Right front....
front frame crack
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,839
Likes: 45
From: nassau co. new york
front frame crack
while checking under the car today,as we all do i'm sure,i discovered a new frame crack.it goes from the spring cavity outward to the frame.the crack is dead center of photo # 1.photo # 3 is of the same area a little over a year ago when i was rebuilding the front end.can this be easily repaired?is it a serious area of safety concern?
Race Director
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From: Compound in the Grove, Ga.
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Most likely can be repaired if done right by a good welder. I would also sand and check where the brake line bracket is looks to be another crack running down.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
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From: North of Toronto - Ontario
I've actually seen that on a few vettes, basically in that exact area.
That bottom piece is fairly thin and there must be a funny spot on it that stresses front/back since it's more of a fracture/tear and it's not at a joint. (as you would expect it to be at some corner where the two sides are working against each other)
A competent welder will be able to vee that out and fix it with no issues
I know it's hard to see but get a small mirror and check where the engine mount tower (forward) meets the frame and where the rear-lower control arm mount meets the crossmember (outboard side).
Mooser
That bottom piece is fairly thin and there must be a funny spot on it that stresses front/back since it's more of a fracture/tear and it's not at a joint. (as you would expect it to be at some corner where the two sides are working against each other)
A competent welder will be able to vee that out and fix it with no issues
I know it's hard to see but get a small mirror and check where the engine mount tower (forward) meets the frame and where the rear-lower control arm mount meets the crossmember (outboard side).
Mooser
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,839
Likes: 45
From: nassau co. new york
thanks mooser for the response.i looked at that area you describe for fear it was more serious than it already looks.i discovered this late today and will jack the car tomorrow and remove the tire for a better look.i will take more pictures after i clean the area better.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,070
Likes: 5
From: N.Richland Hills Texas
Yep..It was in NOV...At the shop for new body / frame mounts and some other things...They found part of a crack as they were replacing rotors.. The more they cleaned the crack the longer it got....Getting it ready for the Hot Rod Power Tour...
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,839
Likes: 45
From: nassau co. new york
as a follow up on this thread there did not seem to be be any additional cracks anywhere and mooser you are right about that inner area being hard to see even with an inspection mirror.we gone i saw what you saw in the photo but is was just a shadow when viewed from a different angle.my fear was to end up with a crack like u17 ended up with and that this might be the early stage.i drove a hard 45mi after putting a coat of jb weld over the crack to see if it would crack again.went over washboard roads,hit manholecovers and went into potholes.no sign of a crack but there is some resilience to jb weld so i may have it welded at some point.in the meantime i installed the speeddirect spreader bar,great looking product btw,to reduce any flexing at the front frame.(i felt buba-ish when applying the jb weld).area after test run.
