Frame rust and broken

Status
Not open for further replies.
J

jhellwig

Joined
Jul 1, 2013
Messages
3,380
Location
Ottumwa, Iowa
I don't suppose anyone has a way to fix this short of finding a good frame? Found it after coaxing the spare tire onto the rear axle due to rust while I was measuring the ubolts on the axle that had rusted apart. The frame is still good by the spring bracket and it is boxed in that area so it isn't a driving hazard.

Good thing I found it before I pulled any loaded trailers again. Bad thing is I just dumped a bunch of money into it fixing the ac.

B7C543FC-824C-44CD-A276-DDBEFA4A52E1.webp
 
Last edited:
Looks like a crack to me....that's some bad cancer right there. With that visible, you have to wonder what's NOT visible.

I'd be looking for a frame.
 
Originally Posted by maxdustington
That's just a body mount right? Is that a crack that leads downwards when looking at the image or just scale?
I picked at it after I took the pic. It is a crack foreword to about that angled oblong hole. Basically the length of the receiver hitch.
Originally Posted by JLTD
Looks like a crack to me....that's some bad cancer right there. With that visible, you have to wonder what's NOT visible.

I'd be looking for a frame.

The hole under the body mount looked bad when I bought it a 3 years ago. I think it started out as an oblong hole that rusted bad the. The few heavy loads I have pulled that flexed the frame started the cracking. I don't overload the tounge weight and when I am loaded heavy I take it easy. I usually pull a 14ft utility trailer with it much in it so it has probably just been progressing with rust and vibration from the trailer.

I would be better off finding one in better shape but decent suburban in this body style are hard to find. I doubt the body would survive being moved to another frame. It isn't rusted bad but still not worth much. It just sucks as it only has 150k on it.
 
Originally Posted by jhellwig
I would be better off finding one in better shape but decent suburban in this body style are hard to find. I doubt the body would survive being moved to another frame. It isn't rusted bad but still not worth much. It just sucks as it only has 150k on it.
2500s were rare even back in the day, are there any pickup frames that were the same? Like an extended cab long bed?
 
Originally Posted by maxdustington
I'll bet you can get a pre-vortec GMT400 burb for cheap. They were bad on gas 15 years ago.

Mine is the last tbi 350 version. It drinks gas and has no power. Not as bad on Gas as the 454 but not great. There aren't many 96 to 99 3/4 tons with 350s since Gas was so dirt cheap back then. I am going to have to go south and spend a little money to get a decent one. I've got about 3 grand into this one including buying it after I found all the reasons the previous owner dumped it for. Good thing I bought it cheap.

Here might be a reason or two why it broke.

IMG_20171021_115327.webp


1019161412.webp
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted by maxdustington
Originally Posted by jhellwig
I would be better off finding one in better shape but decent suburban in this body style are hard to find. I doubt the body would survive being moved to another frame. It isn't rusted bad but still not worth much. It just sucks as it only has 150k on it.
2500s were rare even back in the day, are there any pickup frames that were the same? Like an extended cab long bed?

The suburban frames are their own. Even the axles have wider spring pearches than the trucks.
 
Originally Posted by jhellwig
Originally Posted by maxdustington
I'll bet you can get a pre-vortec GMT400 burb for cheap. They were bad on gas 15 years ago.

Mine is the last tbi 350 version. It drinks gas and has no power. Not as bad on Gas as the 454 but not great. There aren't many 96 to 99 3/4 tons with 350s since Gas was so dirt cheap back then. I am going to have to go south and spend a little money to get a decent one. I've got about 3 grand into this one including buying it after I found all the reasons the previous owner dumped it for. Good thing I bought it cheap.

Here might be a reason or two why it broke.
My family had that exact truck when I were a lad, 95 2500 LT 4x4 350 TBI same blue colour and tailgate. I think ours was solid blue, I'm not sure if your example is the blue/silver two tone? I knew it was beastly, but I didn't know that it was some sort of towing beast. 6.5 > 350 TBI.
 
Originally Posted by AZjeff
You're towing a $50K excavator with a $3K truck...?


Can I nominate this for post of the year?
 
If that were mine I'd at least attempt a fix. I would get out my sand blaster and clean the frame. Then I'd cut a patch of 11 gauge or thicker, not quite the height of the frame and long enough to go a few inches into the frame kick-up. I would slot it to fit around the body mount and drill some 1/2" holes for plug welds. You'll have to get whatever wiring and hoses there are out of the frame so you don't have a melt down. If the repair works, great. If it doesn't you're out a few hours labor and maybe $20 in materials.
 
Picture either of the trailers heading into oncoming traffic after the frame rails fail, which it appears to be close to doing. Back in my consumer car repair days, that frame would've failed the state safety inspection.

Sure steel plate could be welded on, but how much wall thickness is left in the frame anywhere near the hitch mount?

Good luck with whatever you decide.
 
I would have to say that's done for as far as a towing vehicles goes and even if patched not much more life left in it. Time to give it the last rights IMO.
 
Originally Posted by AZjeff
You're towing a $50K excavator with a $3K truck...?
It probably costs more than that. It isn't my equipment. Belongs to another farmer my brother in law farms with. It was almost new also. Only had 5 hours on it. He was supposed to haul it to his place for me to use to do a project for him but never got around to it. I was not real thrilled to have to use my suburban to haul it but his big trailer had stuff on it and who know where his truck was. I only hauled it 5 miles and slowly at that. Come to find out it weighs around 15000 pounds. Little bit to much for the trailer I had it on also.
Originally Posted by 02SE
Picture either of the trailers heading into oncoming traffic after the frame rails fail, which it appears to be close to doing. Back in my consumer car repair days, that frame would've failed the state safety inspection.

Sure steel plate could be welded on, but how much wall thickness is left in the frame anywhere near the hitch mount?

Good luck with whatever you decide.
I don't think there is enough steel to weld to without blowing through. Once I get the tank empty I will drop the tank and see if I can bolt a patch to it.
 
Originally Posted by edwardh1
looks overloaded- is it?

Gcvw wise yes. The excavator weighs 15k or better. The skid loaded and generator probably weigh that much also. Neither one went more than a few miles and only once.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

TumblrDucks
Frame Rust Control - How Did You Do It?
2
Replies
31
Views
1K
Donald
M
Thoughts on this bearing
Replies
10
Views
457
Rust_Belt_Pete
Number_35
2012 Chevy Sonic - Brake Rotor Rusted On
Replies
4
Views
377
Number_35
brages
My Ranger leans to the left (TIB camber problem)
2
Replies
24
Views
1K
D60
S
Out sketched myself working on the Marquis
Replies
13
Views
2K
Fordiesel69
Back
Top Bottom