a funny thing happened yesterday

[dybamx]

so, every winter, I make sure all the projects are out of the driveway so we can park near the door in the cold weather. Today was the day to do that. I fired up the rusty parts Jeep to use as a push/pull vehicle and got to work. It pulled the Rambler up the hill with ease, but after I backed down to get the non running Jeep and pull it up the hill, I heard a strange clanking noise. I looked underneath and saw this.

 

 

now, I wondered, how the hell did that happen? and then I saw the wheels were located too far back in the wheelwell

 

 

then, I looked at the frame and saw it was broken in half!

 

 

the poor truck has had it, the guy I got it from was using it to haul firewood out of the woods. He told me he retired it because he was afraid it was going to break in half and be stranded in the woods. I'd say his timing was perfect

 

 

so, I pulled the driveshaft and finished the job with the front axle, you can't keep a Jeep down :)

[Jeep Driver]

nice...........

[dybamx]

here's where the frame came apart behind the front spring hanger

 

 

[ComancheKid45]

:(  RIP

 

Always worry of the day I have to face something similar 

[dybamx]

it was bought for parts, I have a rust free 2wd body to swap everything onto

[Eagle]

That'll buff right out.

 

My brother's Nissan pickup broke like that. He found a shop that specializes in repairing such damage and had it stitched back together. It's probably stronger now than it was when it left the fatory.

[Minuit]

What worries me is how good the rest of the truck looks. Could you see obvious frame damage before it broke?

[dybamx]

oh yeah, it was very evident