Slant Six Forum
https://slantsix.org/forum/

K frame welds...OK?
https://slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=54321
Page 1 of 1

Author:  '67 Dart 270 [ Tue Jan 14, 2014 6:37 pm ]
Post subject:  K frame welds...OK?

Has anybody taken a look at the pics above of the K frame welds and see if they see any red flags?

thanks,

BG

Author:  WagonsRcool [ Wed Jan 15, 2014 9:38 pm ]
Post subject: 

Nothing that really grabs my attention from your pics. The factory - mass production- welds were pretty sloppy but functional. Two things to consider while the K is out.

First is to reweld the lower C/A mounting "tubes" (or weld in large washers to reinforce them)- that's the only failure that I've ever had on a K frame- one side cracked & shifted .

Second would be to loosely bolt in the steering box & linkage- then fab some gussets (that have clearance for everything) to reinforce the box mount & weld them in. Less flex = tighter steering, which is always a good thing.

Author:  '67 Dart 270 [ Thu Jan 16, 2014 1:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Strengthening..

Thanks, yes, the welds are sloppy but the frame appears to be straight and in good shape otherwise.

The tubes for the LCA's show some wear on the surface where the LCA pin meets the tub, but the welds look really good. I'll weld the reinforcing washers around the tubes, some gussets for the steering box, and weld around the perimeter as some of the spots seem loose to me.

FirmFeel sells a kit, but it's $75 and is literally a few pieces of steel and a skid plate. I can fabricate these for a few dollars.

bg

Author:  '67 Dart 270 [ Sat Jan 18, 2014 7:00 pm ]
Post subject:  K frame update

Here are pics of the K frame after soaking in evaporust for a week - no more rust! I had to find a big enough plastic tub...thank goodness for Big Lots. I hit it with the pressure washer after the soak, it removed a bunch of the loose paint.

You can see some very sloppy factory welds, and a few that appear to be after the fact. There was a "nail" sticking down through the K frame into the section where the sway bar goes, I have no idea what this was welded in for....I cut that off with a cutting blade.

It's a little banged up on the bottom, but generally in good shape. On to the welding phase...

http://s785.photobucket.com/user/67dart ... 7.jpg.html

http://s785.photobucket.com/user/67dart ... 3.jpg.html

http://s785.photobucket.com/user/67dart ... 2.jpg.html

bg

Author:  '67 Dart 270 [ Sun Jan 26, 2014 5:58 pm ]
Post subject:  If anyone is interested...

Here is my K frame all finished in black epoxy paint...

http://s785.photobucket.com/user/67dart ... a.jpg.html

http://s785.photobucket.com/user/67dart ... a.jpg.html

bg

Author:  DadTruck [ Mon Jan 27, 2014 9:46 am ]
Post subject: 

Quote:
FirmFeel sells a kit, but it's $75 and is literally a few pieces of steel and a skid plate
can you zoom in, get photos and show these mods,, thanks!

Author:  '67 Dart 270 [ Mon Jan 27, 2014 12:23 pm ]
Post subject:  fotobucket

You can zoom in pretty close with fotobucket if you hit the little magnifying glass icon.

I welded around the seams, and braced the steering box in a couple places with some steel stock I had lying around. Also welded a sheet to the bottom where a skid plate would go. My welds were pretty ugly so I cleaned up the ones around the edge seams with a grinder before painting. It's a little sad, because my Dad was a welder...he's probably turning over in his grave. I just have this little stick welder and the power is just enough to strike an arc and get it going, but it's kinda hard to propagate a good weld for too long because it has a short duty cycle. But, I do get good penetration on the short welds I can make so cleaning them up with the grinder is OK. These welds are just to reinforce the factory spot welds (which were OK, only a couple were loose).

Here's a link to another's similar work: http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/sho ... t=all&vc=1

I painted it with a rust inhibitor primer then (VHT) gloss black epoxy paint.

bg

Page 1 of 1 All times are UTC-07:00
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Limited
https://www.phpbb.com/