Possible Frame Swap - 97 Silverado Ext. Cab

[Canadian Rust Bucket]

You can most likely straighten the core support mount, looks like an easy fix.

You can also cut the core support mount off and weld a new one on. They're nothing special and it's pretty easy to do. But I just do rust repair, not collision, so I don't know how screwed that frame might be.

 

[Erik the Awful]

Those prices seem so unbelievably low... Up here I'd buy a frame like that for $1000.

We don't have near as much rust, so frames aren't in demand.

If you decide to buy a frame, there's a page in one of the manuals with frame measurements. Don't ask me which manual, hopefully someone else follows up and posts it. Take a tape measure and check the new frame to make sure it's not worse than yours.

Roscoe, my free-to-me one-ton, had been in a wreck before it was parked. The front bumper was tweaked and the left front fender and door were dorked. I bought new bumper extensions and a new fender, and I can't get all the bolts in. Those frame horns are thick and difficult to straighten. Fortunately I was able to get a new fender on it that lines up with everything, so I'm hoping the damage was limited to bending the bumper horns and shoving the fender back into the door.

 

[MarKist]

If you look closely there isn’t too much damage to the frame horn it looks like the core support took most of the hit up top, look at the core support mount, “at the beginning of the frame horn and support mount.

I agree with the above statement. When I first saw the pic I was thinking “that’s not hit bad” and really didn’t see any frame damage from the pic other than the support mount and that is not that bad either. I would let your frame guy tweak it and rock on putting it back together.

 

[Taddpole]

Newbie here, a quick way to check and see if the frame is okay. Drive slowly straight on a dirt road then stop and get out of the truck and look at the tire tracks in the dirt. You will be able to tell if the tires track correctly. The front might be wider than the rear but that is normal. You will know if the frame has a diamond shape to it. hope this helps.
I have a 98 RCSB vortec and a 2005 Cadi EXT Escalade, will work on my bio when I get a chance.

 

[YGaar]

Hi guys. I'm also a newbie
Sorry for my bad english, but I'm a Norwegian...

The manual you are looking for is called "Chassis layout and body builders instruction drawings".
I' we got that manual and, I'll see if I can send you some pages if you want.
Then you can check the straightness of the frame against the manual.
Just be sure to get an authorized wheel alignment check after the rebuild. Is your truck a short, or long box?

A frame swap is quite easy. Same with the cab.
Be sure that the front fenders are OE or CAPA certified.
Most of the rest are garbage with horrendous fitment. I know because I' we just scrapped a pair of new aftermarket ones.

 

[GZM2024]

Hi guys. I'm also a newbie
Sorry for my bad english, but I'm a Norwegian...

The manual you are looking for is called "Chassis layout and body builders instruction drawings".
I' we got that manual and, I'll see if I can send you some pages if you want.
Then you can check the straightness of the frame against the manual.
Just be sure to get an authorized wheel alignment check after the rebuild. Is your truck a short, or long box?

A frame swap is quite easy. Same with the cab.
Be sure that the front fenders are OE or CAPA certified.
Most of the rest are garbage with horrendous fitment. I know because I' we just scrapped a pair of new aftermarket ones.

Yes, that would be fantastic to have a copy. Thanks

 

[GZM2024]

Had a top tier local frame shop come out, look over the frame and pull some measurements. They said no way would they even consider touching it. He said the frame from the firewall forward has been pushed 2+ inches to the pass. side. He said even if he pulled on it, it would never come back to the original alignment. He and another frame shop tech said (as others on here have stated) a frame swap is the only reasonable option.

 

[Cadillacmak]

He and another frame shop tech said a frame swap is the only reasonable option.

Keep us posted on this project, its really cool. I also love the Task Force truck in your profile picture! Is that yours, and if so tell us about please. My son and I are building a 55 late model, 4x4, long bed.

 

[Hipster]

Had a top tier local frame shop come out, look over the frame and pull some measurements. They said no way would they even consider touching it. He said the frame from the firewall forward has been pushed 2+ inches to the pass. side. He said even if he pulled on it, it would never come back to the original alignment. He and another frame shop tech said a frame swap is the only reasonable option.

Yep, They're right, and I already said elsewhere to look at the block and trans cases closely. Not uncommon to find cracks or broken off mounts. That truck got whacked pretty good. Caddy-whooped. Once twist/mash up the crossmember you'll never get them right.

 

[GZM2024]

Yep, They're right, and I already said elsewhere to look at the block and trans cases closely. Not uncommon to find cracks or broken off mounts. That truck got whacked pretty good. Caddy-whooped. Once twist/mash up the crossmember you'll never get them right.

Oh yeah, I recall you saying that. I just wanted someone in the business to come and check it with a tape as a baseline to see just how bad it really is. I hate to have to swap the frame but that's the only way to get it back right. Thanks