to box or not to box?

[crazycul1]

i have a 47 dodge truck,i have it all stripped down.and i was wondering if i should box the frame in or not.the frame is in good condition.i want to put a big block in it and use a 4 link suspension.any suggestions?

[Swifster]

Box it.

[FMXhellraiser]

If you are putting a big block in it then you should box the thing. You can C notch the frame as well when you box it in for suspension clearance and when you do the 4 link. You don't have to but it's just a suggestion. A frame that old will have tons of stress on it with a big block.

[Henry Rifle]

I'd box it. Big block = torque.

Taylorville, Illinois. Geez. That's only 30 miles from my old home town - Virden.

[crazycul1]

would it be better to build a new frame?

[FMXhellraiser]

You can look at S10 frames. Ton's of people use S10's for lots of things with the exception of having to narrow the rear of the frame sometimes or pitching the front in, it all depends. If it's in good shape then I would keep it and box it in and put a IFS front end on it or unless you wan't to be different, keep a drop axle on the front.

[Dave Severson]

If the old frame is usable, and will work to build the truck the way you want to build it, then use it. Boxing is a very good idea, as others have pointed out. In many instances, I prefer starting with my own frame, it is of course more spendy, but I've found that it is easier to use the suspension, engine, and drive train I want if I design the frame around these components rather than try to make the components fit an existing frame.

[blwn31]

Box it, if you don't you'll be sorry later down the road.

[Mike P]

With the HP/Torque you'll have and realistic the way it will occasionally be driven at a minimum boxing the 50+ year old frame is necessary.

As far as building a new frame, without knowing your skill level/budget/time frame that's a little harder to answer (just by you asking the question, I assume you have not done this before). It can be done and we've got a few members here who have and can walk you through it. IT IS NOT AS EASY AS THE HOTROD TV SHOWS MAKE IT LOOK!!!! Setting up to build the frame will take about a bay and a half of room and a lot longer than you plan. Everything will have to be laid out measured, adjusted, measured, tacked, measured, adjusted, welded, measured, adjusted. tweaked measured, leveled, adjusted etc. Did I mention that a lot of measuring and adjusting is required? Then there are things like laying in you cross member/braces setting up the front and rear suspension, building body and bed mounts etc. There is also the question of your welding skills, unless you've a very competent welder and have a good deal of experience ( I don't mean somebody who has taken a couple of shop classes in High School) you need to get this experience BEFORE you start a project like building a frame. Basically it's a lot more involved than laying some box and channel steel on the garage floor and stitching it together with a $200 Harbor Freight 110V welder.

If your frame is solid as you say, chances are that boxing it will be more than enough to handle the BB. As Dave indicated if you're going to have ride height and tread width issues with the upgrades you want to make a custom frame may be the way to go. You'll only know that after you do some initial figuring and measuring to determine how you want the truck to sit when it's done and what's available to make that happen. I would suggest you do some research and mocking up at this point to determine what's going to be the best direction for your project go.

[SprayTech]

First you need to do is give your frame a good Xing out measurement to make sure its square before any work is done , if its out of square nothing looks worse then a dog tracking rod !

And if square make sure you have a way of keeping it square ( a jig ) in all directions so it doesnt warp with the heat of welding . make small welds at a time , dont get weld happy and go for broke , let each weld cool and move around for heat dissapation .


SprayTech

[FMXhellraiser]

Yeah and especially if you go with four links and coil overs, etc. When you weld your rear end up, don't weld too much in one spot. A friend of mine did this on his 56 Chevy and found out that the rear end was messed up, bent and the axles tweaked and had to get a whole new one because whoever welded in the brackets didn't do it right, got it too hot and ruined something that was a ton of money mostly because they weren't patient I am sure.
I wish I had the Knowledge that Dave does at building a frame. I would love to be able to build my own front ends and frames.

[tcodi]

I have a 50 truck with a bb and I boxed the frame.
here's before and after

[tcodi]

I also used a tri-4 link. I cut out all the worthless stamped steel cross members and put in new ones. you can see all the junk I cut out in a pile above the frame.

[Cudaman]

Definately box it. you can never have a "too" strong frame.

- Cudaman -

[crazycul1]

i have cut out almost all the stamped supports,checked the frame for squareness,it's perfect.i plan on making new cross braces for it.i do want to tub this truck,with a narrowed ford 9",(i have to put some meats on this thing) lol.what i have for a motor is a twin turbocharged 440 with a 727 tranny.i am looking to cut about a foot or so out of the frame to make it shorter,(my god...this thing is over 16' long)...this is my first truck like this i have built...i wanted to try something different....i usually build muscle cars...and i won't be doing any of the welding...i have a buddy of mine (who is certified) do it for me.i have been checking out pre-formed back halfs for this truck so i can have the narrowed rearend.