guza

I am replacing the motor in an 85 Berlinetta, so I clean the engine bay. When moving the steering wheel I hear a clung. I go to see what the noise is and I see the frame where the box bolts on is cracked and moving away about an inch or so as I turn the wheel back and forth. The crack goes from the bottom of the steering box up to the top on front and back.

Has anyone seen this and is it repairable with welding? Should I look for a different car to put my motor in?

ede

happens all the time, remove the box and weld it and if you want extra insureance buy a wonder bar or make a brace to go from side to side, like a wonder bar.

guza

Thanks for the quick response. I guess I am glad to hear it happens all the time.

lonsal

iTrader: (2)

Even before opening the topic I knew the problem, cause and solution. Ede's diagnosis is correct. Get it welded up and get a Steering Brace (aka Wonder Bar). BTW, I happen to have several in stock of my own design. They are MIG welded and powder-coated, (just in case you can't find one otherwise). GM has discontinued their version. Good luck, Lon.

racereddy20

I have the same problem. I took it to a shop today and they quoted me $250 to MIG weld it and reinforce it with a plate. Is that too much? I dont know squat about welding and whats involved. Thanks in advance.

guza

I got a closer look and see that it is also coming apart inside the left fender well and the spot weld on the top of the frame is also broken. Still repairable, I hope!

lonsal, how much is your brace? Where can I get one,website?

lonsal

iTrader: (2)

No website yet. E-mail me and I'll send a Price List and a picture of the brace. The TDS Steering Brace for 1983-92 F-Bodies, p/n 105021 $40. Lon

ede

took me maybe 2 hours to do it ,unbolt box weld it back up, making a brace took another hour or so, at any rate 250 dollars works out to over 80 dollars a hour.

racereddy20

So is that a bad price? I dont know squat about welding. They said they were going to MIG weld it and re-enforce it by MIG welding a plate there too. Like I said, dont know how to weld, and I dont know anyone who knows how to weld.

racereddy20

My friend told me his dad could do it for $150. He said he would MIG weld it and re-enforce it with a plate. I've decided that I'll let him do it for me. The other place is known here for their quality though. Every time I mention them and the quote some one says that they do good work. So, i'm still deciding what to do. And lon I might take you up on that bar also.

lonsal

iTrader: (2)

I'm glad you were able to get the cost to repair it down. The Steering Brace helps to prevent suceh damage from occurring in the first place. But if your frame has cracked, you'll need to bite the bullet and get it repaired. The following quote is taken from my installation instructions: "It is common in ThirdGen F-Bodies for fatigue and stress cracks to form around the steering gear box mounting location. DO NOT INSTALL THIS PRODUCT IF THERE ALREADY IS SUCH DAMAGE. TAKE YOUR CAR TO A PROFESSIONAL FOR REPAIR, FIRST. Installing a Steering Brace will help tighten up the front end and prevent stress cracks from occurring. However the brace should never be used in lieu of repairing such cracks if they exist."

Good luck, Lon.

racereddy20

The car will be undergoing surgery next week. Once that is done you should be hearing from me Lon. Thanks again. BTW i think that my wheel bearings or ball joints might be going out the door too.

lonsal

iTrader: (2)

Peter, When you've finished with the wheel bearing and ball joints you might want to consider getting a set of the grease fitting covers. They snap onto the zerk fittings protecting them from dirt and debris between lube jobs. They are on the Price List I sent you. A set of ten will cover all 9 grease fittings on your front suspension with one spare. Don't forget to have the front end alignment checked after. Good luck, Lon.

racereddy20

Yeah lon I liked a bunch of stuff I saw on your price list. Right now i want to fix the frame and buy the bar. Next I want to scrap the entire front suspension and buy some midrange aftermarket stuff. In other words I wont be putting in bilstein shocks and struts. i'm think that Moog will do some good for my car. I do plan on having th car aligned once thats done. Hopefully this will all come together by the end of this summer. BTW i need some of that hatch motor stuff on your price list. Just when I was about to give up on the hatch motor your price list came through. I think we will be doing some business this summer. thanks
Peter

racereddy20

little update lon. Apparently the guy whose going to repair my frame though he was going to have to remove the steering box and stuff. I told his son (my friend) that I was going to drive it to his dads shop and remove all the stuff myself. He said that his dad might do it even cheaper knowing that. So hopefully I can get some more stuff from you.

lonsal

iTrader: (2)

Glad to hear it. Be sure to get in your order before 7/31 to take advantage of the 15% off Sale in progress. Lon

racereddy20

I'm all over it.
Peter

erictheviking

racereddy20,you could probably buy a mig welder for $250 and the metal for the repair is no more than a few bucks worth,that price is way over the top!!!

racereddy20

yeah I could spen 250 on a mig welder. Then another 300-400 to learn how to weld and then...... I dont know how to weld and I might learn one day. Right now my main concern is to fix my car (its my daily driver) and get a wonderbar in it to avoid that happening again. Plus I'm getting it fixed for 150 on friday.

laiky

Interesting how this site is almost always a step ahead of me!!

I have a severe cracking problem in my car. The frame rail is cracked through more than 3/4 the way up. The frame rail delaminated ( broke all of the spot welds ) the 2 lower spacers are almost torn through. and the nut plate/ bracket that the sway bar mounting bracked bolts too is half torn out of the frame rail. YUK.

I hate greasy nasty fabrication jobs.

OK so i'm not smart enough to actually pay somebody to do what i can do for my self, so i bought a nice Miller mig unit, accessories etc 950. Been working on it for several days now, granted taking my sweet *** time. Made up templates for gusset plates, and am planning to thoroughly reinforce the area because its just going to happen again.

Looking at the damage, i think it occoured because the bolts that mount the sway bar bracket may have loosened up causing it to flex, The sway bar bracket is whats torn out. So if you don't have this problem inspect it completely and make sure the bolts are tight, i don't think the steering brace will prevent it from happening but i got one just in case, can't hurt?

i think i'm going to get a new box too, does anyone have any hard data on what suspension to order one for? i want the quickest on ei can get.

laiky

Whoever is selling those greese fitting caps can you email me a price list too?

laiky@aol.com