Need new entire frame for 2001 Ford Ranger extended or doublecab XLT v8 swapped What are my options?

[rusty ol ranger]

Wondering what to look for in a frame? Besides the obvious not bent and not rusted, not cracked etc.... On car parts.com they have frames for sale but they show the entire truck not the frame. I really need someone to go with me to look at frames who knows what they are looking at. I don't have anyone who is knowledgeable on frames who i can trust to help me. I could have the shop help me out but i don't know to what extend they would help me. The frames are graded A-C It seems but that is generated by a system or software they use called checkmate. Don't know how accurate it is.

As long as its not rotted or bent, has holes drilled all over, obvious shitty collision repair, etc it should be fine.

It sucks they did that to your frame. Personally id probably run it depending on where it was cut and welded....but thats without seeing how bad it is.

 

[franklin2]

Wondering what to look for in a frame? Besides the obvious not bent and not rusted, not cracked etc.... On car parts.com they have frames for sale but they show the entire truck not the frame. I really need someone to go with me to look at frames who knows what they are looking at. I don't have anyone who is knowledgeable on frames who i can trust to help me. I could have the shop help me out but i don't know to what extend they would help me. The frames are graded A-C It seems but that is generated by a system or software they use called checkmate. Don't know how accurate it is.

www.car-part.com is like anything else; garbage in, garbage out. The girls or the guys in the junkyard office enter this stuff in the system, and sometimes it's not accurate. They may say they have a frame or a truck and then when they go look for it it's not there. Or it's in bad shape. The good thing is, if you do not mind wasting your time, they usually give you a 30 day guarantee.

I am assuming their price includes taking the body off the truck. If that is the case, then that is when you can inspect the frame and then point out any damage and refuse it. Like I said they will usually work with you and go get another one, but it is up to you to inspect it. It can be simple. If you have a helper, just take a tape measure. Measure from the same points on both sides of the frame in a "X" pattern. You can tell right away if the frame is not square by that.

One thing you keep mentioning, the guy you bought it from did something to the frame and now it's too short? What does that mean? He took a frame that was too long and shortened it? Or he repaired it and it became too short? I am sure everyone on here would be curious to see some pictures of your frame and the repaired areas.

 

[SlugStang8997]

www.car-part.com is like anything else; garbage in, garbage out. The girls or the guys in the junkyard office enter this stuff in the system, and sometimes it's not accurate. They may say they have a frame or a truck and then when they go look for it it's not there. Or it's in bad shape. The good thing is, if you do not mind wasting your time, they usually give you a 30 day guarantee.

I am assuming their price includes taking the body off the truck. If that is the case, then that is when you can inspect the frame and then point out any damage and refuse it. Like I said they will usually work with you and go get another one, but it is up to you to inspect it. It can be simple. If you have a helper, just take a tape measure. Measure from the same points on both sides of the frame in a "X" pattern. You can tell right away if the frame is not square by that.

One thing you keep mentioning, the guy you bought it from did something to the frame and now it's too short? What does that mean? He took a frame that was too long and shortened it? Or he repaired it and it became too short? I am sure everyone on here would be curious to see some pictures of your frame and the repaired areas.

I uploaded a video of the frame in media under slugstang8997 but i don't know how to post that here the frame is cut and welded maybe it got cracked then repaired i don't know i purchased the truck this way. The video of the frame is only a minute long

 

[Blmpkn]

It sucks they did that to your frame. Personally id probably run it depending on where it was cut and welded....but thats without seeing how bad it is.

^^^^ What he said.

Sure.. your body lines are a little wonky and that's obviously not ideal for a hotrod.. but you've sank a shitload of money into this truck in a relatively short amount of time.. and as your finding out.. blindly diving into something like this with little mechanical knowledge can be... expensive.. and cause headaches/heartaches.

As long as the truck drives fine.. no unsafe handling characteristics.. doesn't ruin tires due to a wonky frame.. just drive it for awhile. Write "frame replacement" on your 2025 calander sometime in the middle of june.... take the time between now and then to learn yourself what to look for... and let that bank account cool off a bit lol.

 

[Uncle Gump]

That frame shop told you not to drive it because after inspecting it... they're legally bound to it. I'd be surprised if it isn't written on your receipt. They don't need or want any legal ties to it if you get in an accident.

I'm with @franklin2 I just don't get the welded too short aspect.

I still think... without seeing it... that a good frame guy couldn't just fix what's there.

And @SlugStang8997 you have 4 maybe 5 threads going about this issue... do not start another new thread.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

That frame shop told you not to drive it because after inspecting it... they're legally bound to it. I'd be surprised if it isn't written on your receipt. They don't need or want any legal ties to it if you get in an accident.

I'm with @franklin2 I just don't get the welded too short aspect.

I still think... without seeing it... that a good frame guy couldn't just fix what's there.

And @SlugStang8997 you have 4 maybe 5 threads going about this issue... do not start another new thread.

Do you mean;
"That a good frame guy could fix what's there..."


I help rework big tractor trucks. We regularly have the frames extended, sometimes 16'. Any competent welder can fix your frame.

