The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Bent Rear Crossmember on a 1949 Chevy 3600

I have a bent cross member the one at the rear. Someone tried to wrap a chain around it and pull something it appears. P.O. also swiss cheesed it trying to mount things. I was thinking I know a guy who has a scrap car he uses to repair and patch other projects. Instead of dropping $300 at speedway motors for a new cross member, what do you all think about using an old section of frame as a new crossmember? Would I be better off fabing my own from square or rectangular tube?

Reply posted by Brian Wise on a previous post
“Your bent rear crossmember, I'm guessing, is the one shown in the attached photo (my frame)? If mine were damaged like you say yours is, I would opt to fabricate a new one out of C-channel. I personally would not use box tubing because if you wanted to bolt anything to it from above, you'd have to drill all the way through the top and bottom of the tubing in order to get a nut on the bolt. But, that choice depends on what you plan to do with the bed, and how you want to use the truck, etc.. One thing I would recommend, though, is whatever material you use, you need to be sure to gusset both ends like the old one was done. The gussets are there for strength and to help keep the frame square. Just my two cents worth.”

Brian Wise your attached picture (below) is exactly the cross member I'm talking about. It was so swiss cheese the PO added a small angle iron to mount the plate. Truck has flat bed that's in rough shape and no rear bumper. I was planning on using the gussets off the original however finding C-channel that's the right size is rough which is why I thought what about a piece of frame from a scrap truck? Figured the channel is the same size.

[b]Reply posted by “moparguy” previously in another thread[/]Don't take the following comments wrong, obviously it's your truck and your journey to take with it. That said, a couple questions, why remove rivets? They do a fine job as designed. And second, why box the frame, again it's well designed and boxing can/will cause problems with cracks at the boxed locations.”

-Moparguy my thinking is I'm doing a frame restoration and noticed rust between a few of the pieces riveted together. When this is done I don't ever want to have to touch it in my lifetime again. So break it down to 2 pieces of frame rail and layout one coat of por-15 assemble frame and crossmembers and apply second coat and finish with the top coat.

Mrwad3 These frames are made of a-36 frame steel(tough and strechy) wouldn't use mild steel to repair. Find a shop that can bend you up a crossmemberask the alignment shop where it is. Also would leave the rivited structure alone,its why your truck can flex and cross ditches and stay in one unit...for years. Good find !! That other frame would work good too !

You could always post a thread in the parts wanted forum in the Swap Meet for the crossmember, many times Stovebolter's are parting out another truck.