Frame Butcher

I just bought a '49 Ford coupe sight unseen, oops.
The kid cut the front cross member 3/4+ thru to clear the 347 Ford
oil pan !!!???
I am going to get the pan conversion kit and repair the frame with 1/4" plate.
Would stick welding just damage it further from the heat ?
I don't want to take the engine out to replace the cross member and suspension kit, at this time.
Any thoughts, suggestions, condolences, scolding, etc. appreciated.

 

Not if you know what you're doing...heck, you can damage things with a wire welder

 

Well,you never posted a introduction so we are flying blind here,,are you well versed with using a stick welder?

No doubt it's old school and will work but how do you intend to dress up the weld with the engine in place,,I would think with a cross member welding both sides would be advisable. HRP

 

Its a major part of your ch***is, pull the engine and do the repair right. Forget about your self and think of the other people on the road if the mangled crossmember gives way and the front suspention folds up. Would it actually happen?....probably not but do you want to chance being the cause of someone getting hurt because you cut some corners?

 

if you have to ask maybe you should get help and pics would help.

 

1/4 inch plate is way overkill to repair a crossmember. Use material of the same gauge as the original

 

+1 on that, It will work better with a gauge of metal that matches the original metal.

I didn't see anywhere in your post that you were going to leave the engine in place while you attempted to weld the frame back together so I am ***uming that you are pulling the engine and will be able to get to the crossmember with no problems to be able to weld on it without standing on your head.

You have to forgive some of these younger guys as some of them have never seen a stick welder used and think that they are something that you only see in museums. Any weld using any welder is only as good as the skill level of the person holding the handle and doing the welding. The only issue with stick welding is that you will have the slag to deal with, other than that it will be just as strong or stronger as any other weld and if your skill level is high enough you won't have a lot of work to do dressing up the welds as some other guys automatically ***ume.

 

i could stick weld a lot better than with a mig could see the puddle. 1/8" or 3/16" is all you need

 

Thanks for all the advice and suggestions.
No more needed.

 

Oh good - he's got all the answers now


But still no intro

 

Some people are just down right RUDE.
We may not hear from him again.

 

He said "I don't want to take the engine out to replace the cross member"