All MetalShaping

Go Back   All MetalShaping > Metal Shaping Projects > Automotive Projects
  Today's Posts Posts for Last 7 Days Posts for Last 14 Days  

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 06-13-2017, 05:05 AM
berntd berntd is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: New South Wales Australia
Posts: 102
Default Frame rail is deformed. How can I bend it?

I have discovered that my 1973 450SL Mercedes unibody resto left front frame rail is deformed.

It has been repaired before but not nearly correct.

It is bent in by 16mm or 5/8"
That is at the 2 subframe mount points.
I need another subframe as well as this one matches the deformation.
Camber=NO WAY.

I have a Porto Power and wonder how I could try to bend this.

I can't push much against the other rail as that would surely bend then?

The rails are held together at the front by a nose piece.

Any ideas anyone?

Name:  20170613_120529.jpg
Views: 1060
Size:  61.1 KB

The pic seems rotated here on the forum.

It is a top view of the frame member.
The red line shows where the edge if the member should be. The masonite with the plumb bob is, is on the frame ourside.

Inner and outer guards removed.

Regards
Bernt
__________________
Best regards
Bernt

Last edited by Steve Hamilton; 06-13-2017 at 12:25 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 06-13-2017, 05:16 AM
berntd berntd is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: New South Wales Australia
Posts: 102
Default

Side profile of said frame rail.

It needs most bending near the top bend.

Name:  20170330_201415.jpg
Views: 1030
Size:  69.5 KB

Name:  20170219_130331.jpg
Views: 1042
Size:  78.7 KB
__________________
Best regards
Bernt

Last edited by berntd; 06-13-2017 at 10:34 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 06-13-2017, 09:13 AM
crystallographic crystallographic is offline
MetalShaper of the Month October '14 , April '16, July 2020, Jan 2023
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Western Sierra Nevadas, Badger Hill, CA
Posts: 4,388
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by berntd View Post
Side profile if said frame rail.

It needs most bending near the top bend.
Hi Bernt,
If I am understanding your descriptions correctly, it looks as if the car took impact from the front, onto that corner. It compressed the frame and wrinkled the firewall.
When I pull out damage like this I always try to mentally grasp the angle/direction of the impact, so I can accurately reverse it when I make my push/ pull.

I think - if I am seeing this correctly - that I would make a push between the sway bar mount and point B on your drawing. I might think about releasing the patch on the sidewall, as well, as that could be holding against the push ....
You might have to make up two perches to use your Porto to shove against, and then clean them off, afterwards.

It looks as if the frame arch went up with the impact, and also curved along the top view. The top curve can also be pushed/pulled at the same time.

To correct some heavy frame damage I have had three and four jacks, with chains holding the frame at one time, when I use my frame table bolted to the floor of my shop. I also use an old "Kansas jack" to pull out sections. Blackhawk made a pretty heavy one, a "Dozer" or a "Pull Dozer," and I use one of those, which might help you, here.
__________________
Kent

http://www.tinmantech.com

"All it takes is a little practical experience to blow the he!! out of a perfectly good theory." --- Lloyd Rosenquist, charter member AWS, 1919.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 06-13-2017, 10:04 AM
John Buchtenkirch John Buchtenkirch is offline
MetalShaper of the Month October 2012
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Glen Cove, Long Island
Posts: 1,675
Default

If you don’t have frame pulling equipment and experience an alternative might be to cut out & replace that uni-body rail. Or consider farming out that part of the job to a professional.

I always hated working on Mercedes, removing the rubberized undercoating was the absolute worst. Also many of the Mercedes didn’t have lips (pinch weld areas) at the bottom of the rocker panels to hold the cars and I was never really comfortable pulling them from the 4 jacking points. YIKES ……… very glad to be retired from heavy collision work. ~ John Buchtenkirch
__________________
John
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 06-13-2017, 06:16 PM
berntd berntd is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: New South Wales Australia
Posts: 102
Default

Hi Kent and John

Thaks for the replies.

Yes, the damage must have been from the front left. That arm has a built in crumple zone at the point I show the wrinkles near poin A.
It had all been pulled and repaired an heated with Oxy before as I found heaps of telltales of it. Pity they decided to just keep it matched to the bent subframe. there are telltales on the subframe of heating and pushing as well.


Kent, I wish I had that equipment as my whole problem is holding the car and having useful anchor points outside the car to push and pull.

I can only push and pull to anchor points within and on the car itself.
I may have to give this up as I just see no way to do it.

I could buy or make a floor frame with sill clamps just for this but man, that is a lot of effort.

None of the professionals I contacted so far were interested in taking this on.
None are even prepared to look and want the car towed there, which is expensive, just to look see.

As John suggested, I may need to transplant that whole arm after all. That means buying a whole other car :-(

Regards
Bernt
__________________
Best regards
Bernt
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 06-13-2017, 09:17 PM
John Buchtenkirch John Buchtenkirch is offline
MetalShaper of the Month October 2012
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Glen Cove, Long Island
Posts: 1,675
Default

I’m very familiar with the Mercedes sub-frames mounted on the 4 rubber mounts and it’s really very hard to pull those 4 mounting points into the correct position without a modern 3D measuring system like shown in the photos below. Just ask the mutt that attempted to repair the car previously . If the nose isn’t swayed, then swapping in a used uni-body rail isn’t too bad of a job, that is why I suggested it. ~ John Buchtenkirch
Name:  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!col.jpg
Views: 961
Size:  49.8 KB

Name:  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!coll.jpg
Views: 984
Size:  45.3 KB
__________________
John
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:09 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.