CROSS MEMBER FRAME BROKEN

[boloboss]

What's up guys???
The suspension shop brought to my attention that I had a hairline fracture on my crossmember frame near my gearbox. I have been noticing a light popping sound when I come to complete stop and also when I make a hard cut to the left which is the side where the hairline fracture is. A buddy of mine advised me to install a steering box reinforcement frame plate kit when I weld the frame.
What is y'all's advice about this and what it caused the steering to make a screeching sound when I cut the wheel to the right????

 

[RanchWelder]

The frame plate fix is cool, man.

 

[bucket]

What's up guys???
The suspension shop brought to my attention that I had a hairline fracture on my crossmember frame near my gearbox. I have been noticing a light popping sound when I come to complete stop and also when I make a hard cut to the left which is the side where the hairline fracture is. A buddy of mine advised me to install a steering box reinforcement frame plate kit when I weld the frame.
What is y'all's advice about this and what it caused the steering to make a screeching sound when I cut the wheel to the right????

Just one crack in the crossmember? I'd simply weld it up. But usually when they crack, its a few cracks and a couple busted rivets. ORD makes a really nice engine crossmember to replace it. You can get them for small block, big block and with factory style engine mount provisions or their HD engine mounts.

 

[Ricko1966]

Just one crack in the crossmember? I'd simply weld it up. But usually when they crack, its a few cracks and a couple busted rivets. ORD makes a really nice engine crossmember to replace it. You can get them for small block, big block and with factory style engine mount provisions or their HD engine mounts.

He's talking steering gear box,not transmission crossmember. Threw me for a loop first time I read it also. Drill holes at the ends of the cracks,weld the cracks,install a reinforcement.

 

[ali_c20]

After welding the cracks ORD reinforcement plate and steering box brace.

https://www.offroaddesign.com/steering/steering-box-braces-frame-repair.html

 

[SquareRoot]

Removing the engine will make the job a lot easier. Replacing it with an LS will make it a lot more satisfying.

 

[nvrenuf]

He's talking steering gear box,not transmission crossmember. Threw me for a loop first time I read it also. Drill holes at the ends of the cracks,weld the cracks,install a reinforcement.

@Ricko1966 @bucket is talking about the engine crossmember, cracks at the outboard end are semi common. In fact, they happened enough that GM rivoted a small reinforcement plate on the driver’s side end on 81+ frames.

The ORD engine crossmember is a really nice part if the OP wants to replace the original.

 

[Ricko1966]

@Ricko1966 @bucket is talking about the engine crossmember, cracks at the outboard end are semi common. In fact, they happened enough that GM rivoted a small reinforcement plate on the driver’s side end on 81+ frames.

The ORD engine crossmember is a really nice part if the OP wants to replace the

Got it! Thanks. @bucket even posted engine crossmember,don't know where my brain was.