How boned am I? Crooked frame...

Topics Last Day Last Week Tree View    Getting Started Formatting Troubleshooting Program Credits    New Messages Keyword Search Contact Moderators Edit Profile Administration
Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2014: How boned am I? Crooked frame...
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tony Barchock on Saturday, November 08, 2014 - 03:32 pm:

Well should I just get a new one? without getting too crazy I would say it is almost 2 inches out of square...


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Norman T. Kling on Saturday, November 08, 2014 - 03:36 pm:

Another one might also be crooked. If that is the right frame for your car, you might try straightening it. Nothing to lose, if you can't straighten it, you can still buy another.
Norm


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tony Barchock on Saturday, November 08, 2014 - 03:53 pm:

building a speedster so...


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ken Kopsky, Lytle TX on Saturday, November 08, 2014 - 04:09 pm:

It was probably from a wreck. It can be straightened but you will need to check all the rivets. Hard to believe it didn't shear a few. That's in the relaxed state so the initial flex was more. The frame rails should be straight and square to the front and rear cross members. The front and rear cross members MUST be parallel to each other or the car will run sideways. The rails should be straight across the top and measure 23" on the outside. This measurement should be the same all the way down the frame.

If you don't have the means, perhaps a better frame is in order.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Plank on Saturday, November 08, 2014 - 04:09 pm:

I think the solution is in that round object in the lower right corner of the picture. A few more of those and things will look a lot better.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Wayne Sheldon, Grass Valley, CA on Saturday, November 08, 2014 - 04:10 pm:

I've repaired worse. A one-ton come-along can pull it back to square (pull it about an inch or maybe more too far, then let it spring back). Watch out for broken rivets. They can shear from being tweaked that way (and may be already). Do a well balanced three point suspension to check how straight the rails and cross members lay naturally (basically how you show it sitting centered in the front).
The front cross member looks bent about three ways. It is probably too wide in the front. There are several ways to fix that. A heavy chain and a bottle jack seems to be the preferred method. Sometimes, heat is needed to shrink stretched metal? Sometimes not.
A couple hours could make that frame pretty good! (Except for replacing rivets if needed, that could take a bit longer). You want everything square within a quarter inch in all directions. But if you got another frame, unless it was a really nice one, you would probably have to do some work on it also.
Good luck! Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Richard Gould on Saturday, November 08, 2014 - 04:26 pm:

Personally, I'd opt for another one.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tony Barchock on Saturday, November 08, 2014 - 04:30 pm:

Dennis, that was a Vernors ;)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hap Tucker in Sumter SC on Saturday, November 08, 2014 - 05:01 pm:

Tony,

In Michigan, I would think you could find a much better 1914-1925 frame for your speedster. Not that the other one cannot be straightened -- but depending on how much time you have verses how much Model T spending money you have you may find one options better than the other. And of course you may want to straighten it "just because." I remember when I was visiting family in California one time. I had a flat on my 1931 Model A (my daily driver back then and we still have it). My Uncle encouraging me to take my 1931 Model A wheel to the full service gas station (they still had those back then) to fix the flat. I just pulled out the tire irons, replaced the inner tube with one that held air (we fixed the other one later) and then pumped it up with the hand pump I had been using since before I could remember. (And yes, I had a spare wheel/tire but I was going on a long trip so I wanted to keep my spare ready to go.)

For me it was therapeutic. But on our modern cars – they go to Walmart etc.

And of course most good body shops can straighten the frame.

If you want to do it yourself google/ask for good links: Two I just looked at are:

http://www.nwo-modelt.org/PDF/T-2013Apr.pdf

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/118802/123360.html (includes Brent’s heat and shrink recommendation) as well as other links

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/331880/359939.html?1367904024

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/331880/380707.html?1376439772

There is also an excellent article in the “How to Restore Your Model A Ford” on frame straightening. They are doing a 1928-31 Model A Ford but it is very similar. If you want which vol and page number drop me an e-mail with “Send Model A Frame Straightening reference” and I will look it up for you.

Good luck with your speedster project. They are a lot fun.

