Frame Widened Frame

[1badcj8]

OK so my 1982 Scrambler 1 ton is a Hard Core wheeler and it sees a good bit of said activity. And yes my frame is probably bent for life. However, another thing is that it the middle it has gotten wider! Nothing that can be seen with the naked eye But when I take my skid on and off now its for sure gotten wider by about an inch on either side! I wonder if anyone here has experienced the situation and what did you do? Other than replacing the frame, I cant do that kind of work any more and cant afford to have it done either! Its like it needs to be "Squeezed" back into place or at least closer...

 

[Belizean]

I’ve heard that’s a pretty common thing with CJs.

 

[1badcj8]

I think I'm going to try a Chain come-along with some soft shackles and pull into place and perhaps weld in a brace made with pads/feet on it to weld to the frame right behind my skid so it wont be in the way???

 

[Belizean]

I’ve heard of using that and some type of ratchet straps. I’ve also heard of people having to spread them back out, opposite of your problem.

 

[1badcj8]

Yeah I've Heard things like that as well. Has anyone here done it?

 

[Belizean]

I did a search and didn’t find much of anything. That doesn’t mean it was a good search. @CJ are there any good threads on warped frames ? Thanks

 

[CJ]

Yep, I squeezed a frame a very long time ago.
Ratchet straps and a few wide torched t relax the spring steel. The bad thing is you loose steel temporing.
Your frame will be permanently weekend.

 

[KRUPP]

What about a long piece of threaded rod through a drilled hole in each frame rail, with a backing plate and a nut. 5/8” dia might be enough. I imagine with the cross pan removed, you could go across tight to the output at the rear of the Transfer Case .