How would you repair this cracked frame?

[blakes]

This 98 GM dually has had a very, very hard life. Plow truck for a couple of decades now it's used to haul water up the mountain.

Section of frame on the DS front under the non-existent floorboards is cracked. I started welding the outside yesterday but it was windy. I already drilled out the ends of the cracks.

How would you repair this?

 

[Pyleit]

Fish plate and done

 

[Will12785]

Those pictures might be too good. I'd fish plate it. Don't weld verticle lines on the frame.

 

[east_beast]

The same type of plating bandaid that has been used on the back end of CJ frames forever?

 

[Norm]

Weld it, then weld a piece of 1/8th on the side and bottom to reinforce it.

 

[blakes]

I should add in that I can't weld very well. I have an old Lincoln 220v MIG that is connected to my 7200W generator. The wire is probably 2 years old. I need to take it down to town and bring up some materials later today...

 

[Isdtbower]

Drill a hole at the end of the crack (Looks done). That helps stop the crack. Might a well weld up the crack to that point as a HAZ is less crucial than a crack. Then, as others note. Fish plate (non vertical).

 

[bad zuki]

After a fish plate, I'd move that tank back on the rear axle a little bit more.

 

[Steve300xcw]

I'd find somebody else to weld it

 

[jeeptj19992001]

Since you are not a good welder....
Use jb weld

 

[FlatLander]

Find the best looking frame repair in the Ghetto Fab/ Hack fab (General Tech > General 4x4 ) and copy that. So, random bolts and some punched flat stock.

 

[D_JEEPER]

Drill end of crack, weld, peen, fishplate.

 

[D_JEEPER]

Do I need to send you some Indian trucker videos for inspiration? They'll bang out a new frame for you and have it swapped over in a couple of days all while wearing gowns and safety thongs.

 

[blakes]

After a fish plate, I'd move that tank back on the rear axle a little bit more.

I normally carry two water tanks. 450 gallon (pictured) and another 200 gallon behind it.

I just now shitty welded the inside crack. It's tough to get there and I'm not even sure the gas is working as the welds are pretty porous.

 

[AgitatedPancake]

The honest answer is get it to someone who can weld confidently, then fish plate and add a strap to the bottom of the frame as these guys mentioned.

With how you’re describing your welds, it’s just going to repeatedly break the same area and become more and more of a pita to grind out and fix correctly

 

[Provience]

Weld it as you see fit, check it yearly and add more metal as needed.

By year 4 you'll have it all figured out

Buy Flux cored wire

 

[Kyle]

Angle iron.

 

[SomeGuy]

I should add in that I can't weld very well. I have an old Lincoln 220v MIG that is connected to my 7200W generator. The wire is probably 2 years old. I need to take it down to town and bring up some materials later today...

Nothing is wrong with that setup or 2 year old wire (hell, I've got 6-7 year old wire that's fine, it's only rods that go to shit after time), that's all you lol


Weld it, plate it, weld some more, send it.

 

[Gtrplyr78]

Dibs on your stuff when it comes apart downhill

 

[ApeEater]

Since you're welding outdoors, you're probably better off with flux core wire instead of shielding gas.

 

[Slander]

Fish Plate Tech

My design template and my friends doodle… I thought I wanted to run the plate along the spring hanger but it’s not adding much of anything except weight Frame is 1/8” Fish plates are 3/16” because that’s what I could source I can add some speed holes with a plasma or hole saw. What would the...

irate4x4.com

 

[blakes]

The frame is curved right where the crack is. I'm thinking about welding this 1/8" plate to the bottom. Then later on welding a piece of angle iron.

Will this lead to Nuns dying?

 

[bad zuki]

The nuns will die if you don't use thicker steel than 1/8"

Tack one side. Beat to fit. Weld to hold. Paint to hide.

 

[D_JEEPER]

Oh man, the porosity

 

[Hooligan]

The frame is curved right where the crack is. I'm thinking about welding this 1/8" plate to the bottom. Then later on welding a piece of angle iron.

Will this lead to Nuns dying?

Were you going to weld the frame, or just apply the putty?

 

[u2slow]

I should add in that I can't weld very well.

Keep at it.

With these GMT400 trucks, and your usage, you'll get many additional opportunities to hone your skills. Start checking over the factory welds/joints in the front end...

 

[blakes]

This oughta keep y'all laughing.

I estimate 2-4 nuns are dying in the future...

 

[BIG-O]

You gonna fill in those holes?

 

[Sandy Johnson]

Bruh.

There's a lot of good advice in this thread.

 

[blakes]

Bruh.

There's a lot of good advice in this thread.

yep, and I appreciate it.

I'm not done with the repair....