Author Topic: I need Help straightening my frame:no shop or experience:FIXED ! (Read 8075 times)

Dave K · « **Reply #25 on:** November 13, 2011, 07:56:09 AM »

Great on the frame straightening! Hope it goes as planned.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #26 on:** November 13, 2011, 07:49:14 PM »

I look forward to the complete experience from start to finish...I hope the gentleman goes slow so that I can commit everything to memory. I have found it SO difficult to find a titled frame that is in as decent condition as mine is(aside from being tweaked).I also look forward to taking the road trip(but not in the same way they did in the movie "Wild Hogs"...that movie was an absolute SCREAM to me)and doing something that is certainly out of the ordinary for me.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #27 on:** December 14, 2011, 08:26:17 PM »

I just got back from that trip from E.Pa. where I live to Mi. to have Danno straighten my Frame...and it went Great ! I had fun on the ride up & back...it was real good to get a lesson in "frame straightening 101";I can now say that I have a small bit of experience in the frame straightening process.

Thanks Danno ! I'm glad we saved one from the crusher.

70CB750 · « **Reply #28 on:** December 15, 2011, 03:13:07 AM »

Pictures? I saw cars stretched back to the shape, never motorcycle frame. Is it done on a platform too?

FuZZie · « **Reply #29 on:** December 16, 2011, 05:17:31 AM »

Good stuff grcamna2, glad it came out well!

grcamna2 · « **Reply #30 on:** December 16, 2011, 05:28:36 AM »

70CB750,
Danno took 2-3 pictures...we didn't take enough and he has them;I need to get set up to upload pictures to the forum.I know we should have fully documented the complete process from start to finish...I hope he'll put some info into this post.

faux fiddy · « **Reply #31 on:** December 17, 2011, 12:27:58 AM »

Quote from: grcamna2 on December 14, 2011, 08:26:17 PM

I just got back from that trip from E.Pa. where I live to Mi. to have Danno straighten my Frame...and it went Great ! I had fun on the ride up & back...it was real good to get a lesson in "frame straightening 101";I can now say that I have a small bit of experience in the frame straightening process.

Thanks Danno ! I'm glad we saved one from the crusher.

Cool,gr. Is this a similar post in twins forum (.com and .net or either)? Just sighed up thereabouts and it sounds familar. Did you do pics?

grcamna2 · « **Reply #32 on:** December 17, 2011, 07:03:27 AM »

Hi Fiddy,
I also did some posts on Honda twins...but I just couldn't get anyone to help me.I had a few members start out w/ good energy on twins;one member...I drove 400 miles round trip to get him to check the frame & he said he would help me...but he ran out of steam quick.I was in touch w/ another member on twins and he wanted to buy this titled frame as is, bent;I asked him if he would straighten it for ME and he told me he doesn't allow other peoples bikes in his shop...some kind of strict policy. I was so encouraged to find Danno up in SW. Mi. he had positive energy and he Really knows his stuff; when it comes to welding and Engineering,etc. the man is a genius.The great thing about him is that he has experience doing it & had enough heart to trust a sohc4 member & friend to come to his shop for the weekend while he spent time straightening the frame and teaching me in the process.We have been friends for a little while. I still enjoy the other forum.....but THIS sohc4 forum is really the BEST and I will enjoy this one the MOST.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #33 on:** December 24, 2011, 05:22:02 AM »

Has anyone else tried straightening out their frames ??

faux fiddy · « **Reply #34 on:** December 25, 2011, 11:26:37 AM »

Quote from: grcamna2 on December 24, 2011, 05:22:02 AM

Has anyone else tried straightening out their frames ??

I helped a friend with muscle to get his frame head tube perpendicular to the swing arm pivot once. He did all the set up, and was ready for me before I saw it. It's been several years so it's not real vivid a recollection. I know it was clamped to the table on a bridgeport mill which was how it was accurately measured, and there was a big cheater bar involved.

