In the process of replacing my steering box I realized my frame is cracked.The crack is in a tight spot (attached is a picture). Could anyone offer some opinions on how to go about this?

I think I should drill a hole at the end of the crack, v grove it and weld but as you'll see in the picturee there are 3 "ends"and I can't really get to two of the ends.

Unfortunately , I need to get this done by saterday, so It probably won't be perfect. I would just like to prevent any further cracking as best as possible.

Thanks

 

Can I assume that you have some welding experience ? but are not a professional welder ?


If it was me, and I like to tinker around with welding whenever possible, I would bring in a professional who does welding on truck frames. Not to say you cannot do it, but from what I gather these truck frames are of a special metal which shouldn't be "overheated"... Low carbon, or whatever it is, I'm not familiar with.

I'd just be concerned of causing more damage by not knowing exactly how to proceed, or understanding metallurgy like a professional welder would. Others will say.... ahh, just weld it and be done with it, but I'd want to hear exactly what someone who does that work for a living would do. I'm a contractor, and I can install oak handrail down a winding stair..... If I spent enough time doing it, but for me I'd hire a handrail / stair builder to do it for me so that all of his years of expertise produced the high quality product that would outlast anything that I could do.

 

Wow thats a bad one.
Whatever you do, make sure you use either the brace from dodgeconnection.com or the brace "jungle" makes on ramchargercentral.com.
Those cracks definitely need some help

 

Mine looked like that. Clean the heck out of it, weld it and get a brace. I used jungles

 

Guys, you have a link to the brace made by jungle? I've seen the one dodgeconnection has but not jungles.

 

I couldn't find it either.

 

http://ramchargercentral.com/fabrica...rame-supports/

 

I've been welding for a few years and my brother has his degree in welding and has been doing it much longer than I. We both agree that a 30 degree groove on the cracks and a 6010 rod followed by a 7018 would clean that up nice.

I like the dodge connections brace, heavy heavy steel and the arm stops my redhead gear from twisting he frame. I had some serious twist going on but that brace killed it. The arm aid as well but the thick steel and longer bolts do the job, same as jungles.

 

That's a fun one...

The only experience I have with cracked frames is a 1994 Kenworth that broke right behind the d.s. front spring hangar. In that case we welded up the cracks, plated it, put some bolts through it and then welded it. It held for several years until we retired the truck.

 

I would say Mig would work just fine also just clean it up really well also while you have it all apart think about cross over steering you will really love your truck when you go that direction .Best thing I did too mine .

 

I'm too lazy to switch the Miller over from TIG to MIG so I'd just dig them cracks out a little with a carbide burr and the die grinder and lay a nice bead in there of ER70 S2 wire with an argon back gas.
If it was a nice flush weld, you wouldn't even have to grind. Just cool and paint.

 

Thanks guys, all I have access to is a MIG so thats what its gonna be. Now if I could just find someplace to get a burr from who doesn't charge liek 10x retail (grainger).

 

A Dodge frame is actually HIGH CARBON steel, the only thing worse to weld is spring steel.

I don't think it can be done to where it won't crack again.
Radiating cracks are the worst to fix, plus you can't really FIX the original cause, which was the frame flexing, due to the weight.

I'd do nothing less than have someone who KNOWS how to weld those types of frames, plus re-inforce it.
The box brace would have helped PRIOR to it cracking, but now it would only be a part of the attempt to fix what is now wrong.
The BEST way, if you want it to last another 20 years with that heavy Cummins, would be to professionally fix it, re-inforce it and switch to the pre-1981 style box.

JMO, of course.

Mark.

 

Well I got a good grove ground in the crack and am going to weld it. wish me luck.

This is my only transportation and the cost of getting it to a "professional" (I used quotes because everytime I've paid a shop to do something I usually end up redoing it myself to get it done right)would probably be more than I paid for the truck.

It needs done before sunday so, I just have to do what I can.

 

First off, I am not a "certified" welder, but was taught by my A&E trained Father.

Take my suggestion with a grain of salt, but realize I would stake my life on what I say, because I would fix it the way I say.

You have more than 3 ends there, I can see at least 4, and the crack appears to go across the top of the frame rail for a 5th end. I do believe Mark when he says they are high carbon based upon drilling a few of them.

I would drill ends the best I could find, V it out and use a product from Harris called Super Missileweld.

http://www.harrisproductsgroup.com/e...ssileweld.aspx

Done correctly, I would have zero problem trusting my life with it.