Respectfully submitted,

Hap l9l5 cut off


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Roger Karlsson, southern Sweden on Saturday, November 08, 2014 - 06:04 pm:

I've had the same problem, but in my case it wasn't the frame that was off, it was the rear spring.. It was deformed when I found it, so I tried to use it by bending each blade straighter and lower it at the same time. Turned out it was almost impossible to straighten in the direction it was twisted, so I had to find another spring to lower. So measure carefully to determine what exactly is twisted.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Huson, Berthoud, Co. on Saturday, November 08, 2014 - 06:07 pm:

Terry Barchec, I can't say what its like around your area but frames are cheap around here. believe it or not I bought 30 frames from a guy for $5.00 a frame. If you email me I can give you his name and address, maybe he has picked up some more. Most farm auctions around here have frames on the auction. They make excellent trailers because they are parallel and level. I wish I had a picture of my trailer with a load of 30 frames cross ways on a 16 foot trailer. I only had to haul them about two blocks so I got home without a ticket or a mess on the street. I did have to pay $50.00 for the light weight 26 frame for my Montana 500 racer from another guy. I still have about 10 frames left. If I get any frames in a pile of model T parts at a farm auction I don't bring them home unless they are 26 or early 13 and back.

frames


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Huson, Berthoud, Co. on Saturday, November 08, 2014 - 06:11 pm:

Terry Barchec, I can't say what its like around your area but frames are cheap around here. believe it or not I bought 30 frames from a guy for $5.00 a frame. If you email me I can give you his name and address, maybe he has picked up some more. Most farm auctions around here have frames on the auction. They make excellent trailers because they are parallel and level. I wish I had a picture of my trailer with a load of 30 frames cross ways on a 16 foot trailer. I only had to haul them about two blocks so I got home without a ticket or a mess on the street. I did have to pay $50.00 for the light weight 26 frame for my Montana 500 racer from another guy. I still have about 10 frames left. If I get any frames in a pile of model T parts at a farm auction I don't bring them home unless they are 26 or early 13 and back.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dave Huson, Berthoud, Co. on Saturday, November 08, 2014 - 06:19 pm:

Another thing that I see on a lot of the early farms are Model T frames used as cloths line poles. The old timers before driers used to stick two the back end of two model T frames in the ground. They would face them at each other about 60 feet or so apart. They would then string two strands of wire between the frames and the wives would then have a nice clothes line.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gary H. White - Sheridan, MI on Saturday, November 08, 2014 - 07:51 pm:

Tony, Is there any other?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Gary H. White - Sheridan, MI on Saturday, November 08, 2014 - 07:52 pm:

Ginger Ale that is.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By keith g barrier on Saturday, November 08, 2014 - 09:03 pm:

While it's stripped down take it to a good body shop with a frame jig, they should be able to pull that out post haste. KGB


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Dewey, N. California on Sunday, November 09, 2014 - 12:29 am:

Tony,
If you're classy enough to drink Venors (although in a can, the bottled stuff is better), you should have no problem fixin' that frame, but as has been noted, another frame may be quicker/easier!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Les VonNordheim on Sunday, November 09, 2014 - 01:18 am:

Tony, when I built my shop, had tie downs installed in the concrete floor. Have straightened several frames using a floor jack with the frame chained to the floor resting on jack stands. Also use a Come-a-long to square it up. Do not heat the frame as this will anneal the area heated. I bend it cold. The frame sags where the pan brackets bolt to the frame.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tony Barchock on Sunday, November 09, 2014 - 12:56 pm:

Thanks all for the advice. I think I will go new just to save some time and anquish, In case this one is too far gone.

So if anyone knows of one in the metro Detroit area let me know. And if anyone wants this to play with shoot me a message!

Thanks again!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By kep on Sunday, November 09, 2014 - 01:20 pm:

Mine is probably worse than that. Easy fix.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Burger in Spokane on Sunday, November 09, 2014 - 01:41 pm:

Easy fix/cheap fix. I think most T guys need to spend time with a 50's vintage car to get a better handle on how simple their T really is. :-)


Posting is currently disabled in this topic. Contact your discussion moderator for more information.
Topics Last Day Last Week Tree View    Getting Started Formatting Troubleshooting Program Credits    New Messages Keyword Search Contact Moderators Edit Profile Administration