The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Tons 'o Fun Steering mast mount, stress crack repair

Just laid down a coat of primer over the mounting holes repair and stress cracks that I've been working on.
Before----
http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums...a-4f28-b542-5f8b493913c5_zpsivgkjdz7.jpg

After---
http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums...n/Dash%20repair/IMG_3229_zps9tjtfs5b.jpg

I had a old ash tray from a box of odd parts that I cut apart and used for patches. For my first welding try with a wire mig ( no gas ) I think it didn't turn out to bad. I definitely learned alot about taking my time as well as the difficulty planishing, but nothing that body filler and patience grinding and sanding didn't take care of.
Now on to sanding the interior and painting the much contested and discussed interior sheen grey colour.

Nice repair job. Time for a cold Pepsi.

...not sure about the gauge of the ash tray vs the original mast metal so it may be a good idea to use a nice fat washer as big as you can to help spread the stress around. Not saying you did a bad welding job just trying to make sure you don't have to do it again!!

Thanks
As far as I could tell the gauge of the patch (as compared to the metal on the underside of the dash) was as close as any cold plate steel I could buy at the local hardware store . 4 nice oversize washers already sourced to fit on either side of the dash thanks to Deve for that suggestion.

Hey Doyle, I read your post and looked at the pictures and I have to ask about that stress crack: I've looked at a lot of AD trucks over the years and must admit that I've never seen metal fatigue like that in that area? Was there some underlying reason for that crack? Anyone else had that happen? Is this something us other Bolters can expect on our trucks as they accumulate more miles? Just wondering....anyone else have any input?
Thanks, Dave

Looks like the result of an accident?

I've seen it before. One reason is bad front cab mounts and or rusted away floor at the cab mounts. The column is more or less ridged and the cab is fixed to it, so if mounts aren't doing their part it gets ugly where bolted to the dash.

One of my trucks has pretty bad cracks there but nothing missing, and the floor is perfect with mounts in place. Could be it was on some pretty rough roads and very little give in 2 ton springs? It is also a 48 with one center rear cab mount, this may allow more cab movement than necessary and stress on the dash/column clamp?

If the truck was in a accident I can't find any evidence of it, my guess is a frozen cow pie or gopher/ pot hole in the frozen Saskatchewan fields.
Cab mounts are good not rusted away.

The dash brace above the steering mast was broken at the firewall it's been rewelded.
http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums...n/Dash%20repair/IMG_3020_zpsmz9jnclo.jpg

When I removed the steering mast and box I discovered the lower bearing was also damaged. New bearings have been purchased ready to install.
http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums...0mast%20rebuild/IMG_3178_zpsvkmdqqgx.jpg

Right side front spring hanger has a farmer weld repair on the pin bushing no grease nipple. ( I've replaced the bracket and bushing)

The spare tire rim also showed some damage and repair to it ie: being beat on with a hammer to straighten the bead.

Grigg, good explanation....makes perfect sense that if the cab mounts are collapsed or the floor is rusted out that there would be a lot of stress from the steering box/column up against the underside of the dash. Or the stiff suspension coupled with the ravages of time, rough roads, or sudden impact could take its toll too. Doyle, great pictures and detail....sounds like you're covering all the bases. With all that being said, I'm thinking it might be wise to be proactive and occasionally loosen up the bolts that secure the steering column to the underside of the dash and check for stress and/or then jack up on the cab to investigate the mounting points? I'd hate to have to make that body repair like you did, Doyle.....looks like it was a butt load of work....good job!

I know there is a rubber gasket on at least the bottom. It may help to have one all the way around to help "cushion/dampen" any vibration.....just a suggestion.

In my opinion this type of stress crack is very common in the ADs. All the trucks I've owned have had the column mount cracks under the gauges. I think the suggestions given above are plausible reasons for the stresses. It does surprise me Dave that you have been fortunate enough to get trucks that dont have this damage. Maybe these rusty Canadian trucks I'm getting are the problem

I have owned several 1947-55st GM trucks (most were 1/2 ton trucks) and none have had damage like that (or, any damage in that location).

Maybe it is a Canadian thing?
Maybe you work your trucks harder (in colder weather)?

The original rubber cushion does wrap all the way around.
Part link

I had the exact situation on my truck. If you look at the angle the steering column is on and think of the cab moving as the mounts start to fail, that area takes a huge beating. They were still a great design!

Well, let me make an observation then....you guys with the Big Bolts (Grigg, Fox, Doyle, Truckernix) have seen this problem, while us guys with the light duty trucks haven't....still something to think about though if your cab mounts are shot.

My 1954/55 GMC 2-ton COE has an incredibly heavy-duty spring-loaded thick-steel 2-piece "collar" to hold the long COE steering column to the dash.

Photo 1
Photo 2

I have owned several 1947-55st GM trucks (most were 1/2 ton trucks) and none have had damage like that (or, any damage in that location).

Maybe it is a Canadian thing?
Maybe you work your trucks harder (in colder weather)? [/quote]

Don't know about working harder, although a frozen wind swept South Saskatchewan field in winter could be debated to be pretty uninhabitable.

I saw one half ton with minor crack but that is the only one. Maybe we need to add that to one of the things to check when purchasing an AD truck....to get the price lower!

.....The stress may have been from BIG FOOT pulling on the steering wheel as he climbed in the cab.....

Ya gotta remember, these trucks were tough as nails and were used hard. My 3800 has those cracks and I know exactly how they got there. When I got the truck, the rubber around the column was entirely missing and the rattling drove me nuts. So I cut several layers of inner tube and clamped the steering column down tight. Then coming out of the woods one day, over very rough ground, loaded high, wide and heavy with wet shake bolts, I hear a loud pop from the dashboard and the rest, as they say is history.

I'd beefed up the front springs with an extra leaf and the heaves in the ground were beyond the limit of the suspension travel. The rear was right down on the rubber pads, so the frame twisting was all the suspension left. So, the dashboard couldn't stand the strain. Years later, neither could I so I took the extra leaves out of the front springs and added shocks to the rear. Vast improvement. The cracks are still there.

My 50 suburban had stress cracks on the lower front dash above and blow the steering column and to the bottom of the gauges. All welded and ground down now. Hopefully - the repair will last - including large holes as pictured in the first post.

My 1 Ton had the cracks on the bottom of the dash too. My cab mounting area was shot too so I would think this is pretty typical.