Odd Frame Repair?

[Blindhuckster]

I have the engine and trans out of my 37 coupe. Resealing, replacing original wiring, etc. Cleaning the frame of oil and grease and I am puzzled as to why someone would have welded what looks like the upper spring leaf to the frame. You can see that the front crank pulley at one time was hitting the spring
U bolts and wore a groove in them. When I pulled the motor, I did notice the wear on the u bolts, but the pulley was not rubbing at that time. The top and sides of the frame look good with no signs of damage. Has anyone seen this done before? Want to take a guess as to why someone did this? I am at a loss.

[Kurt in NJ]

The spring seat in the front cross member was cracked

[corvette8n]

Maybe they were going to put one of those dreaded Chevy motors in the car.

[tubman]

I had a '36 Coupe that had a cracked front crossmember that was similar to that. I replaced the entire crossmember with a new one from "Precision Coachworks" of Billerica, MA (unfortunately they are no longer in business, though I have heard that "Joe's Auto Parts" may have picked up some of their function).

This appears to be a less elegant version of that repair. The spring leaf is there to provide reinforcement and something to weld to. It looks like a fairly serviceable repair.

[Blindhuckster]

Thanks Kurt, Is this a common issue with these frames?

[Bored&Stroked]

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Think about how different the roads of today are as compared to the past -- these cars took a beating as compared to what we're all used to now.

If that was my frame, I would cut/remove that ugly piece of spring to see what the situation is underneath. The weld job on it is a mess anyway . . . just the best somebody could do with whatever welding equipment and skills the possessed.

Then you will need to fix the issue on the original cross-member and/or replace it. Given that you have things torn down to this level - now is the time to deal with some of the "sins of the past".

[Kube]

Originally Posted by Blindhuckster

Thanks Kurt, Is this a common issue with these frames?

It was semi common through 1934. Quite odd on a '37.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by Bored&Stroked

Think about how different the roads of today are as compared to the past -- these cars took a beating as compared to what we're all used to now.

If that was my frame, I would cut/remove that ugly piece of spring to see what the situation is underneath. The weld job on it is a mess anyway . . . just the best somebody could do with whatever welding equipment and skills the possessed.

Then you will need to fix the issue on the original cross-member and/or replace it. Given that you have things torn down to this level - now is the time to deal with some of the "sins of the past".

I could not agree more. NOS cross members are "out there" as well as good-used.

[Seth Swoboda]

Am I corrrect to assume the front cross member, 1937-1940 are the same?

[Heard]

Haha! That looks GREAT compared to what my '35 pickup looked like. I ended up replacing the cross member.

Heard

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by Blindhuckster

I have the engine and trans out of my 37 coupe. Resealing, replacing original wiring, etc. Cleaning the frame of oil and grease and I am puzzled as to why someone would have welded what looks like the upper spring leaf to the frame. You can see that the front crank pulley at one time was hitting the spring
U bolts and wore a groove in them. When I pulled the motor, I did notice the wear on the u bolts, but the pulley was not rubbing at that time. The top and sides of the frame look good with no signs of damage. Has anyone seen this done before? Want to take a guess as to why someone did this? I am at a loss.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by Heard

Haha! That looks GREAT compared to what my '35 pickup looked like. I ended up replacing the cross member.

Heard

[Ggmac]

Yes I do admit to welding a leaf spring on top, back many moons ago , it was a 34 . Used my dads Ac/Dc stick welder .

[woodiewagon46]

It could be that they used good old "Yankee Ingenuity" and used what they had laying around. Do you know if the spring patch is from the top leaf of your spring?

[Kube]

Originally Posted by Seth Swoboda

Am I corrrect to assume the front cross member, 1937-1940 are the same?

Nope.

[oldbugger]

My 35 was bad in the same area, when i was 12 yrs old i riveted in a good used replacement, still looks good today.

[Blindhuckster]

I do appreciate all the information and advice. If I was doing a frame off restoration on this car, which I am not, I would replace the crossmember. Looking at what I would need to remove from the front-end sheet metal, spring, etc. to accomplish the replacement, is just more involved than I can do at this time. At this point in my life, with several more working years to go before I retire, I just want to get the car back on the road. I've owned it since 2019 and put several thousand trouble free miles on it. It's far from perfect but is presentable and a great solid driver that I enjoy. Thanks, Nate Anello

[47topless]

Good attitude! I would remove the U-bolts, grind the welds a bit to smooth it out, treat and paint to prevent rust and go with it. The engine completely hides that area anyway.

[Seth Swoboda]

Originally Posted by Kube

Nope.

What are the differences?

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by Blindhuckster

I do appreciate all the information and advice. If I was doing a frame off restoration on this car, which I am not, I would replace the crossmember. Looking at what I would need to remove from the front-end sheet metal, spring, etc. to accomplish the replacement, is just more involved than I can do at this time. At this point in my life, with several more working years to go before I retire, I just want to get the car back on the road. I've owned it since 2019 and put several thousand trouble free miles on it. It's far from perfect but is presentable and a great solid driver that I enjoy. Thanks, Nate Anello

NICE!!!