Other than that I don't remember what it was, probably a F-1 Ducati.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #35 on:** December 25, 2011, 11:57:25 AM »

Did it straighten it out ?

bill440cars · « **Reply #36 on:** December 25, 2011, 12:28:01 PM »

That's too bad that you had to go to some much time and effort, to try to get that frame straightened. But, I'm glad that you were able to hook up with Danno and get it taken care of. There's so good folks on here and lots of experience and knowledge with a wide variety of bikes, cars, etc......

grcamna2 · « **Reply #37 on:** December 25, 2011, 12:46:25 PM »

Bill,
I was praying I'd find somebody who could help(I had 0 experience & not much confidence)and I was blessed to find Danno...it was a good bit of effort but well worth it to save another Vintage Honda from the crusher.I want to ask about your Plymouth GTX...does it have a 440 wedge engine in it ? what does it look like ? is it a work in progress? They are nice cars ! Merry Christmas to you and yours.

bill440cars · « **Reply #38 on:** December 25, 2011, 01:27:23 PM »

Quote from: grcamna2 on December 25, 2011, 12:46:25 PM

Bill,
I was praying I'd find somebody who could help(I had 0 experience & not much confidence)and I was blessed to find Danno...it was a good bit of effort but well worth it to save another Vintage Honda from the crusher.I want to ask about your Plymouth GTX...does it have a 440 wedge engine in it ? what does it look like ? is it a work in progress? They are nice cars ! Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Yeah, I agree, I hate to see Vintage stuff go to the Crusher, especially an old Honda.
Yes, my GTX is a 440 car (that was the base engine for the GTX) and it is also a 4speed car. It has no power anything, except for the 440. It was supposed to have been restored. BUT, that guy's idea of "restored" is alot different from MY idea of it. So, yes, it IS a work in progress.

Here are some shots, the 1st one, with my '07 Charger R/T

One of the engine

One from the rear

grcamna2 · « **Reply #39 on:** December 25, 2011, 03:24:15 PM »

Nice Cars Bill ! What have you done to it so far...? and what do you want to do to finish your restoration ?
I literally want to KICK myself every time I think about it........back in 74' I traded a 1969 GTO w/ some front end damage(foam bumper,etc. & in need of $ to fix + other problems) for a 1968 Dodge Charger R/T w/ a seized 440...it was a convertible..w/ a new top, auto trans. and all w/ nice body & interior...the nice original blue metallic color(if I had that car today...I'd some how get the $ to rebuild that engine)and again...I didn't have the $ to get it fixed(working for my biological father for peanuts as usual)...well I knew this high school kid who the original owner "gave" the car to him for work he did and he wanted my newly acquired GTO & how !!!... so I traded...and then didn't have the $ to fix it so I sold it to a Dodge Charger Expert who had tons of parts & knowledge,etc. .......for.. CHEAP...I was a DUMB kid and didn't have anybody to give me some wise counsel....I LIVE AND LEARN.
I really love that GTX !! What will you need to accomplish to finish your restoration ?

bill440cars · « **Reply #40 on:** December 25, 2011, 04:21:22 PM »

Sure hate to hear how you couldn't afford to fix that Coronet.

Great cars. I've had times like that, as well. So, I KNOW the feeling very well.

From a distance, the car looks great, but the guy was not a body man and there are a lot of places that just needed to be sanded down properly, The rear window seal is bad, cause it leaks water in at the top of the window. I have to finish doing a brake job on it, the thing only had front brakes, when I got it (equalizer valve bad). I've got everything but the equal. valve AND I really need to get what I need and replace the front drum brakes with discs. It has NON power drum brakes all way round. I need to work on the steering, it has NON power steering with slop in that. I need to replace all of the seals around all of the windows. The windshield should be replaced. the bumpers have seen better days. I need to rebuild the door hinges (have the parts), replace the left door latch (got a latch), install the linkage left the left door tumbler. The trans has developed a whine and some other noises (I have a buddy who ALSO has a GTX that is a 4sp car, but he is going completely through his and converting to a 727 auto. and will let me use HIS trans as long as I need it, while I get mine rebuilt). I need to go through the interior: replace the carpet, get the door panels redone, get some work done on the headliner, install sun visors (have some), replace the defroster vents, get and install the right side vent cable, get tailpipes installed (car has headers and pipes that place the mufflers right in front of the differential, and I have the exhaust tips). I want to try to save for a better steering system (power, with a better ratio) I need to get some work done in the area of the rear fenders too. I am getting another grille, that will let me combine what I have with it and have a better looking grille. It HAD a Dana 60 from the factory and somebody swapped in an 8 3/4 with Sure Grip ans 3.55 gears, but they cut off the emergency brake cables! I'm sure there is more, I just can't think right now.

Let me say this, the previous owner had the engine build and it DOES run Pretty darn good! It has Magnum 500 reproduction wheels (8" wide in the front and 10" rear, with about 12" of rubber on the rear) and it will easily break the rear wheels loose, in 2nd, while going through the gears.

