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I just finished taking off the fenders and running boards off of my 1953 one ton and I noticed something that disturbs me. If you stand in front of the pickup and look at it head on the frame rail on the left seems to be bent outward (away from the center) while the one to my right seems to be straight ahead. It seems the bend starts where the front spring is attached. The frame is weaker at this point. It's like someone pulled with a chain at an angle and maybe a bumper bolt broke allowing a lateral force on this one side. First, should they both be straight ahead? Also would I harm the frame if I heat it to get back straight? Thanks---

Hy Funton, If I'm remembering correctly the frame tapers from front to rear, so the two rails should be pointed at one another a bit at the front, I couldn't find a frame dimension chart, hope that helps.

Thanks 3B maybe someone will respond that will have measurements. I would like to know if I should bend the metal cold or heated as I understand the metal is just mild steel.

Funton, I gave you the wrong link this one is for a 54 truck, closest I can find.

http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/shop/1954truck/54ctsm0202.html

Thanks darylbb63, I should be able to get some measurements and go from there. But if someone reading this knows that a 53 one ton and a 54 one ton have different dimensions please respond. Thanks--------

From what I can find, there seems to be an outside measurement of around 25". That seemd to be for 1949 to 52 and also 54. One is given as 25 5/32".

truckernix would you do me a favor please? The part bent on my one ton is the part from the front spring hanger to the bumper. Looking at it head on the horn, I'll call it, is bent away from the center a good inch. The right side however is straight ahead. The frame is still attached to the bumper. If corrected would the two horns be parallel or are they farther apart at the front or bumper end? I don't know if I need to move the left one in and the right one out a little or leave the right one alone. I need someone to look at a one ton and advise me. Thanks----

If your truck is a 1 Ton pickup, then the bumper support is a one piece bar that runs across behind the bumper. Where it attaches to the frame, there are small endcaps that are bolted on with the support. Those two surfaces are flat and straight across. If you want a measurement, I can do that shortly.

Thanks for responding truckernix , but what I need is to know if you were looking at the frame from above do the two horns remain parallel with each other or do they converge or diverge as you go forward. A drawing that I have leads me to believe they are parallel. I'm calling the main frame ahead of the front spring hanger a horn. Thanks---