Should I box my 35tk frame? question big time

[Brooding Swede]

The guys at the local hot rod shop suggest that I should box my 35-ford truck frame? I would like a second opinion. But, if I don’t need it I don’t want to. I’ll be running sbc and buying very soon parallel rear springs kit (I was going to buy the bolt on kit). So, if I box I’ll need to buy the weld-in kit.

Option One: Box the whole thing?

Option Two: Box the front haft of the frame(will this cause any problems)?

Option Three: No boxing and buy all the bolt stuff (engine mounts, rear spring, I was going to make the X-member like the one from Chassis Eng.)


Will the no boxing with sbc cause the frame to flex to much?

I need your help. Thanks, Broodin S
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[Brooding Swede]

Here is a great truck the owner just finished CBB 454... It rides great. They can build anything and they work with alot steel car. And some glass cars. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[plan9]

is your SBC a stocker?

its always a good idea to box some of the frame... like the front where the motor mounts are, areas where the X member meet the frame rails.... you dont need to box the length of the rails unless you are racing or have a pumped little motor..

theres some good books out there...

how to build a traditional ford hotrod by av8 and tardell
hot rod chassis by tex smith
hotrodders bible by ?

[Brooding Swede]

Thanks plan9, I have the bible at home I'll check it out. The sbc is a stroker out of a 77 truck. Thanks.

[fab32]

You going to beat the crap out of it all the time or is it primarily just a transportation piece? I'd box it full if the answer is drag race from every corner. If normal driving is in the cards I'd just box the front (front crossmember to the front of the X where it meets the frame). Those frames were substantially stronger than A's and '32's so you can get away with less reinforcing.

Frank

[Brooding Swede]

Frank, not every corner but some, 50/50 chance. It will be driven every day that it will run and the rest I'll be workin on it. It will also be a hauler/work truck light duty stuff wood etc. Thanks

[trey]

[ QUOTE ]

its always a good idea to box some of the frame... like the front where the motor mounts are, areas where the X member meet the frame rails.... you dont need to box the length of the rails unless you are racing or have a pumped little motor..


[/ QUOTE ]


i agree with that 100%. box it!

trey

[Brooding Swede]

From the front X-member to the front OK thanks. Any suggestion on the back end of the frame? Thanks

[Brooding Swede]

Oh. What gage metal would you guy suggest? for the boxing? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

[Brooding Swede]

bttt ... gage metal?

[Roothawg]

Boxing the frame is overated in my opinion. Unless the frame has been thrashed in it's former life I would pass.
I have a 36 on the street that turned low 13's and no boxing. My dad's old drag car, also a 36 pickup, was lightened and even had the X member pretty much removed wan't boxed and it ran 12.10's.

It does give you a place to hang stuff....that's one advantage.

Do whatcha want but that's my .02

[Roothawg]

Now I guess I should add, if you want to box the frame I would only box about 3 feet in the front and about the same in the rear. If your frame is rusted out, like a lot of them are right over the axle, then I would suggest you box that.

[plan9]

id use whatever gauge thickness your frame rails are.... might be overkill though.

roots got a point, and the only thing i know about what boxing does for you is the addition of rigidity to the frame... the less flex, the better you are going to hook..

id think if you had a torque motor, it would tweak the frame a bit... again, just an assumption... i dont have the money or time to test these things http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

root - what cars/motor combos were being run? perhaps body type plays a roll in this?

[34Fordtk]

I would say if you are just running a good running small block ....no BUT if the motor is high HP .....YES!!

[Roothawg]

It was in both instances SBC in 36 Ford pickups. Swedes got a 35 pickup...same frame.

Boxing looks cool though.

[RC]

My 36 was built about 25 years ago with a stock 327/powerglide setup. The front axel and bones are stock un-split. No boxing on the frame. It was a daily driver for the old guy I got it from and he had it 20 years and was not the original builder. I have put about 5000 miles on it so far, with the longest trip being about 1200 miles. Depending on what I do to it in the future I might box it just in the front, maybe. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[manyolcars]

Its not neccessary to box these frames. My 35 is a WORK truck. I haul heavy loads and pull trailers. I always drive it hard. 350/350 with three dueces, 9 inch with ladder bars and transverse spring, straight axle with 53-56 Ford pickup brakes

[Roothawg]

I added the small block in mine in 1983. Nothing boxed.

Dad's 36 was bought new by my grandpa and it had 12 flatties before the first SBC went in it in 1960. He raced it until 1976 then it sat for the last 20 years. The motor is now in the fly and dad put a M2 under it and he boxed the frame last year. Dunno why. I think he wanted it to look clean.

[Dirk35]

I too have a 1935 Ford PU. I boxed my frame. Had it apart (I also used a MII front suspension) so figured why not. It doesnt take that long to do it. If your using the inner "X" member than ran through the rails, itll make it a little more difficult, but not THAT much. Use the same gauge material as the original outter frame rail is if you decide to box it.

Root's truck really has more close relation of your project than mine. If he says you really dont need to, and its not that rusted over the rear kick-up, then I deffinitly wouldnt doubt what he says. He has had his truck since he was 16.

[Roothawg]

[ QUOTE ]
I He has had his truck since he was 16.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the props Dirk, but I am no expert.
Just a dork with a fetish for 35-36 Fords.

And it wasn't 16....it was 2 years old. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif Really....

[Brooding Swede]

Hey Guys, Roothwag, trey, Dirk35, manyolcars, RC, Plan9, fab32 and 34fordtk. Thanks, you all have helped me out once again ...and ... cleared the air....much thanks.... BS http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif