Need help Steering box Frame= not good.

[Edahall]

I cut the hardwood to fit inside the frame and bridge across the crack.  I then used Bondo to fill any voids between the hardwood and frame.  Afterwards, I used lag bolts to attach the steering box back to the frame.

Please don't do this.

If you can't swap frames then maybe look into a certified welder that can repair it. Over the road trucks, dumps, and all sorts of trucks have their frame dimensions changed more than you would think. This can be repaired, you just have to find the right guy.

x1000
Approaching a frame repair in this manner endangers everyone!

Based on personal experience, I could turn that statement around and say having a frame welded by a certified welder endangers everyone.

[topp]

Based on personal experience, I could turn that statement around and say having a frame welded by a certified welder endangers everyone.

Hardly....

Wood is not strong enough to handle the stress put on the frame from the steering forces.....

Properly welded metal is....

[Blazin]

How do you figure that having a frame correctly welded endangers everyone?

[Edahall]

How do you figure that having a frame correctly welded endangers everyone?

I had my cracked frame welded by certified welder and it failed after several years of use.  Luckily, it re-broke in a parking lot.  The whole steering box ripped out from the frame leaving a gaping hole in the frame.  That said, the crude shade tree repair has outlasted the previous high tech repair by a long shot.  I have full confidence that it'll never fail because if I didn't, I wouldn't be driving it.  However, the vehicle's next destination is the crusher.

Anyways, I don't want or intend for get everybody excited about the repair.  It obviously is not an engineered or certified repair so take it as it is.  However, I do assure everyone that it was well thought out and overly built to not endanger everyone.  Worry about the speeders and drunk drivers if you need something to worry about.

[Blazin]

Ive been building and modifying log bodies, chips trailers, truck frames, lengthening, and shortening them for years. I have never had one fail yet. Log bodies do crack occasionally from stress. Sounds to me like the certified welder didn't have a clue.
I myself am not a certified welder. We have a certified welder that brings his truck to us for repairs, and some service work. He has looked at my welds, and said they are better than alot of guys that are certified.

[cmpayne]

Thanks for the input. i'll be looking for someone to weld my other frame and i'll have another  project to do. any tips/hints when i start to remove the body?

[thirsty]

any tips/hints when i start to remove the body?

Use a breaker bar on the body bolts instead of an impact wrench. It will reduce the chance of spinning the nut in the welded on collar inside the body.

[bake74]

any tips/hints when i start to remove the body?

Use a breaker bar on the body bolts instead of an impact wrench. It will reduce the chance of spinning the nut in the welded on collar inside the body.

     Keep everything labeled and organized.  Nothing worse than taking something apart and not remembering how it goes back together.   

[Cabcorner]

                   I would love to see pics of the hardwood repair.