Anybody got tips to doing this? I have to build a small support off my frame rail for my shackles (sfa on my 89 s-blazer) on the inside of the drivers side frame rail, it dosent have to be extremly stout, but I dont want to be thinking about it when Im wheelin. Im just using a miller 110v MIG. If I cant get it burned in enough to make me comfy, I will have to get someone with a better welder, and skill to do it, I just hate to have someone else on my rig...give me some advice :trooper:

I've heard it go both-ways, as-far as welding to the frame on a Chevy.

I've heard the frame is hardend and shouldn't be welded. Thats why the factory used rivets to hold the cross-members in place.

On the other-hand. I've seen dozens of steering box fish-plates welded in, and cut-beds used as trailers with out any problems.

I'm betting on the latter.


Probably has nothing to do with your question, but thats what I know of it.


Anyone else?

Originally posted by pdaddy
Anybody got tips to doing this? I have to build a small support off my frame rail for my shackles (sfa on my 89 s-blazer) on the inside of the drivers side frame rail, it dosent have to be extremly stout, but I dont want to be thinking about it when Im wheelin. Im just using a miller 110v MIG. If I cant get it burned in enough to make me comfy, I will have to get someone with a better welder, and skill to do it, I just hate to have someone else on my rig...give me some advice :trooper:

If you don't think you can do it get someone who can.....taking your life & others if this breaks while on the road...........:eek: :eek: :)

Originally posted by Shaker


If you don't think you can do it get someone who can.....taking your life & others if this breaks while on the road...........:eek: :eek: :)


Like I said this is a very small area that I need to do, worse case my little support will break, but the bolts through the frame rail will hold everything together, I am not to concerened with my rig fallen apart, believe me, my 3 year old daughter rides in this often, it will be a safe vehicle

Twizted is right, you can weld the light duty frames without a problem. I'm told that heavy duty rigs often have frames which can be damaged by welding (heat treated) but I don't have any experience on them. I've also welded on medium duty rigs with success (1.5-2.5 tons) but I'm told they sometimes have the heat treated frames. Again, I don't know.

So, for light duty frames, I've cut, spliced, pieced and otherwise welded on Chevy frames for years (years ago) with no problems. I even ran a frame machine for years where I frequently pieced a variety of different frames. The only reason I didn't answer earlier is that I don't know if the 110 has the punch to get sufficient penetration on the frame. For what your doing, it might be just fine, I don't know. Hehe, there's lots I don't know eh? I was hoping someone with more experience on the 110 units would chime in. Oh well, so much for that idea...

If you do this, I would definitely take a torch and pre-heat the section in question. Get it up to around 400 degrees or so before welding. If you do multiple passes, they need to be back to back (don't let it cool much) or wait till it cools below 500 degrees. Otherwise it can make that section of the frame brittle and more prone to cracking. IIRC, that should be about right but, I haven't worked on that stuff for about 12 years so I could be mistaken. I learned that in one of the Frame Repair guides (long ago) and it was specifically talking about piecing light duty frames. One of the local metallurgists can chime in on that I guess. Bevel the piece your welding in, no way to bevel the frame so just make sure it is very clean before starting. Also, make sure the pieces fit tightly together, when the machine is border line, you don't want to be bridging a gap. As long as it's not structural, knock yourself out. Just remember to check it after playing hard.

For better advise than I can give you (memory fades in old age) I would suggest contacting one of the guys who does this every day. On CK5, tRusty (Rene) knows his stuff. Here, weldpro and several other seem to know more about this stuff than I ever did. I was initial taught by a family of career boiler-makers and the rest (automotive) was self taught for the most part. That and the Frame Repair manuals and such. Just thought I would add that disclaimer in there, since I never had any formal welding edumacation. :D