bent underside of subframe cross member

[My68SS]

Hi all, seems like a lot of Camaro's suffered from bent in steel on the underside of the cross member from being jacked up in the middle [fore-aft] of the cross member, or being heavily bottomed out over road dips.
At least I haven't seen a un-restored flat bottom Camaro subframe cross member yet!

Any tips/tricks to getting this straight again? or is it just a case of trimming that section off with a cut-off wheel. pressing it straight then welding it back on, then grind and linish the weld.
Hate having to cut n weld things though.
Then again, it would give me a chance to clean up and treat the inside of the cross member.

[william]

Have to agree with you. Very common to see that, even on otherwise well-restored cars.

It is not that difficult to remove the entire piece. Straighten it in a press, weld it back in place just as the factory did. If you have access to a shop with frame straightening equipment they can straighten it with out removal.

[My68SS]

If you have access to a shop with frame straightening equipment they can straighten it with out removal.

Do you know what technique they typically use?

Had looked into removing the whole piece - bit of welding to unpick.

[william]

Weld a hook to it and pull. Not as clean as pressing and requires finishing.

[bcmiller]

For now I am leaving the dents in mine.  Adds character. 

[ZLP955]

Have a look over at TC. Al (user name 'BPOS') did this repair on his subframe, and also reinforced the area with box-section steel so it wouldn't bend again if he used the jack there.

[1968RSZ28]

Have a look over at TC. Al (user name 'BPOS') did this repair on his subframe, and also reinforced the area with box-section steel so it wouldn't bend again if he used the jack there.

http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=194530

Paul

[ZLP955]

That's not the thread I was thinking of, but now I see where his inspiration came from!

[My68SS]

Weld a hook to it and pull. Not as clean as pressing and requires finishing.

That's another technique I had considered.

For now I am leaving the dents in mine.  Adds character. 

bcm, I can totally relate to that. I drool harder over unrestored than restored 

Thanks for the input crew, I'll keep searching TC

[bcmiller]

He did a pretty good job on the body bushing frame repair too.  

[My68SS]

He did a pretty good job on the body bushing frame repair too. 

Yeah, not just patched, but replicated.

Have a look over at TC. Al (user name 'BPOS') did this repair on his subframe, and also reinforced the area with box-section steel so it wouldn't bend again if he used the jack there.

Is this the thread?
http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=208703

[68camaroz28]

For now I am leaving the dents in mine.  Adds character. 

Come on Bryon!
Could not leave them in our 68 and they be gone now....

[My68SS]

For now I am leaving the dents in mine.  Adds character. 

Come on Bryon!
Could not leave them in our 68 and they be gone now....

Was waiting for a heckler to show up.
Which technique did you use to get yours straight?

[68camaroz28]

For now I am leaving the dents in mine.  Adds character. 

Come on Bryon!
Could not leave them in our 68 and they be gone now....

Was waiting for a heckler to show up.
Which technique did you use to get yours straight?

Heckler???  Cut out and replaced but never plan to lift a car by that area again. Sometimes we forget just how long it takes to repair/restore all the mistakes/sins from back in the day. As William said just about every car has them to some degree. Old wool buffing wheels work great for placement between jack and sub-frame sides and the 4 lift points on a 2 post lift.

[Ramjett54]

AMD discontinued the new subframe assembly they used to offer, they told me that they had quality and fitment issues.
So I ask them if the could just offer a patch panel never got an answer
After reading this discussion, I wonder, should someone offer a patch panel?