Cutting Trucks In Half and Putting Them Back Together Again

[@cuttnhorse2013]

Just found your channel! What a treat!❤ I’m 70 years old, was a pilot by trade now retired. But I drove back in the 70’s, 80’s. Also drove part time to help others when I was able. Worked in a machine shop and hydraulics for 6 years as well. Was around a couple of outstanding welders through my time. One did frames as you have. I subscribed for you and hope to continue to gain knowledge through this time of my life. Came up with Renal Cancer, loss of a right kidney, chemotherapy, etc. so I don’t fly or drive OTR, anymore. Love to continue learning. Great Job! Ronnie East, Tennessee

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

Thank you! Sounds like you've done a lot in your life and could probably teach a thing or two. , Sorry to hear about your health. Thanks again.

[@dont9098]

Gday Greg What an Awesome job you did replacing those frame rails, You make it very obvious that you are a very talented Mechanic and can turn your hand to any job. Really like the longer video's Take Care Mate

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

Thank you!

[@peteriannucci6108]

Looks like they put the heavier axle hangers already awesome work you do

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

Thanks!

[@KenDavis-jl8kk]

Your video are always great I only had to back up 3 times to get everything you said for me to understand it, thank you for such detail information. Also I liked you showing what you did with the voice over. Great job

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

Thank you very much. Glad you thought it was worth studying over.

[@100que8]

Salute and Respect ALWAYS Brotha Greg good to see you back again with another great episode of content and video of a master professional mechanic doing things the correct and right way. This is definitely a big project in progress and that frame is totally gone which you are showing all of the defects and rot. I'd rather do a total frame rail replacement than repair the frame rail, it's costly but down the road it pays off. That's what I would do and only my opinion, I can't speak on no else pockets. I know that you're going to have great work and workmanship on this project to be turned out. You have layed out your pattern and measurements out nice. I like how you started with your nice and smooth cuts and angles for your new fabrication of the frame rails, definitely have true exact definition of your transfers on the new rails. Greg you're a BEAST brotha and sharp. Brotha your videos are ALWAYS ON POINT AND HIGH DEFINITION you haven't missed a beat from day one, so you owe no explanation about or for anything. Just keep doing what you do and sharing content, information and video of your projects and work. You've really done an excellent job as ALWAYS and put in alot of time and work in and on this project to get this project completed and done. Thank you for the share of this project and you have out done yourself again as the Mastermind of Masterpiece with skills and talents, very knowledgeable and full of wisdom brotha. Be blessed and safe until the next episode of content and video....💯👍🏽💪🏽🤜🏽🙏🏽🫡👀⛓️🐐👊🏽🐐⛓️👀🫡🙏🏽🤛🏽💪🏽👍🏽💯 LEGGOOOOOOOOOOOOO TEAM SMILES PER GALLON!!!!

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

Thanks for all the kind words and encouragement!

[@scottycollins1829]

Excellent EXPLANATIONS of & SUPER REPRESENTATION of Replacement of the frame rails

[@ronrundattruck4723]

I also know you not talking any new clients which I respect that. I’m in need of someone like you to rebuild my mx13 epa13 paccar motor . I totally understand your book all next year. I would love for you to rebuild the motor or Who would you recommend me too. You’re very gifted and precise with your work. And I’ll tip my hat to you Mr Greg .your an awesome dude.🫡

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

Thank you! We pass most all Paccar work down the line. A lot of guys in my area take their Paccars to a shop in Coldwater Ohio. I can't recall the name of the shop off of the top of my head. If you're in our area, that's the only shop I know of

[@snifitall]

Thank you for sharing all the knowledge with us.

[@scottycollins1829]

Fantastic FOOTAGE Mr Greg

[@elroyelblander6277]

👍👍👍thank you 👊

[@thomaskirkpatrick4031]

Really nice clean job.

[@jacemusgrove3073]

Thank you for the details! I've heard many times not to stright cut. I didn't know why, but it would crack. I knew C channel frames were meant to flex, but moving the cross members away to allow for flex is new to me!

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

Thanks!

