Anyone boxed in the front frame to keep it from going on a walkabout and continually cracking?

 

Where's it cracking? Ramchargers often came with a steering box brace that mounts to the inside of the frame rail with an arm that bolts to the front cross-member. I picked up one of those for my crew project. RamchargerCentral.Com is a good place for you to look if you're wheeling your truck and need to do some heavy duty reinforcement.

 

Good advice, thanks. It cracks on both front framerails but especially around the steering box. I made an extra thick back brace for the steering box, and gusseted the left framerail to the cross member (which I welded up). I think I broke it again when I tomahawked off a viscious wheelstand at the strip last summer!
Just kidding (about the wheelstand). I think my 120 MIG has met it's match with my frame. I need to empty the change jar and find a 240.

 

Ive bent tests from 3/8 plate and passed with a lincoln 120. should be enough for these frames. are you getting any preheat before welding? I don't want to question your technique, but mayhaps the weld was cold. What I plan on doing(probally wont ever happen) is find the same frame as mine at a scrap yard, cut it up, and box it up old toyota style.

 

Maybe v it out with 110 welder useing flux or solid

 

Preheating with a rosebud, but I welcome advice. I'm using an argon/co2 mix with solid wire, and trying to get good v grinds in there beforehand. But that's all in a perfect world!
I just need to box whole thing!!!!

 

You have to make sure you have a good 20amp sevice to 110 welder and big cord if goin out any distance preheat prob just warp the steel

 

That actually could be the majority of the issue. My extension cord is looking pretty humble.

 

Ya you need good power goin in and o30wire works well

 

do you have pictures of the breaks?

 

I'll take some.

 

I had one crack in the crumple zone which is in the dip on the top part of the channel section near the front of the steering box. The older Dodges had a vertical reinforcement in this same area. Another re-engineered Dodge failure to meet government safety specs.