Frame question

[Fran]

1986 K15
From the front crossmember forward the top of the rail looks
splayed. I would assume that rails should be vertical but both sides
look to be off the same amount from vertical. Does not appear to be any damage
to the frame rail.
Is that normal?

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[Keith Seymore]

Those should be vertical.

Looks bent to hell to me.

K

 

[nvrenuf]

I’ve seen worse but it definitely looks bent. If it’s all in front of that crossmember you could carefully squeeze it back with hi Lift and put a good bumper on it.

 

[Frankenchevy]

...or maybe a come along hooked in the core support perches with a 4x4 block wedged in just behind the crooked section to keep it from pulling the whole thing together.

 

[chengny]

Looks like the bottom flanges are still correctly spaced, while the top flanges are splayed outward. That indicates that the webs are twisted. To straighten the webs, you'll need to heat them up (a lot - till the steel is cherry red) and then apply a torsional force to the upper surface of the web:

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As John suggests, attempting to pull just the top flange over will likely shift the entire frame rail (along with the lower flanges) without eliminating the twist in the web.

Another thing you might want to try first is; pulling the top flanges together with a come-along (or chainfall, etc.) while keeping the bottom flanges from moving inward with the use of a piece of pipe between them. Something like this:

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Or it might be easiest just to find a local body shop with a frame puller.

 

[bucket]

The frame of my old '83 K5 looked similar to that, it was from a previous hit to the front end that nobody properly fixed. I got them straight with a High Lift jack and a BFH.

 

[Salty Crusty]

Bolt a 2x4 onto it with big washers and twist the bitch right back into shape. Don't heat it, it may leave a signature that says it's had major work, it'll move cold just fine.

 

[80BrownK10]

1986 K15
From the front crossmember forward the top of the rail looks
splayed. I would assume that rails should be vertical but both sides
look to be off the same amount from vertical. Does not appear to be any damage
to the frame rail.
Is that normal?

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I'm with Keith. That trucks been in an accident!

 

[Fran]

Thanks for the info. I'll do some more checking of the frame. Then address those frame ends.

 

[RecklessWOT]

What in the world is a k15? Is it a cross between a k5 blazer and a k10 pickup or something?

 

[Turbo4whl]

What in the world is a k15? Is it a cross between a k5 blazer and a k10 pickup or something?

K15 = GMC, same as a K10 Chevy

 

[RecklessWOT]

K15 = GMC, same as a K10 Chevy

Aah, never knew. Thought it might be a man-made creation lol. Only GMCs I have experience with were my dad's old 75 Jimmy and the 87 V10 longbed I used to have

 

[FireTruck1984]

What in the world is a k15? Is it a cross between a k5 blazer and a k10 pickup or something?

K15 Is the GMC version of the Chevy K10

 

[RecklessWOT]

K15 Is the GMC version of the Chevy K10

Hah, not sure how I never knew that. Spent most of my time around Chevys I guess. See that, you really do learn something new every day lol

 

[Turbo4whl]

Aah, never knew. Thought it might be a man-made creation lol. Only GMCs I have experience with were my dad's old 75 Jimmy and the 87 V10 longbed I used to have

Kevin, for your viewing pleasure:

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