cracked frame repair

While crawling around on my back wiring up my turn signals on the 29 tudor sedan,i noticed a little problem with the frame. Is this common? I am going to reweld the break,and was wondering if i needed to also box that section with access holes for the shock ? Or should i do it some other way? Thanks. ( right side ) left side left side cracked up to next hole

 

It almost looks like it had been repaired before. I've never had much luck with welding up a crack like that without grinding or cutting into the crack to get rid of most of the work hardened metal next to the crack.

 

I would cut away the broken portion and graft in a replacement section. This is quite common problem and practice. When the body mounts age and dry up they lose their resiliency and put added stresses on the frame mounting points. Repair it and install new mounts. Reinforcing/boxing the frame is a good idea too.

 

the heat from welding hardens the steel WAY more than work hardening ever would...

 

Hard to tell from pics where the cracks end, but it's a good practice to drill a small hole at the very end before welding up -it helps to stop the crack from spreading later.

 

I do frame straightening͵ repair & custom
suspension fabrication for a living and
What u have there is nothing major to
Repair. Clean the area good & then the
Most important step is to "V" out the crack.
Doesnt matter if u widen the crack as long
As u "V" it. This will allow u to get a bead
Of weld into the crack itself instead of jus
Piling weld on top of it. That should work
Fine.

 

Thanks so much for the replies, my knowledge of frame repair are nonexistent, but have a good welder and im willing to learn.

 

I've never had much success at just v-ing out the crack and rewelding it. It almost always will crack again right next to the repair. The best fix to me is to box that section of the frame at least a few inches on either side of the crack. Be careful how you weld the boxing plate too, or the frame will crack at the end of the welded plate. You don't want any sharp edges or undercuts that will cause a stress point.