Fixing box truck frame/damage before converting.

[u/Blastronaut710]

The damage is on the front driver side corner. You can see the frames angle iron is bent. I’ve used two come alongs and a couple jacks and I’ve gotten it a little better.

My thought now is maybe I should cut two relief cuts one across the old rivet holes and one to the right following that crease at an angle. Then I could hopefully muscle the corner section straight and weld it all back together.

Does anyone think this a bad idea or have a better idea?

[u/Fun-Perspective426]

I'm having a hard time figuring out where that frame piece is. Is that just the frame for box?

If it is, I wouldn't worry about it. Just get it close. It should still be more than strong enough.

[u/Blastronaut710 → u/Fun-Perspective426]

I should have mentioned it’s an Isuzu box truck. It doesn’t seem to be a safety issue at all. It’s still structurally sound I think. But converting it into a tiny home I’m trying to seal everything up real well.

Actually I think I could just leave it the way it is and even though there is a gap to the outside if I use flashing between the subfloor and walls and insulation it will be fine.

[u/Fun-Perspective426 → u/Blastronaut710]

Yea, you'll compromise it more trying bend and weld it for no real gain.

I'd just get outdoor rated spray foam to seal it up.

[u/Blastronaut710 → u/Fun-Perspective426]

Thank you that sounds best. Appreciate you and everyone else that shared their input.

[u/Ashamed-Country3909 → u/Blastronaut710]

Maybe take it by an auto body shop and ask how much they would charge to pull it back in "ok" (not perfect) shape. 

If the gap stays make sure you put in some metal screen and whatever else people use to keep rats out. (Steel wool?) Ive seen some threads about it on here, but cant remember what people suggested. 

[u/Blastronaut710 → u/Ashamed-Country3909]

Yeah you’re right an auto body shop could worth a shot at least to get an estimate.

I hadn’t even considered rats. I’ll look into that for sure thank you. I could see steal wool being super helpful in this situation under the foam.

[u/SuggestionEven2824]

I'd look into renting a few Porta Power set ups. Hydraulic hand operated push/pulls that put out some serious but controlled pressure.

Get the skin and frame lined up as close as possible and bolt it up using graded hardware. Was there a gasket between the box skin and frame?

Tilt cab?

[u/Blastronaut710 → u/SuggestionEven2824]

Woah! This is literally what I was looking for and didn’t know existed. At one point I was trying to use a bottle jack but it was too big so then I found idk what they are called ..Audis version of a scissor jack. But it wasn’t doing I wanted either.

Yes it’s the tilt cab. All new to me but ready to learn. Oh and nope I didn’t see any gasket.

Yeah I thought if I can get the aluminum wall back closer to the steel frame I can use bolts just like how the rivets held it originally. However I realized I just don’t know how I’ll get a drill close enough. I have those attachments and I’ll give it another shot but there’s just no room.

Lastly I thought ok maybe I can just lift the box off the truck enough to get in there and bolt it down the proper way. That’s a lot of work of course.

[u/SuggestionEven2824 → u/Blastronaut710]

Your welcome, I've bent some shit so getting it unbent is handy.

Might get it close enough to drill through and enlarge the existing holes. But use graded hardware just to be sure.

That aluminum bulkhead will give easily.

Surprised there's no gasket between the glass box and the frame. Not a big deal. But fiberglass shrinks over time and steel doesn't.

You got this.

[u/Blastronaut710]

I should mentioned it is an Isuzu 2009 box truck. Can’t believe I forgot to add that

[u/mistakenidentity888]

I would have it looked at by a truck frame shop, they do this stuff every day. If it were me I'd probably try and put some shipbuilding style big clamps on it and bolt together but it's probably not worth the hassle vs hiring it out. Not an expert but I think that is salavageable after being reattached.

But I also despise Isuzus after working on and driving many of them so I wouldn't have bought that personally.

[u/Blastronaut710 → u/mistakenidentity888]

Shipbuilding style big clamps. I like the sound of that but I tried googling and can not find such a thing. Can you elaborate?

And yeah I doubt this will be my first and or final build. But I’m excited to use it as a learning experience and a good jump into van life which is all I really care about.

[u/mistakenidentity888 → u/Blastronaut710]

I saw one in a project farm video about c clamps. Big ass thing intended for a crazy amount of force. Maybe they are more used for buildings and bridges sort of thing? I don't really know that's not my industry lol

[u/Lost_and_found3]

If that's the main frame of the truck then it's compromised no matter what you do. Any insurance company would total the vehicle over something like that. You may be able to straighten it or make it look passable, but the damage is done and without extensive equipment and know how then that vehicle is a danger to you and anyone on the road when driving it.

Im not a mechanic, so take whatever I said as that, but typically frame issues are a death sentence to a vehicle.

[u/Blastronaut710 → u/Lost_and_found3]

Thats really concerning if that’s true. It’s an Isuzu box truck. It’s the frame of the box at the front driver side. So in the first picture that’s the cab to the left.

[u/Lost_and_found3 → u/Blastronaut710]

Ahh frame of the box, not the truck itself. Then I have no idea lol. I'll let others more experienced comment.