Frame straightening

[steve from staten island]

I was at a heavy collision shop today were there was these two good sized frame machines. He had a almost new car on the machine which took a hit to the passenger side and bucked both sides of the frame. They had these indicators at three spots under the car that were for alignment. The owner of shop explained how they made that pull and what was involved. Its really interesting to see how they can straighten and re-align what looks like a really banged up frame

 

[the mississippi madman]

I was at a heavy collision shop today were there was these two good sized frame machines. He had a almost new car on the machine which took a hit to the passenger side and bucked both sides of the frame. They had these indicators at three spots under the car that were for alignment. The owner of shop explained how they made that pull and what was involved. Its really interesting to see how they can straighten and re-align what looks like a really banged up frame

Frame machines are cool but they look like a huge pain hooking them up to the car

 

[WileE]

They are light years ahead of what we used years ago, pull-dozers and tram gauges. However, and this is a BIG however, what used to be mild steel is now high strength and ultra high strength steel. If it is bent to a kink, it is not to be pulled and repaired, rather replaced. Some hack shops are not repairing vehicles correctly.

 

[super-bee_ski]

Yup
Great post SFSI
Todays technology enables repairs that were essentially unavailable back in the 60s and 70s
Thanks to the cost reduction and availability with LASER technologies.

 

[Bladecutter]

Frame machines are cool but they look like a huge pain hooking them up to the car

That's why the set up charges are a separate fee.

 

[conv67bdere]

I was at a heavy collision shop today were there was these two good sized frame machines. He had a almost new car on the machine which took a hit to the passenger side and bucked both sides of the frame. They had these indicators at three spots under the car that were for alignment. The owner of shop explained how they made that pull and what was involved. Its really interesting to see how they can straighten and re-align what looks like a really banged up frame

Steve . . . wish you could have gotten some pictures - curious how the frame machines have changed and what they look like now . . . Thanks.

 

[steve from staten island]

These weren't new machines but they were the drive on type and the place had two of them and on the walls were all the attachments. The guy does frame work for some shops in the area from what i know, he is suppose to be one of the best

 

[WileE]

The basics are the same, it's the measurement system that differs. For example, you can hang probes at specified points and the sound waves get picked up by a beam, which indicates what dimensions are out of spec. You then pull into alignment.

 

[493 Mike]

Even when components have to be replaced, the bends need to be pulled close as possible which makes for a much better finished repair.
Mike

 

[Kern Dog]

I have a guy that has a desireable car that he wants to sell to me. It was in a front end collision awhile back and has a bent right rail, a wrinkled inner fender and firewall. I may look at something like this if and when I buy the car. Thanks, Steve.

 

[mmissile]

We used to tug on the bent up stuff, to get it back as close to original, as possible. Then, we'd generally replace anything that took a good whack.

 

[snakeyes]

today we have state of the art equipment not like the old days but a lot of the problem toady there are some dummies out there that need to really learn how to use them just like being a doctor there are a lot of dummies

 

[snakeyes]

Car O Liner is a good system http://www.car-o-liner.com/us/car-o-liner/

 

[snakeyes]

Chief is another company http://www.chiefautomotive.com/

all sizes

 

[snakeyes]

there are all kinds of machine but only a few are top notch and there is a ton of junk a lot of machines are only as good as the tech.

 

[VANDAN]

Here's a few pics of a '65 I had done at a local shop. They did a very nice job on it, and the cost was reasonable also. Could never have done it at home that easy, and cost efficient...

 

[snakeyes]

paint booths todays are high tech.

back in the day

 

[snakeyes]

wrecks of yesterday

 

[mopar 3 B]

Great machines if your insurance company isn't more interested in scraping than repairing.

 

[Kern Dog]

Great machines if your insurance company isn't more interested in scraping than repairing.

Well, you can scrape the paint off and do bodywork, right?