Passenger frame rail failure

[SamSly]

1977 b300 sportsman 7.2 holley 750 vac sec
m not sure what to call it but a metal plate with four bolts that connect it to the front passenger side piece of frame just barely in front of that tire has ripped from rail. I'll post a better picture in a few. I looked up recalls and found something vaguely similar but not sure what I'm looking at. Question. Can I just weld it back onto the frame? Maybe weld a piece of flat iron and bolt the original "piece" to that?? Anyone had this problem?
The power steering was making a horrendous squeal for the last few drives and a strange clunking noise had been emanating from the underside passenger side also for some time. Never had been able to find the source until now. This occurred last night as I was backing into the driveway. Now there is a steady drip drip drip from radiator. This photo was taken from passenger side hood looking down behind the radiator.

 

[Kern Dog]

Nobody knows what car you drive, the year it was built, the engine, transmission, the picture is no help either.
Please stop taking pictures in vertical/portait format. It looks terrible.

 

[David Stillie]

It's a 1977 b300 sportsman.

 

[SamSly]

I'm heading to drive way for more pics now

 

[Kern Dog]

It's a 1977 b300 sportsman.

Thanks. The original opening post was edited AFTER I responded.
People that want help NEED to include every bit of information they have IF they want help. Nobody is paid to give advice here. Very few are mind readers as well.
Also, the name of the forum is For B Bodies Only. Sure, there are some instances where the tech topics go outside of the scope of the Mopar B body cars but there is a truck forum link at the bottom of the page.
Just a guess given the lack of info, but maybe the engine crossmember ripped out of the frame rail. If this is the case, the engine and crossmember will likely have to be removed to gain access to the area to allow a repair.

 

[Tony Tee]

I'm heading to drive way for more pics now

Looks like it pulled the bolts right out of the frame.. that might have happened when you pancaked it off a dozer ramp. LOL! And yes we need more details.

 

[SamSly]

Idler arm?

View attachment 993113 View attachment 993114 View attachment 993116

 

[dryheat]

Looks like an idler to me. My best guess is that the idler completely seized and tore the bracket completely off the frame rail. Had this happen on an old ford once. I was able to use longer bolts and drill holes on the other side of the frames rail.

 

[Kern Dog]

Looks like an idler to me. My best guess is that the idler completely seized and tore the bracket completely off the frame rail. Had this happen on an old ford once. I was able to use longer bolts and drill holes on the other side of the frames rail.

The Ford probably had a body on frame design. Mopar vans are unibody like the cars. The frame structure is thinner. Bolting through is likely to crush the frame.

 

[retractable]

There is a safety recall on the van for the steering gear mount breaking away from frame. I had a 72 dodge van that the steering gear .out broke and the local dealer came out and towed the van in and fixed it all up. I dont remember the recall number.

 

[SamSly]

Thanks for the replies. Ended up having a welder cut the bolt and nuts off and weld a piece of flat iron onto the bracket and then weld that whole piece back in place. When it was pulled free from the rail, the lower hose from block to radiator was stabbed so I was waiting to replace that.

Looks like an idler to me. My best guess is that the idler completely seized and tore the bracket completely off the frame rail. Had this happen on an old ford once. I was able to use longer bolts and drill holes on the other side of the frames rail.

I assume you are talking about the idler pulley? So I shouldn't start the van until I check that out.

 

[70chall440]

I think he is talking about the idler arm

 

[SamSly]

How would the idler arm freeze up and any suggestions on what I should look for to avoid this happening again?

 

[70chall440]

It can freeze up through time, wear and neglect. They get rusty and the inner sleeve binds up. You can avoid it happening again by ensuring that its replacement has a grease zerk on it and then greasing your front end once in a while, perhaps once a year or so.