HomeBrew

Hi all,

Has anybody had success straightening the frame rail without heat? I'm curious as to how you did it if so. Please don't give me the replies about a chain and a tree, I've seen all the YouTube videos. The body shop is giving me a fairly reasonable quote but I would like to do it myself if possible and save the cash.

Thanks

TwinTurboFx4

Need pics to see what your doing.

HomeBrew

Near the core support, bumper was crushed and bent it inboard.

HomeBrew

Another angle but maybe too far away

TwinTurboFx4

First off, why don't you want to use heat? If it was me i would just cut half of the frame where it's bent then bent it straight then weld it back up and then weld a front crossmember.

sylver91

I did a similar job like this on a Toyota Tundra. Guy wanted to have it fixed on the cheap instead of us cutting and welding a new section in. Used a bit of heat and used a farm jack to bend it out. Tack welded in 2 45deg pieces of 1/8" steel as a brace to keep them lined up and reinstalled the bumper.

HomeBrew

I didn't want use heat because I was thinking it would ruin what ever heat treatment had been done on the metal and it would be weak and brittle in that spot. If that is not the case then I'm not opposed to heating it.

djfllmn

iTrader: (1)

yea you dont want to use heat on a frame....id just take it to the shop and let them use the frame rack to straighten it

TheCollector

thats the best thing to do, This might sound strange but some Police garages in bigger citys might actually have a frame puller you could try your local PD and see if they would be nice and let you use there's only reason why i know that is because Portland's got one they go out crash them straighten the frame fix the body and off they go again. might be a long shot but could be cheaper.

Scraptor

It'll be worse to rebend cold, that will work harden the metal, heating it will allow you to bend it easier. It was never heat treated, the frame is mild steel. If you have to heat it heat it only as much as necessary and let it cool slow and there should be no problems.