Expert: William Forster - 5/14/2006

Question
Hello Mr. Foster my Qustion is about my p/u truck fram,my wife was coming up our drive way she stoped and got out to open the gate,I don't know if she forgot to sat the e-brake or what anyway it went flying down the hill and out into the feild onto a big stack of rocks from what I can see the driver side fram was bent upward enought to where the sterring shaft is touching it. can this be fixed? and if so will it cost me more than the trucck is wort?

Answer
Hello, and thank you for your question! I need a little more info. How much other damage, other than the frame, is there? In your opinion, does it need all the front end sheet metal, such as the radiator support, the A/C condensor, the radiator, hood, and both fenders? This is a front clip. 1 fender, the hood, and the radiator support is a 3/4 front clip to a junk yard. Anyhow, look at the rear bumper. Does 1 side stick out farther than the other? If it very noticeably does, you have a frame condition known as diamond. Thats where 1 entire frame rail has been pushed back farther than the other side. Now, check to be sure all the tire pressures are equal, and there is no unevenly distributed load in the bed. Park the truck on a nice, flat concrete driveway or garage floor. Take a tape measure, and measure the height 0f the FRONT frame rails from the ground, as far forward as possible. Removal of rhe bumper will give the most accurate measurement. Now, measure the frame height (from the ground) under the cab, right where the cab mounts are located. Compare the measurements, and see how much different they are, if at all. Get me this info, and I can tell you if you should save it, or junk it. Bill