Shortening a Frame The Right Way

We did a box swap on a truck where we had to take 21 inches out of the frame to make it fit. Here we show you the proper way to section a frame rail.

#bethesolution

[ocrbf]

I shorten frames once or twice a week. Easiest way with no welding, figure out the end of the frame take it all loose, tape some cardboard poster together and mark your old holes, figure out where the new location is, cut your new holes, bolt it back up cut your air lines shorter to fit and roll out. I've done so many I can do it in about 8 hours now.. really not too bad. No welding required

[EverythingOutdoors]

Nice work! Angle cut is not mathematically needed for stress and strain. But does not hurt either.

[chrisjacobs]

Paccar body builder book shows using straight cut with torch and minimum of 24 inches of double frame inside of frame on either side of cut/weld. So 4 foot piece of double frame and redrill any holes it covers up. No holes within 2 inches of other holes or top or bottom flange. So this guy is pretty spot on using the slanted cut with a little more weld I think.

[fahqahsowl]

Did I miss something? I went back to check and I still couldn't find it. Where are the fish plates?

[matthewdoyle]

I have done this same thing about 4 times now only we extend the frames or replacing bad sections but we also plate the inside but grate video

[paulharvey]

QQ: would you cut the same area on both side or offset the cuts from one another so spread the stresses?

[GaryT]

WOW, Beautiful work you did! Great job!

[johncurley]

that's all fine and dandy, but what about the flex and twist factor built into the frames? does not the cutting and welding take away those built in characteristics? where's the first place cracking or fracturing will occur?

[gordonloessl]

Ive never done a frame. But I would still use a 7018. And some support gussets.

[jamesford]

I think it is great that you openly publish the fact that you modify truck frame rails in a manner that is inconsistent with manufacturer's recommendations.

[tunichtgut]

Just curious: why do you use oxyacetylene cutting and not plasma cutting?

[mypony]

Wow, these this is how i was taught as well.. great job!

[sjfodor]

Could have fooled me when you wrote you are not a welder. Looks like pretty slick fabrication.

[MohamedAlhashedi]

Nice job, Boss what's the name of that " orange clamp " you were using at 5:52 to pull both frames tight against each other ? And Would you know where can I buy one ? Appreciated it

[FabbedFun]

I absolutely agree the 45 will give you more weld and more strength over a straight cut. Excellent work! There are a lot of people with "expert" opinions like armchair quarterbacks... but until you've been knee-deep in a project like this, you don't really know what's up lol. I think a big fish plate is a huge safety net and you did a great job with it!

[michaelhallas]

With the end result are you going to plate it with another rail or thats the finished product ? Thanks

[Edaloy]

Good video, I always try and stagger the scarf joints when I do framework like this if possible even if it's just a couple inches, as opposed to the joints being directly across from each other, I also stick weld(SMAW) the repair, and patch, cheers.

[JerryHicks-ibix]

The length of the weld is stronger if its longer? At an angle there are more inches of weld than a strait vertical weld?

[davidmitchell]

I wouldn't have thought that welding downhill would penetrate enough for 1/4" and thicker steel.

[hotshoter]

What wire did you use in the welder for that frame rail