Frame patch
 

I tried searching and couldn't find anything on my exact question.
I have a 1963 c10 fleetside long bed and the frame directly above the factory rear coils is rusted through and cracked on only the bottom lip of the frame. In the future I plan to drop in a full rear frame/suspension kit, something like the kp components, or no limit engineering kit. But for now would it be safe to weld in a brace, and would a c notch kit extend far enough forward to help support this and make this truck safe to drive?
The reason I ask is the truck is road worthy right now other than this frame crack, and I would like to drive this truck here and there until I start the actual restoration and mods in a couple years.

Re: Frame patch
 

I would think that you could weld the crack and weld a plate over the rusted part as a temporary fix until you get a new frame as long as you are not hauling a lot of weight.

Re: Frame patch
 

No hauling with this truck. It will be a full restoration slowly. Mainly waiting to start the big stuff until I move out of the house I'm currently at. This truck was my grandpas daily driver up until a year ago. It needs some love

Re: Frame patch
 

Post some pics.

Re: Frame patch
 

I've got a long bed I'm cutting up, you pay the freight and I'll cut the section of frame you need to patch it.

Re: Frame patch
 

Depending on how bad the rust is, you could likely get away with plating just the bottom flange. Just be sure to clean off all the rust down to good metal so that you get a decent weld. And don't weld across the flange, just lengthwise.

Re: Frame patch
 

I will get some pics up after work today

Re: Frame patch
 

Why weld only lengthwise and not across? Risk of distortion?

Re: Frame patch
 

I really appreciate your offer, I think just a small patch will do the trick, but I will keep your offer in mind if I need to get more serious with it

Re: Frame patch
 

Welding across the frame creates a spot where the frame can crack. The frames are designed to flex a little and the weld will not flex like the frame but will crack instead.

Re: Frame patch
 

Just as 69 C10 LWB said, the frame can crack where you weld across.

Re: Frame patch
 

The top picture is the passenger side frame rail, bottom is the drivers side

Re: Frame patch
 

What are those strap looking things on the rear end?

Re: Frame patch
 

It has a weird half leaf spring on each side...some sort of vintage helper spring or something

Re: Frame patch
 

Here is a pic of the weird spring set up

Re: Frame patch
 

It looks like you're going to need to replace the lower brace of the crossmember as well.

Re: Frame patch
 

The more I dig in to this truck, the more work it needs just to make it safe to drive. I think this project is going on the back burner until I get out of the house im currently in and have the space and time to just do it once, and do it right. Thanks for all the help on this one guys. Will just focus on building the motor for the truck for now since I have the space to do that. I will start an actual build thread for the truck once I tear into it

Re: Frame patch
 

My suggestion is to see if you can find a long bed frame on CL or through the parts page here. I have seen plenty on the Dallas CL as well as Arizona and NM. It would be cheaper to have a trucker bring it to you than all the work your gonna need to “make it safe”

Good luck!!

https://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/pt...614573770.html