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Post by slick1100 on Jan 10, 2007 18:23:09 GMT -5
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Hutch
Mall Crawler
Tractor Thrasher
Posts: 120
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Post by Hutch on Jan 10, 2007 19:31:39 GMT -5
Glad to see I'm not the only one who needs one of those Costco stools to look in the engine bay! How thick is the steering box support being added there?
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Hutch
Mall Crawler
Tractor Thrasher
Posts: 120
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Post by Hutch on Jan 10, 2007 23:28:17 GMT -5
The second gen Chevy blazers and trucks of the same years have a problem of the frame cracking in the steering location.The problem has many causes.Like the frames metal was stretched when it was stamped for the mounts>Chevy also had bad geometry in the steering <short steering arms>Big tires and hard wheeling cause problems too. .It is said that it is not a matter of if your frame will crack but when.This kit is called a frame reinforcement/repair kit.It sells for 65-80 to buy.Jc Whitney and off road designs sell them.Ord also sells a brace that joins the frame and the front cross member<triangulates the area for strength>.cost $120.The cross members are riveted in and work loose with age.It is a good idea to replace the rivets with bolts or weld it in as I had done.This Kit needs alot of welding and i was lucky to have help from Bob and his friend Tony.Otherwise this would have cost me some big money to have done. ;)I would have had to pay someone or finaly buy my own welder. I did do the the dis and reassembly. . Right on, Scouts have similar issues, though with the fully boxed frame, they may hold out a bit longer (I hope!) It's always great to have the " Bro Deal" to do work, I'm currently balancing what my time is worth Vs. paying others. Interesting balance. Nice work by the way. Hope to get out wheeling with you sometime.
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Post by rstep on Jan 11, 2007 7:24:40 GMT -5
It was a good kit to work with.The thickness on the plate is 1/8th.The real trick to the fix is stop drilling the crack in this case was close to 6" long then grooving it and welding it.Robert you did a great job having everything ready.And the grilled cheese sandwichs were good also for this project.
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Post by fnlrno on Jan 14, 2007 20:46:45 GMT -5
Again, as usual I was a day late and dollarshort. I installed one of these on my blazer a few years ago. What a difference!!! I'm sure you guys were aware of it but the cracks need to be fixed before it's installed. I didn't know this. I thought it was a fix all. Lucky for me I had stitch welded it on.
For what it's worth I could never get my bolts to stay tight so I put in longer bolts and installed nylon locknuts on the backside. It worked great!
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Post by rstep on Jan 15, 2007 8:28:17 GMT -5
Yes the frame was repaired before the plates went on.
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Post by Maw on Jan 15, 2007 22:24:26 GMT -5
Robert glad you guys made it home safely,we wondered why you didn't join us to eat... Amy thanks for the great pics...they are super
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Post by rstep on Jan 16, 2007 7:17:20 GMT -5
Robert was it just the bolts coming loose,that made the steering go?
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Post by rstep on Jan 17, 2007 9:04:03 GMT -5
Glad to hear the fix made you wheel harder,just have to watch those bolts.
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