[@scottycollins1829]

Thxs 4 sharing Mr Gregg

[@InterstateMadeMe]

Good job brother and thanks for the breakdown 👏🏾👍🏾

[@seantatham9960]

PH Adams is local to me; and are very accommodating. Great people

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

I agree. Very easy to work with. Very professional as well.

[@Weq5ter]

this is probably the best frame rail welding video ive seen on the tube in terms of someone who does this all the time being willing to share. good explanations and details that matter! what welding process did you use and what procedure other then v-ing out? the grease zerk frame rail love it had me laughing cause its a good idea for those of us who want our trucks to last till we die :) i use a paintbrush and lather it for metal on metal like bull bar mounts too

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

Thank you! Yeah, I don't think there is much out there and not everything out there is done right. So I mig welded it. Normally put a few big tacks to hold everything together. Then, I take my time welding it together. Start with the flanges on the deep side of the vee. Let it cool and weld the deep side of the long diagonal. Let it cool and then do the same for the small vee. Since it's tempered metal, I try not to build up more heat than needed for the welds themselves. But the main thing is to always let it cool down naturally and never quinch it. Thanks for your comments!

[@jimhrstka5616]

I just cut the flanges off and use the right side. Use a mag drill bits to mark the holes and drill.

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

Definitely another way it can be done. I've done it a few different ways.

[@micmike]

Nice Fairlane on the shelf....

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

Thank you. Bought it back when I could fit the whole family in it. I got three carseats across the back of it. Can't do that with modern cars. :)

[@j.c.smithprojects]

could you do a follow up with the manufacture and dot publications you are quoting and working off of? this is completely different from what i have found. the kenworth, peterbilt, freightliner, international and gm frame repair procedures i have read, and followed contradict a lot of what you explained.. i use to do what i thought was a good job until i found what each manufacture required. all require an inside liner of a full "c" in the same material type and thickness. most say it should be 2 1/2 times the height of the frame in each direction of the splice. all of publications show a vertical splice. none show a procedure of horizontal or diagonal splice. stick weld or dual shield with vertical uphill using rod or wire rated equal to the frame tensile strength. no sharp corners. all radius and beveled for welding. i weld the back side in first. then grind the from the outside into the first weld. then weld the outside. i have been learning more about the weld itself and how it affects the frame next to it. i never found any publication from dot stating how many bolts were required on each side of a splice or specifics about the splice itself. only that it must be done "according to the manufacture's recommendations". i have run into many guys who have their own way and say "been doing it like this for years". it works just fine for them. im not saying your way wont work. just that what you are quoting as a procedure isnt what i am seeing.

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

I don't think I'll be able to give you all of my sources. I looked all of this up over fifteen years ago and part of it I found on the internet. I had it saved to a old computer... but that's long gone. I believe the stuff from the internet came out of some engineering college somewhere. I've also got a book from school that I got a good bit from. It shows various types of repairs and options for repair. "Heavy Duty Truck Systems 3rd. Ed." It looks like a lot of the information in that book came from Mack. So far as DOT compliance, to be honest, I was told by a guy that I trusted what they looked for and required. But, you're right, it really just says according to manufacturer's recommendations. As you can see, I've got a small shop. I've never worked in with any other mechanic besides my brother. So I haven't had access to all of the specific manufacturer procedures. Obviously, you know what you're talking about and have a lot more OEM information than I've ever had.

[@j.c.smithprojects]

@@bigrig_smilespergallon i am a one man shop. never worked in a truck shop. just my own trucks. i found these publications when i was looking to do a frame stretch on a heavy haul truck. each manufacture has these publications available for free on the internet if you have any interest in checking them out. very detailed and specific.

[@j.c.smithprojects]

@@bigrig_smilespergallon i am a one man shop myself. i only usually work on my own trucks. never worked in a truck, frame or welding shop. i came across this info when i was building a heavy haul truck. since then, i have been able to find the published procedures for each truck make i was working on. it was available on line at no charge. very detailed and specific about joint prep, degree of "v", acceptable welding procedures, frame ratings, specific rod or wire size / rating, preheat and post heat of the frame and grinding / finishing instructions. again, not saying your way is wrong. if you have been doing it that way for 15 years, it obviously works just fine.