I'll tell you more, if you want to hear it, later on.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #41 on:** December 26, 2011, 12:03:07 PM »

Bill,
Is it your goal to eventually bring it back to full original condition & then sell it to a car collector or bring it to a condition that you like and then keep it ?
Bill H.

bill440cars · « **Reply #42 on:** December 26, 2011, 12:45:02 PM »

Quote from: grcamna2 on December 26, 2011, 12:03:07 PM

Bill,
Is it your goal to eventually bring it back to full original condition & then sell it to a car collector or bring it to a condition that you like and then keep it ?
Bill H.

Well, I'm just wanting to get it to where I want it and keep it. You see, This car is the same year, body style and color as the '69 road runner that my Wife had, when we met (mine was a Petty Blue '69 road runner coupe, when we met AND that's HOW we met) And my Wife passed away on 1 July 09 and when I found this car on ebay, it was the same color as hers (and with the GTX being the same body style too) and I bought it and named it "Miss Brenda". So THIS CAR will be in MY possession as long as absolutely possible. BTW, I have turned down several offers to buy it, but I won't even consider it, I just tell them that it's not for sale. Some people think that ANYTHING is for sale, for the right price and in this case, THAT is not the case,

grcamna2 · « **Reply #43 on:** December 26, 2011, 04:16:54 PM »

Bill,
I see it's a labor of Love and I'm sure that you'll make it mint...just as she would have it; If I was in your area I would offer to help,it's going to be a nice long journey to see it get better & Better & I know you'll enjoy every moment of it.

bill440cars · « **Reply #44 on:** December 26, 2011, 09:10:42 PM »

Quote from: grcamna2 on December 26, 2011, 04:16:54 PM

Bill,
I see it's a labor of Love and I'm sure that you'll make it mint...just as she would have it; If I was in your area I would offer to help,it's going to be a nice long journey to see it get better & Better & I know you'll enjoy every moment of it.

I sure will do my best to make it worthy of carrying the name on that plate, you can depend on that.

Danno · « **Reply #45 on:** December 28, 2011, 12:38:46 AM »

Frame straightening update
After meeting bill at a local subway restaurant and guiding him back to my shop we got the frame and all his stuff out of his car

it was late in the evening so we worked on it the following day

I can see why Bill wanted to keep his original frame it was rust free and in real nice shape other than being a little tweaked

well after getting the frame set level which on this bike is no easy feat

we used the factory jig reference marks for a level and just simple shop squares to determine how far out and where exactly the bends were

as it turns out it was a compound bend mostly to the front down tube but by making a cut at the apropriate angle up near the headstock I felt we could get most of the twist and bend out of it

so I cut the down tube from the headstock 90% the way through it at a slight downward angle 30 degrees and then applied three 1200# ratchet straps to the backbone by the headstock

I knew I had gotten the cut right because with the spare engine bolted up to the frame after it was cut the frame wanted to move back into shape but of course after having sat that way for so long it only came back about half way to straight

that is where the ratchet straps came in i tightened each one one at a time observing the movement of the headstock till I had as much pressure as i could apply with the ratchet straps we left it that way for a while and worked on cutting off Bills shock springs

when I cam back to the bike I gave it some smart hits on the cut I had made and it closed up enough so it was ready to weld I use automobile steel wire in my welder with argon shield gas and a lot of heat so we welded the cut shut and put reinforcing beads over it I then rewelded many of the other welds on the headstock to reinforce them as well

after we were done welding the headstock Bill asked me to weld all his other seams to make them more rigid too
we smoothed things off with a rolloc disc and a die grinder then painted them

this is about my fourth frame I have straightened and although the frame itself was complex the repair was easy and straight forward some of the frames I have done required a lot of measuring this one mostly needed to be put back to perpendicular with the trailing arm

pictures may be found here http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?action=gallery;su=user;u=12779

grcamna2 · « **Reply #46 on:** December 28, 2011, 04:06:23 AM »

Thank Danno...it was a great learning experience & I look forward to Springtime & the warm weather so I can really enjoy my straightened bike;that frame WAS tweaked & I would have been sunk without your expertise.I also thank you for the great deal you gave me.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #47 on:** January 04, 2012, 05:27:25 AM »

I wish we had taken more pictures but it was freeeeziiing in there for a little while until you hooked up that big heater ! It's nice to have a link to see a picture now.
Thanks again Danno !

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Author Topic: I need Help straightening my frame:no shop or experience:FIXED ! (Read 8075 times)