OT Bent truck frame

Mark FL · Jul 21, 2008

I'm looking at a 1967 Ford F250 to restore. The front of the truck was side swiped in an intersection and the two frame rails from the motor cradle forward are bent at a 45% angle. How difficult would it be to straighten those? The owner was in the process of restoring it and has two innerfenderwells and a radiator for it. He wants little more than junk value. The 300 six cylinder runs ok. It has the four on the floor with creeper low. He has an uncle who works in a body shop who measured the frame in several places from the motor back and says it is ok. Is an F100 frame the same as an F250 frame? I could possibly switch them out. I like the truck because we had a 1967 similar to it in my younger days. The inside of the cab is in great shape. Has the usual rust in the floor boards, cab mounts etc. I would need a different hood, fenders, grill, front cross member for the radiator to mount to and a few other parts. The bed is in ok shape with some bondo and rust in places. The 1967's through 1972 share the same body.

Roy in georgia · Jul 21, 2008

the only difference is the suspension for that body style so I would replace the frame if I wanted it to be safe. Frame horns where the bumper bolts are one thing but that close to the front suspension is no mans land as far as I'm concerned. Slightly tweaked would be ok but bent at a 45 good gosh.

MN Scott · Jul 21, 2008

Take it to a good body shop and get an estimate. Estimates are usally free and they will know if it is possiable or safe to straighten. If it can be straightened I bet it will take a frame rack to get it right.

jb4020 · Jul 21, 2008

the frame on the f250 is different than on the f100"s. It is heavier. Also the frame is different on the 4x4"s at least on the 100"s anyway.

Roy in georgia · Jul 21, 2008

I will go back and look but he is talking about a 60s truck they made them all heavy back then and now with the lighter steel (thinner) they have to box them to make them strong

jb4020 · Jul 21, 2008

if its a 67-72 then the frame is heavier. i have a 71 100. Lots of info on the fordification forums.

Roy in georgia · Jul 21, 2008

when you say the frame is heavier do you mean between the 1/2 and 3/4 ton or just compared to the newer standards 72 and above the only difference I have came across is in the 4x4 stuff that required more support to accommodate the front axle. Keep in mind I am only speaking from my own experiences not by any means a professional or know it all type. If you teach me something on this I will be glad to have participated in this discussion. I understand the suspension components are heavier on the 3/4 I am only speaking on the frame in these trucks. Thanks for any correct info you can point us to so we can help him fix it right. I still think he should replace the frame bent that bad I bet it is twisted is some way that only a alignment shop can pull measurements to see. When I worked at a body shop we would get trucks in that were barely hurt but the frame took several hours on the rack to get them corrected, then we sent them for a 4 wheel alignment to check that they were not (in a term we used dog walking) my brother-in-law used to say "that thing had the dog walking he11 knocked out of it"

Goose · Jul 21, 2008

Go to a body shop that has a frame rack, get a professional opinion and an estimate.

It's that simple.

chvet73 · Jul 21, 2008

Find an old fashioned frame shop. They don't charge for estimates either. The modern day body shop will not be able to properly straighten a 3/4 ton truck frame correctly. It is the only way you can be assured of having the finished job correct.

71ford100 · Jul 22, 2008

Go to Fordification.com its a site for 67-72 to ford trucks I go by the same name over there. As previously stated the 100 frames are different from the 250's as far as thickness.

Mark FL · Jul 22, 2008

It's bent at least 30 degrees and the horizontal part of trhe frame is stretched. The truck got hit pretty hard. When looking down the valve cover to the firewall, the fire wall is moved to the driver side about an inch and a half. The back of he cab by the bed is moved over toward the passenger side about an inch and a half. I don't think I'll buy the truck unless I can find another frame. This is all new to me but the truck looks fairly simple to dissasemble and put back together, I hope. I've never done body work before but will learn that too if I buy it.

rustyfarmall · Jul 22, 2008

Don't know where you are, but I've got a complete '68 F250 that I would sell for scrap price. I'm in southwest Iowa.

El Toro · Jul 22, 2008

I would do what Goose recommended on straightening
the frame. Check with a body shop that does that
and have them take a look at it. Hal

dhermesc · Jul 22, 2008

If its bent that far you need to find a new frame. You bend that old metal 45 degress then bend it back 45 degrees along with a few twists it will never be as strong as it was and most likely will never hold position. If you do a good job on it a year later you'll be wondering why you body seams aren't lining up anymore and your alignment keeps needing to be adjusted.

If you're doing a complete restoration it will be cheaper to buy another parts truck and use the frame off of it.

glennster · Jul 22, 2008

the older frames were mild steel, fairly easy to repair with the proper equipment and measuring systems. we have 2 chief ez liners here at my shop to repair frames, both conventional and unitized construction. like the other guys said, seek out a shop that can do the work, and have them measure it and give you a quote. from your description, the frame has quite a bit of sidesway to it. probably also sag and mash. take a walk around the back of the truck, measure the back bumper gap to the bed, rough measure, use your fingers. if they are equal distant on either side of the back bumper, chances are it does not have a diamond in it. even if, it is not that difficult to pull back straight. i'd have to hunt around thru my books for the frame specs for that one.

Walt Davies · Jul 22, 2008

1967 junk it out save motor and tranny and look for another truck to put them in. You will spend thousands on it and never have a good running truck.
Walt

Walt Davies · Jul 22, 2008

1967 junk it out save motor and tranny and look for another truck to put them in. You will spend thousands on it and never have a good running truck.
Walt

02XLT4X4 · Jul 22, 2008

(quoted from post at 09:08:06 07/22/08) 1967 junk it out save motor and tranny and look for another truck to put them in. You will spend thousands on it and never have a good running truck.
Walt

It would run just as good as whatever he would put the motor in.

Brian Jasper co. Ia · Jul 22, 2008

45 degree bend? It's a parts truck.

Mark FL · Jul 22, 2008

I'm going to try to find an F250 parts truck. I'm in north Florida. If anyone has one within a few hundred miles, let me know. It's a two wheel drive. A 1967 through 1972 are the same. I found a half-ton here on the phone, but would prefer not to go that route. Thanks for the replies.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 23, 2008

I have an original 72 f250 4wd that I would sell it has never been wrecked but has been used around the farm. It is not scared of hard work. It too is a 4 speed granny but it has a 390cid in it with a fresh top end over haul. email is open

OT Bent truck frame

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