Yes Zoo its modified. What is your objective? How do you intend to use Large Marge when she is finished?
Mr Lang: same question. How do you use/plan to use yours?
Grigg, my frame is the same as what was used under a 4100 with a 14,000 GVW. Its dimentions are 7 x 2-3/4 x 7/32.
Your frame, rated to 16,000, is 8-7/8 x 2-7/8 x 1/4.
There is no question your 2-ton is made of stouter stuff. Since I have a couple of 2-tons and even a 2-1/2 ton GMC, I thought about starting with heavier stuff.
But as I researched this I concluded that every pound of truck is a pound I can't haul or pull and the trick is to get the balance right. You'll be hauling more weight empty than I will, but as you say, will be able to haul/pull bigger loads. By limiting my trailer to under 10,000 I think I'm okay with the 1-ton frame.
Regarding crossmembers... Yesterday I removed the bellhousing crossmember from a 1-ton frame I've been cutting up to use for brackets. This crossmember is designed with eight rivets, four through the bottom of the frame, and four through the sides of the frame.
Three of the four tabs on the crossmember where it is riveted to the frame sides had broken off from the crossmember. They were rusty enough it had to have happened some time ago. I was never planning to use this crossmember, but it sure gave me pause to consider how I'm going to ensure my 500 Cadillac doesn't break my transmission crossmember. I pulled a 216 out of the frame with the broken crossmember.
So yes, a stout crossmember is part of my plan. Current thinking is adapting the transmission crossmember from a big block 3/4-ton pickup. I have that in my scrap pile and it looks adequate.
There is a local guy with a 350 Chevy/TH400 in his '51 Chevy 1-ton dump that has a hot rod tubular transmission crossmember in his. Everytime I look at that I cringe.
Whle we seem to make different decisions on every project I find your ideas instructive and appreaicate your input.
