Frame rot

[Dlefler]

This is my 84 k10 frame I'm in the rust belt of Illinois took the bed on and the frame looks pretty rough. Im guessing the frame rail is not supposed to be bent like this? I was thinking about having it fixed but not sure. The leaf spring hangers are rotted as well as the frame around and behind them.

 

[Snoots]

In pic 2, the frame has rusted like filo pastry. Some slight bending can be fixed but overall I can't offer anything that would be of use to you. In a nutshell you've got one heck of a job ahead of you.

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[Snoots]

Please don't take me as doom and gloom.
There are other folks at GMSB that are wizards with metal and frames. I am not one and I feel they can offer better.

 

[Dlefler]

Please don't take me as doom and gloom.
There are other folks at GMSB that are wizards with metal and frames. I am not one and I feel they can offer better.

Please don't take me as doom and gloom.
There are other folks at GMSB that are wizards with metal and frames. I am not one and I feel they can offer better.

No problem i am new to all this and I'm just trying to get this truck somewhat solid to drive on the weekends or to work once in a while. I really think it's very cool how people can build these trucks I have a ton of stuff to learn but Im determined.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

In my honest opinion I would ditch that frame. You can see it's eaten away basically the whole frame, also once you get all of that scale off you won't have much metal left.
Im not even sure what's going on in front of that spring hanger lol

 

[Dlefler]

In my honest opinion I would ditch that frame. You can see it's eaten away basically the whole frame, also once you get all of that scale off you won't have much metal left.
Im not even sure what's going on in front of that spring hanger lol

What year frames would work for the 84 body style?

 

[PrairieDrifter]

What year frames would work for the 84 body style?

81-87 will be the best match. You can make the earlier frames work as well, just some body mount modification from what we've been seeing lately, some other small stuff I'm sure. Keep your transmission/transfer case crossmember just in case and whatever else you can thats still any good.

 

[FireTruck1984]

Well Doug, (in my best bedside manner voice) “Your frame has lived a long life of service and is now just moments from death. I suggest you gather the family and a Priest and prepare for the inevitable”.

Try to find another frame, Preferably one from the south.

 

[RecklessWOT]

If restoring the truck, unfortunately that frame pretty much has to go. You could get away with patching or at least reinforcing some of the weakest areas, but it all looks pretty thin from what I can see, though I'm sure some parts are not nearly as bad as others. Especially when it gets "flaky" looking like that, those parts are just pure rust scale, all the grinding in the world wouldn't turn up shiny metal.

With that being said, that frame is by far not the worst I've seen (or driven around with). If you're currently driving the truck it's not like you have to park it immediately and find another frame ASAP, that one will hold together a while longer. It's got the cancer for sure, but it's not on its deathbed yet. I'm not saying "don't worry about it, the thing is fine" because it's not, but I'm also saying it could be much much worse. If you were to put the bed back on it and drive around once in a while it wouldn't just break in half tomorrow, but I would personally start looking for another frame eventually if I was serious about keeping that truck on the road. For now keep it clean, maybe oil it, don't take it over any jumps lol. You still got a little time to find a new frame.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

If restoring the truck, unfortunately that frame pretty much has to go. You could get away with patching or at least reinforcing some of the weakest areas, but it all looks pretty thin from what I can see, though I'm sure some parts are not nearly as bad as others. Especially when it gets "flaky" looking like that, those parts are just pure rust scale, all the grinding in the world wouldn't turn up shiny metal.

With that being said, that frame is by far not the worst I've seen (or driven around with). If you're currently driving the truck it's not like you have to park it immediately and find another frame ASAP, that one will hold together a while longer. It's got the cancer for sure, but it's not on its deathbed yet. I'm not saying "don't worry about it, the thing is fine" because it's not, but I'm also saying it could be much much worse. If you were to put the bed back on it and drive around once in a while it wouldn't just break in half tomorrow, but I would personally start looking for another frame eventually if I was serious about keeping that truck on the road. For now keep it clean, maybe oil it, don't take it over any jumps lol. You still got a little time to find a new frame.

Agreed. Don't haul anything heavy either lol.

 

[Dlefler]

If restoring the truck, unfortunately that frame pretty much has to go. You could get away with patching or at least reinforcing some of the weakest areas, but it all looks pretty thin from what I can see, though I'm sure some parts are not nearly as bad as others. Especially when it gets "flaky" looking like that, those parts are just pure rust scale, all the grinding in the world wouldn't turn up shiny metal.

With that being said, that frame is by far not the worst I've seen (or driven around with). If you're currently driving the truck it's not like you have to park it immediately and find another frame ASAP, that one will hold together a while longer. It's got the cancer for sure, but it's not on its deathbed yet. I'm not saying "don't worry about it, the thing is fine" because it's not, but I'm also saying it could be much much worse. If you were to put the bed back on it and drive around once in a while it wouldn't just break in half tomorrow, but I would personally start looking for another frame eventually if I was serious about keeping that truck on the road. For now keep it clean, maybe oil it, don't take it over any jumps lol. You still got a little time to find a new frame.

Thank you for your help I appreciate the input!

 

[RoryH19]

81-87 will be the best match. You can make the earlier frames work as well, just some body mount modification from what we've been seeing lately, some other small stuff I'm sure. Keep your transmission/transfer case crossmember just in case and whatever else you can thats still any good.

Also try to find a k not c frame. The leaf hangers are different. Not to mention control arms vs straight axle in the front.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

Also try to find a k not c frame. The leaf hangers are different. Not to mention control arms vs straight axle in the front.

I figured that was implied lol

 

[Shorty81]

A friend purchased a 83 K20 and the frame looked like the surface of the moon like yours. It was Ziebart rust proof coated when new. The coating trapped in moisture and rusted out. The coating eventually fell off.

 

[K10farmtruck]

As a disclaimer and due to the abundance of rust free frames id have to agree with the majority and say junk it but ive cleaned up rust jacking similar to that on semi frames that gross 100k without issue. Would definitely have to clean it up to see whats actually going to be left before forming a final opinion