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Bent Frame. Suggestions???

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bigjohn1139
1/17/2008 10:42:10 AM
Kyle, if this needs to be moved to another area please do.
 
I could not find the proper place to post this so here it goes:
 
This blazer was evidently in a minor accident involving the right front and I am in the process of restoring it.  I am currently replacing the core support.  I ran accross a problem.  The passengers side front bumper bracket along with the frame is bent about 10 degrees to the left while looking at it and around 3 degrees up.  The bend is 10" back from the front of the frame. I really need to straighten it out in order to have everything to line up properly. 
 
I could possibly cut the frame off behind the bent section and get one from the j-yard to weld back on but would that cause strength issues?
 
Does anyone have any ideas on how to straighten the frame? 
 
Thanks,  
swartlkk
1/17/2008 11:57:12 AM
That doesn't sound like too bad of a bend in the autobody.  Any frame shop should have no problem straightening that for you, especially if you were to just drop the truck off to them without the front sheetmetal attached.  They will also have the factory reference information for the different points of the frame to go by.
ATP
1/17/2008 12:39:27 PM
Mine has the same bend if I am not mistaken, a light impact to the front bumper bent it back and upwards a little bit making my bumper crooked and whatnot.

You guys think heating up the bracket that the bumper mounts to (the bent part of the frame) and realligning it would be a bad idea?

Sorry to hijack your thread a little, but I figure we're nearly in the same boat here.
HeyYou
1/17/2008 12:47:31 PM
Do not cut and weld the frame, take it to a body shop that has a frame machine, and have it straightened. Best, most cost effective fix. Heating it, and bendng it, will weaken the metal, so, the next collision will do even MORE damage.
thegr81
1/17/2008 5:10:29 PM
I would drop it off at a shop to straighten it out for you, my other suggestion would be to just get another frame and swap them out but its not that bad to where you need to do that!!!
bigjohn1139
1/17/2008 5:26:23 PM
Thanks for the replies guys.  I will chew on it for a while and then see if its worth the trouble.  I may try some bending techniques without heat to see if i can straighten it any before I take it to the shop. It may be possible for me relocate the bumper bracket to offset the bend in the frame.  The bend is not too severe. 
 
Thanks again,
2002XTREME
1/17/2008 5:31:38 PM
Do what everyone else is saying , Do it correct and safely go to an autobody shop that does Frame straightening !!!   And like Kyle said Autobody shops have the specs on where each point is spose to be...   Also Kyle is never wrong here so beleive him when he says sumthing!!!!!!  I think we should have Kyle move to a central place in NY state and be everyones blazer mechanic... I dont thing he`d mind.. LOL
bigjohn1139
1/18/2008 6:06:42 AM
Ok I was able to get it straightened out.  I had already took some measurements from a known good frame from the j-yard so I fabricated a brace to go just behind the bend between the frame rails and used a hydraulic porta-power to bend the rail back into location.  I have a friend that works at the body shop to come take a look at it since he has straightened many frames and after doing some measurement checks he said that it looks as good as he could do on the frame machine.  I guess some good ole ingenuity and the right equipment made all the difference in the world.
 
Thanks again to all of those that replied with helpful suggestions.
 
We all know what Kyle is capable of, he has already helped me tremendously.
My goal here is to restore this blazer with as little investment as possible using the knowledge and experence from the many gifted individuals from this forum.
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