Frame flex question?

[Slik66]

I am building my truck to drive good, handle some twisty roads and put the power to the ground. In my research I have found several people installing "X" bracing in the frame.

My question is: what Exactly does this do and is it needed to keep flex down?

Is there a different way to do it?

[LVPhotos]

The guys on Trucks tv did a Ranger that addressed this. Take a tire jack it up and you will see frame flex. The X like 60-62 frame stiffness frame to counter such flex. Unless racing or ridiculous hp and torque it over kill.

[Slik66]

Right now my new engine is 440hp and 460tq.
BUT.... I have plans for the future to swap to an engine in the 600hp range.

I just want to do things Now while it's all apart. Just not sure what's I really need to do to keep it tight and straight on the road

[PGSigns]

Couple of things you can do. One is stiffer cab mounts. This lets the cab do some of the work to stiffen the chassis. If you want a bolt in solution the porterbuilt is a well engineered piece. If you look at what Rob at NoLimit has done with the Pro-tech chassis you can see how they have added a lot of torsional stiffness.
Jimmy

[Slik66]

Originally Posted by PGSigns

Couple of things you can do.

Thanks!

[padresag]

if things can't flex; they break
ron

[61_FL_Apache]

Take a look at Gary V's build. I think he has X bracing figured out.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=625387

[Slik66]

Originally Posted by 61_FL_Apache

Take a look at Gary V's build. I think he has X bracing figured out.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=625387

Wow, what a build!

[scoot_mcgrute]

When I had my frame apart, I should have done a little more research and done some bracing/boxing on it. When I put it on jack stands at either end, it sags in the middle a fair amount, more than I'd like to admit .

I'm doing the same things that you are looking to do with yours but without the bracing and boxing. If you plan to have a lot of fun with it whether it's on twisty roads or in autocross events, I wouldn't hesitate to make it stiffer. My next frame will definitely have more thought put in to making it work for autocross and track nights.

[Slik66]

Twisty roads for sure!

[tinydb84]

Read this thread. Rob from No Limit does a budget build with a 67-72 but you can use most of the ideas.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=436621

[Slik66]

Originally Posted by tinydb84

Read this thread. Rob from No Limit does a budget build with a 67-72 but you can use most of the ideas.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=436621

Man, great info in that thread!! Thanks!

[Keith Seymore]

Are you opposed to a full roll cage?

That would provide the most resistance to flex.

K

[Slik66]

I don't want a full cage. I just really wanted to beef the frame up a little while I was at this point.
I think my biggest concern is traction.

[LostMy65]

Side question:
Does stiffening the frame stiffen the ride?

[chevy_mike]

Originally Posted by LostMy65

Side question:
Does stiffening the frame stiffen the ride?

Depends on your suspension setup. If it was already too stiff and the frame flex "soften" the ride, then stiffening the frame would cause it to ride stiffer. When you can get the frame flex under control, you can then setup the suspension to work as it should but you might end up with softer spring rates and different valving in the shocks. The biggest thing about eliminating frame flex is you allow the suspension to actually do what it's supposed to be doing.

Most companies figured this out in the '90's and started to stiffen up the frames. Look at a modern day truck and those frames are seriously beefy.