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

@@j.c.smithprojects I took a quick look at your channel after responding to you today. After seeing that, I got the impression that either you used to work at a big shop and left it or that you were just a one-man operation that is top level. I subscribed. At the time I was looking, I found very little information and I didn't really know where or what to look for. It didn't really occur to me that the manufacturers set out specified procedure. And furthermore, as all frames are fairly similar in nature and function, I admit that I assumed procedure was fairly general and uniform across the board. Once finding a procedure and determining that it made sense to me and worked, I never spent time looking for any more info. And, as you say, my work has never failed - to my knowledge.

[@j.c.smithprojects]

@@bigrig_smilespergallon same here. i had no idea such things existed until i started searching. up to that point, i was using regular short circuit mig on frame joints. i had no idea how wrong i was. i try to do better with each and every build. so happy to have come across you and your videos.

[@neiljordan5487]

Great job!

[@1944chevytruck]

good job!

[@jn1ty]

I have never done that. When my frame was that bad I always changed the whole rail. It is more work but you have a like new chassis when you are done.

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

You're not the first to say that sort of thing. If this were an over-the-road truck and really something special, it'd be something to consider. Instead, this a solid truck that is spec'd good but it's a farm truck that only puts 20K miles a year on the odometer. It's harder to justify the cost of new rails in a situation like that. This repair will serve the truck just fine. It's as strong as it ever was and was done by the book.

[@jn1ty]

@@bigrig_smilespergallon Hope you didn't think I was putting you down for your work. I was only saying I have never done that kind of repair. I have stretched or did crack repair in that way. You did a great job and I agree your work will last the test of time.

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

@@jn1ty I didn't take it as a criticism. Just thought I'd give a bit more context to explain why this sort of repair was the only way this customer was going to keep the truck.

[@jn1ty]

@@bigrig_smilespergallon Thank you.

[@mikeduhm5325]

By drilling that 1/4" hole the pin doesn't force the slug out. Just drill part way thru with the 1/8" bit then use the annular cutter. Much less dicking around with those slugs. I prefer rubberized undercoating over grease as it forms a seal like a gasket between surfaces. I prefer a straight cut with a C formed fish plate , bolted in. Overall,nice job

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

Yeah, I should concentrate on not drilling all the way through. It would speed things up. I don't like undercoating. If the seal breaks, it holds junk worse than if you had nothing at all. However, grease repels water and there is no seal to break. Straight cuts and welded fish plates are going to make the frame less flexible and therefore weaker. I've seen plenty done that way and not break but I won't do it that way. I studied repair manuals and engineering documents before doing any frame repairs and everything I saw said that best practice is to do the diagonal cut. Thanks!

[@mikeduhm5325]

@@bigrig_smilespergallon You don't weld the fishplate, just bolts. Your wrong about the undercoat but I'm not here to change your mind just telling you what works best. I use the undercoating also between steel and aluminum with excellent results

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

@@mikeduhm5325 Yeah. After I responded, I realized I read your comment wrong. Sorry. My bad.

[@scottycollins1829]

Top Notch EQUIPMENT repairs

[@C_Coop]

Greg gonna get it done right!!

[@bencojo6846]

I am wondering wouldn’t it have been cheaper or faster to do a hole newer back section to a newer suspension, that I believe would have been beneficial compared to the old 8 bag suspension? Nice work and looks great

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

Thanks! Looking back, it probably would have been comparable in cost. Not really any faster, I think. Things were worse than we knew once we got into it, but by then, we had the new rails. A lot of people believe that all frame rail is pretty much the same dimensions but they're not. Even if it is the same brand, and even year truck, it may not be the same. Finding a frame that is the same can be a challenge. Lots of people don't care and will weld anything together even if it's a bad match, but I won't. I've seen one truck that had about an inch and a half height difference between the original and the new.... It was a hideous job.

[@ronrundattruck4723]

If you don’t mind me asking How much you charge to stretch the frame. Of a truck

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

I don't know... It's been so long since I've only stretched a truck. There's so many variables that go into it. And typically I end up doing lots of other work and don't separate the jobs out.