 

[SlugStang8997]

That frame shop told you not to drive it because after inspecting it... they're legally bound to it. I'd be surprised if it isn't written on your receipt. They don't need or want any legal ties to it if you get in an accident.

I'm with @franklin2 I just don't get the welded too short aspect.

I still think... without seeing it... that a good frame guy couldn't just fix what's there.

And @SlugStang8997 you have 4 maybe 5 threads going about this issue... do not start another new thread.

Thank you for your reply
sorry about all the threads...
How do i pull the video from media into a thread? Or post a link to the other thread with the video
Can i delete a thread? Id like to delete the common box issue thread cause i figured out my frame is bent so i would like to keep the thread open about finding a new frame only.

Your right about the whole liability thing. And it has me thinking about the legality of it all. The truck is Totaled but the title is still clean. At some point i have to report the damage to my insurance company and take the truck off the insurance and register the vehicle as salvage then later register the vehicle as rebuilt or get a rebuilt title.

Driving this truck around is illegal i think in the state of California. And what the previous owner did is considered fraud. They did not tell me there was frame damage. But i think the owner before him is responsible for the damage. But the previous owner who built the truck was a 35 year mechanic and i don't know how they missed the frame damage. Unless they knew and just didn't tell me or they just missed it.
I am going to do the right thing this time with this truck. Even if it cost me more money in the end.

If i go out driving the truck around and anything happens i will be liable cause my truck is unsafe to drive on the road.

 

[SlugStang8997]

Do you mean;
"That a good frame guy could fix what's there..."


I help rework big tractor trucks. We regularly have the frames extended, sometimes 16'. Any competent welder can fix your frame.

Thanks for your reply
Its not that they could not fix it and that they would not fix it's a liability issue.
At some point i guess you have say it's not safe.

Wow 16 feet or was that inchs. I don't think id feel safe driving something like that. But i am no expert

 

[Uncle Gump]

@SlugStang8997

I linked your video in one of your other threads.

Just open your video... copy the url... paste it where you want it.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Thank you for your reply
sorry about all the threads...
How do i pull the video from media into a thread? Or post a link to the other thread with the video
Can i delete a thread? Id like to delete the common box issue thread cause i figured out my frame is bent so i would like to keep the thread open about finding a new frame only.

Your right about the whole liability thing. And it has me thinking about the legality of it all. The truck is Totaled but the title is still clean. At some point i have to report the damage to my insurance company and take the truck off the insurance and register the vehicle as salvage then later register the vehicle as rebuilt or get a rebuilt title.

Driving this truck around is illegal i think in the state of California. And what the previous owner did is considered fraud. They did not tell me there was frame damage. But i think the owner before him is responsible for the damage. But the previous owner who built the truck was a 35 year mechanic and i don't know how they missed the frame damage. Unless they knew and just didn't tell me or they just missed it.
I am going to do the right thing this time with this truck. Even if it cost me more money in the end.

If i go out driving the truck around and anything happens i will be liable cause my truck is unsafe to drive on the road.

Before going dick deep in a frame swap though i would get a 2nd (maybe a 3rd or 4th) opinion.

Depending where its messed up i dont see why some C channel couldnt be slid around the bad spots and welded in place. Or something similar.

I know we had a Pete 387 bust the frame by a cab mount and had it welded good as new.

Talk to some guys who work on jeeps. CJ's/YJ's/TJ's are notrious from shit frames (usually rust) and theyve probably dealt with frames. Plus they wouldnt be as apt to just say "screw it"

Just a suggestion

 

[SlugStang8997]

Here is the link to the video

2001 ford ranger xlt frame that is bent and has been cut and welded short.

Frame damage, frame has been cut and welded short and the frame is also bent 2001 ford ranger xlt v8 swapped

www.therangerstation.com

 

[bobbywalter]

out there ....for you year ranger ...i would pay 300 tops

 

[bobbywalter]

and these things are stupid easy to swap.


i have attachment disorder with my junkpile truck ..... so i just keep fixing it.

 

[SlugStang8997]

I was doing some reading and it seems like its gonna be a nightmare to register the vehicle in CA. I have to have the title of both vehicles and i think you register the frame vehicle as your vehicle. That along with the BAR certificate and smog... There maybe issues or fees idk. I picture them charging me alot to register the vehicle. But i will have to navigate that issue later.

Wondering if i should go get my salvage title now so i can get my rebuilt title later easier. Right now the title is still clean. But that is BS the truck is totaled. 75% of the vehicles value to fix it.

And i could got get a second opinion on the frame but that will cost me money and i have to drive the potentially unsafe vehicle around. There are not very many shops in my area that deal with frame damage. I would have to go drive a ways.

 

[SlugStang8997]

out there ....for you year ranger ...i would pay 300 tops

Thanks for your reply
Frames on car parts.com are as low as 400$ and as high as 995$ some are 200$ but i think there messed up...
That's way cheap i thought frames were 3000$ at least in my mind.
Was wonder if i could get a frame made for 3000$