Finding a Frame

[jas21]

I am about to aquire a 1982 C10 Silverado. It is in good shape for the most part, but the frame is bent in front of the front passanger tire. Can anyone tell me, or give me ideas as to how to find the correct frame and where I can get one.

Edited by: jas21 at: 3/14/03 11:34:59 pm

[smokin77]

Where about do ya live? I live in CT and I have an 86C10 with 305 and blown tranny, all straight never hit, I took the fenders, bed, and doors though. I think the frame is good on it. I could unload the whole truck for somethin like $350.

[Blazin]

Have you had a good frame shop look at it?

[jas21]

Blazin, Working on getting a frame guy out to it.
Smokin, I don't know if it would be worth it, I'm in Louisiana.

[Blazin]

How did it get bent? From front end impact? How bad is it bent? Can you tell just by looking at it? Have you taken any mesurments and compared them to another truck? Do you have a level concrete floor or pad to take some mesurments? If so use a plumb bob and pick six or eight identical points all the way back on both frame rails, drop the marks and chalk them on the concrete. Move the truck and triangle mesure them. Make a diagram and wright them down, a frame guy should be able to tell you if it is fixable. You should also take hight mesurements from the frame to the concrete and put them down along with your triangle mesuments at there prespective points on your diagram.

[jas21]

It is from front end impact. I can't tell how bad it is, I've never eyeballed a straight one. The crossbar in front (between front bumper & front tires) looks like it might be twisted pretty good. Thanks for the input on measuring a frame, that should come in real handy. Do you know where I might get a list of frames that would fit on this truck?

[Blazin]

Most salvage yards have interchange lists. 73-87 frames will fit under it. there are some minor differences between them but nothing that would make them not interchange. Even a 4x4 frame will be a bolt up swap. The bigest dierence is the front bumper mount from 80 to 81 and gas tank location, but you can swap that side to side fairly easily.

[sc87]

If you end up needing a frame, try car-part.com. You can locate a frame for the year/make/model and define the search for a certain state or region.

[jimfulco]

jas21, if you still need a frame section, email me at jimfulco@aol.com.  I'm in Shreveport.