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Input on damaged frame rails

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Throwback23

10+ Year Contributor
222
7
Apr 28, 2012
Boring, Oregon
Hey everyone, I'll save the long story and get right to the point. I have a gst shell I might convert to awd but I realized the frame rails looked like they were exclusively used to jack the car for the last 16 years so Ive had second thoughts, I don't mind scrapping it if it's a huge issue but if it's usable or fixable why not..anyways they are mostly pressed in from the bottom up but on one rail it's pretty torn up in a section... Im not really an expert with this kind of thing so I'm wondering what my options are...They look like they are spot welded in so maybe drilling spots and replacing with donor rails is an option but I really don't know if it's even possible...anyone done it or have alternatives? Here's a what they look like... One section is way more mangled the the rest as seen in the pics...yes I know, blocks with wood is ghetto LOL

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That's not your frame rail. Your frame rail is significantly larger and thicker and is tied into the body above that piece in each side. That's not a big deal. Even if you were to get in a wreck the car is designed for the front and rear of the frame rails to absorb the impact not the middle of the car. I've been in a wreck in a dsm and had to section in a new frame rail on the front and pull the other one straight again.
 
That's not your frame rail. Your frame rail is significantly larger and thicker and is tied into the body above that piece in each side. That's not a big deal. Even if you were to get in a wreck the car is designed for the front and rear of the frame rails to absorb the impact not the middle of the car. I've been in a wreck in a dsm and had to section in a new frame rail on the front and pull the other one straight again.

I see, well that's good news. Would you say its worth while to replace them as well?
 
Good to know they arnt as important as I thought....Just out of curiosity if one were to replace them is there a special or specific way that the car would need to be supported/ suspended to avoid welding them in with any part of the undercarriage flexed. I probably won't touch them but I got to thinking and couldn't that be a potential issue ? Maybe I'm overthinking it...
 
Technically if the car was off the ground in any way while they were welded in it would likely put them in compression or some kind of torsional load but to what extent would be hard to tell and it would also still likely be negligible. I sectioned in an a-pillar on a gs once where the door hinges bolt on and when I cut it out and put the new one in it was only marginally off from the original spot welds. If the a pillar only moved a little I highly doubt you would have any problems with those, then again it's all just my opinion.
 
I see so a drive on lift would be choice for that kind of job... Luckily I have access to one but I do doubt I'll ever get to that job if it's not imperative, good info to know though!.....anyways thank you guys for all your input
 
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