[@thomaskirkpatrick4031]

Wow. That's actually scary. When I drop this trailer going over every inch of the frame.

[@RanjitSingh-h8b]

Good work 👍

[@scottycollins1829]

Mr Greg have U ever done aluminum frame lengthening/stretching

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

No I haven't. I wouldn't trust myself to weld it well enough to hold up. I'd probably hire a professional certified welder to come in and do it.

[@thomaskirkpatrick4031]

You didn't need to use a special drill bit to go through hardened steel?

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

Not exactly. But there is a lot to know about drilling frames. I'm going to make a video expressly on drilling and how to make it a fairly easy chore. But the biggest secret and how is get started is this: Use a 1/8" cobalt bit and spin it as fast as you can. I was able to drill over 96 pilots with a single bit on that job.

[@scottycollins1829]

Lots of rust decay & deteriorating of the frame

[@BobGibson-xh6lg]

I like you program and the way you present it the question I have is what kind of plazma cutter and what kind of welder do you use .I never done this kind of this work before so its very interesting to see how to do it

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

Thank you! I can't recall what plasma cutter I have. It's nothing I would encourage anyone to buy. It came with a plasma cutter table that I bought. I'd recommend a Hypertherm plasma cutter. Those are quite nice. My welder is a Millermatic 212. I've always used Miller mig welders and been pretty happy with them. Glad you have found it interesting.

[@TruckinPeterbilt]

Have you considered replacing both rails? You can get them pre drilled or drill them yourself, replace one side at a time then roll the rear suspension back under, probably the same amount of time/effort as splicing them.

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

All in all, this is quite a bit cheaper and faster. Only way to have PG Adams drill it is to send them the rails or a blueprint. I don't have the blueprints. And I did the whole job for less than you could buy one rail from Kenworth.

[@TruckinPeterbilt]

@@bigrig_smilespergallon I figured out after watching the whole video that cost was a factor, I was under the impression that PG Adam’s could look up the specs based on the vin. Either way, looked like you did a quality job that will stand the test of time.

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

@@TruckinPeterbilt Thank you! Yeah, you're balancing a whole lot of factors when you've got a bad frame. I've replaced an entire frame rail before and it's a job. And the older a truck is, the more work it is and the more expensive the job becomes as you replace parts along the way. When you're breaking down an older truck, you end up deciding to replace a lot of parts that you wouldn't need to on a newer one.

[@scottycollins1829]

Gr88 Vid & SUPER SUCCESSFUL TRK Repair 😎🫱🏻‍🫲🏾💯📸📽📹🎥🔊🔊🔊🔊🔊🔊🔊🎯📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢🫡🫠🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@Pattywacker-c6g]

I am in awe of ur knowledge maybe u can help me I own a 86 extended hood peterbilt with 425 b cat I am in financial distress I love my truck I had a dream but now stuck with her don’t know what to do don’t want to lose her

[@ronrundattruck4723]

I’ve seen your other videos that you mention about paccar . . Paccar parts or paccar engines.

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

Paccar parts. We don't work on Paccar engines unless it's in the most basic capacity.

[@3406e]

Is it just me or what, why is it that I’ve seen so many kw with busted frames. I’ve seen w9 with the frames broken behind the front wheel passenger side

[@bigrig_smilespergallon]

Yeah. Bad design that KW finally fixed. The rear spring hanger has two bolts that go through the bottom flange of the frame rail. If you have one of that design, you need to buy the new style one that use three bolts to hold it to the side of the frame rail. Drill some new holes for the new bracket. And put bolts in the old holes in the flange. Frame holes shouldn't be left open. Frame is a lot stronger with a bolt tightened down in the hole - Especially important on the flange.

[@3406e]

@@bigrig_smilespergallon got it

[@rickc7555]

Dude you Talk too much, just do the work, very few people wants to learn how to cut a trailer in half, just work

[@Bullshit1011]

Yes i have that frame bone leg , 😂😂 broke it two years in a row one break next to the other 😅