Read 1539 times)

Offline Swampyankee74

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Possible bent frame on a 74 c15
« on: October 15, 2022, 03:16:07 PM »
I am stripping my truck down, I get the nose off and the frame looks slightly tweaked towards the passenger side on both front rails. Everything appears to be good from the a-arms back. I know the truck was involved in 2 small front end collisions. I drove the truck for a couple months. Seemed to drive fine.

I wanted to see how out of square it was so I took a dot box laser and marked both front cab mount bolts on the floor and then marked both radiator core support mounts on the floor and cross measured them. One cross measurement was an inch bigger then the other supporting my theory on the direction I beleave the frame to be bent. It's 1 inch with tells me it should be brought back a half inch. Would it be overboard to have it straightened or is it fine how it is? Am I going to have a major issue getting the front body back on correctly?I'm not building a show truck. Looking for some ideas or guidance.  I'll try to post some pics

Offline Swampyankee74

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Re: Possible bent frame on a 74 c15
« Reply #1 on: October 15, 2022, 03:19:45 PM »
Pic

Offline Swampyankee74

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Re: Possible bent frame on a 74 c15
« Reply #2 on: October 15, 2022, 03:20:48 PM »
Pic

Online VileZambonie

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Re: Possible bent frame on a 74 c15
« Reply #3 on: October 15, 2022, 06:33:32 PM »
Build or buy a tram gauge to measure it. You need a little movement to get your body lines right. These frames settle and twist so make sure it's on its wheels, tire pressures are good, spring height is right,  everything is perfect before you do. You'll need shims regardless
« Last Edit: October 15, 2022, 06:39:10 PM by VileZambonie »
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              ⌠ŻŻŻŻŻ'   [☼===☼]
              `()_);-;()_)--o--)_)

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

Offline JohnnyPopper

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Re: Possible bent frame on a 74 c15
« Reply #4 on: October 15, 2022, 06:34:53 PM »
Yeah it looks like it got smacked but not hard.

I wouldn't sweat it unless you feel compelled.

You can heat the horns where they converge to the main part of the frame and tweak them. Is it both of them? Passenger is visible, other not so much.

Reminds me: a guy came in that had drove his new Corvette into a bank. We had to get that girl red hot with the biggest rosebud we could find, hydraulics, chains and sweat.

She left square, slight dent that no one would care about.
1957 Apache 3100 235 Inline 6, 3 on the tree
1973 C-20, 3+3 454 4BBL TH400  Water Injection
1978 K-10, 350 4BBL TH350 NP203 M.M. Part time Kit/Hubs
1980 C-10 under construction

Offline Mike81K10

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Re: Possible bent frame on a 74 c15
« Reply #5 on: October 15, 2022, 09:29:11 PM »
Could find a straight frame from a salvage yard!
"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." -Benjamin Franklin

Offline Swampyankee74

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Re: Possible bent frame on a 74 c15
« Reply #6 on: October 16, 2022, 08:11:49 AM »
I got to look into the tram guage. I believe both are bent I had a bumper on the front so that must have kept the frame spread.

Offline Swampyankee74

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Re: Possible bent frame on a 74 c15
« Reply #7 on: December 17, 2022, 08:52:35 PM »
The frame is straight! My cousin and I have about 8 hours into setup and tweaking. But she is nice and true.

Offline Swampyankee74

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Re: Possible bent frame on a 74 c15
« Reply #8 on: December 17, 2022, 09:05:32 PM »
Straight and true

Offline JohnnyPopper

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Re: Possible bent frame on a 74 c15
« Reply #9 on: December 17, 2022, 10:08:58 PM »
So are these after pics?
1957 Apache 3100 235 Inline 6, 3 on the tree
1973 C-20, 3+3 454 4BBL TH400  Water Injection
1978 K-10, 350 4BBL TH350 NP203 M.M. Part time Kit/Hubs
1980 C-10 under construction

Offline Swampyankee74

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Re: Possible bent frame on a 74 c15
« Reply #10 on: December 18, 2022, 04:36:05 AM »
Yes they are after pics

Online VileZambonie

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Re: Possible bent frame on a 74 c15
« Reply #11 on: December 18, 2022, 08:08:27 AM »
Congratulations! What is your measurement at the blue line?
,                           ___ 
                         /  _ _ _\_
              ⌠ŻŻŻŻŻ'   [☼===☼]
              `()_);-;()_)--o--)_)

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

Offline Swampyankee74

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Re: Possible bent frame on a 74 c15
« Reply #12 on: December 18, 2022, 08:15:41 AM »
I beleave it was 28. I can check when I get home

Offline Swampyankee74

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Re: Possible bent frame on a 74 c15
« Reply #13 on: December 18, 2022, 08:18:10 AM »
28 was outside edges of frame rail.

Offline Swampyankee74

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Re: Possible bent frame on a 74 c15
« Reply #14 on: December 18, 2022, 08:33:28 AM »
25-7/8 between the 2 dog bones on the skinny part