With the front crossmember installed it was time to box the frame near the crossmember. The kit came with some pre-cut box plates but they needed a little massaging since the box plates were trimmed to fit.
The kit also required a c-notch in the forward portion of the frame to clear the rack and pinion. With the crossmember raised relative to the frame I was concerned that the c-notch provided would not be deep enough but after checking it 3 or 4 times it fit using the provided C-notch closeouts. I also noticed that crossmember was transitioning into the frame in a way that I didn't really care for. I have always followed the rule “if in doubt, make it stout”.....so I decided to fab some internal gussets within the boxed frame to align with the crossmember walls. I had some 3/16” thick plate that I made these full depth gussets/braces out of and installed them prior to welding on the boxing plates. I then drilled some holes in the boxing plates aligned with the edge of the gussets so I could plugweld the boxing plate and gussets together along the boxed out edge of the internal gussets.
Next I sprayed the inside with weld-thru primer, welded the boxing plates totally and sanded/ground down the welds and primered the installation.
1949 Chevy Panel Truck A Project Journal I'm old but I make up for it by being immature.
