Factory installed crack in frame

[53hardtop]

My 53 Commander hardtop has what I believe to be a "factory installed crack in the frame near the front spring pockets.

http://www.studebaker-info.org/tech/Frames/HAWKcrak.jpg

But mine is a little more severe. Not only is the bottom plate of the frame cracked, the vertical portion is too. If I am already planning to weld the vertical part, what drawbacks are there to welding the "factory installed" part too. I want to avoid any further problems. I am not worried about authenticity, more about safety.


Rob in ND

[StudeRich]

Where in the heck did you find that little tidbit of BS?

I don't see how it has the least bit to do with "bottoming out"!
The rubber snubbers prevent that.

Maybe preventing cracks allowing for some flex could be a sensible reason, if there is one! It could be a production or material necessity.

I don't think you will find that in the Studebaker Shop Manual!

Of course we all know the frames crack at the spring pocket but, this picture is trying to say there is a gap between the fore and aft lower frame plate which is factory installed for a REASON? [?]

StudeRich -Studebakers Northwest Ferndale, WA

[JDP]

That's a typical crack area. Not sure if Studebaker offered a reinforcement plate or a vendor did. N8 make still have pictures of the crack repair he did on his 56J.

JDP/Maryland
"I'm a great believer in luck and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it."
Thomas Jefferson

[alanmende]

Please cite factory documentation that cracks in the frame were "factory installed."

Kindest regards,

Alan Mende
Hummelstown, PA

I'm not a mechanic; I don't even play one on TV.

[53hardtop]

quote:Originally posted by alanmende

Please cite factory documentation that cracks in the frame were "factory installed."

Kindest regards,

Alan Mende
Hummelstown, PA

I'm not a mechanic; I don't even play one on TV.

I can't cite any factory documentation, I just stumbled on this on the web. I didn't create the document, just found it. I'll admit that it seemed too bizarre to be real.

[sweetolbob]

Wouldn't you know it, Mine left the factory without it. Must have been a option.

[JDP]

I suspect it's similar to factory installed rust, just a bit of sarcasm.

JDP/Maryland
"I'm a great believer in luck and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it."
Thomas Jefferson

[64V-K7]

That picture was found about 10 years ago and was nothing but a parody on the crack that occurs due to frame fatigue...

Bob Johnstone

http://www.studebaker-info.org

55 President State Sedan
64 GT Hawk
70 Avanti (R3)

[53hardtop]

Thanks for clarification. If anyone is interested, I will soon have a pair of good condition frame cracks for sale. I won't need them anymore. (Sarcasm intended).

Thanks for the help.

[Chucks Stude]

Interesting. My Stude has done a lot of "exfoliating" over the years. If this stuff is now becoming valuable, than I have several handfulls for sale to the highest bidder.

Also, with all of the interest in the Titanic, do you think that I might be able to sell these as "Titanic Boiler Bolts"? They sure look like it. They actually were holding the seats in place on my GT[xx(].

[Roscomacaw]

Bob Palma has patterns (I believe) for a patch for this problem. I've got a Hawk frame that suffers this.

Miscreant Studebaker nut in California's central valley.

1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe
1957 President two door

[raoul5788]

quote:Originally posted by Chucks Stude

Interesting. My Stude has done a lot of "exfoliating" over the years. If this stuff is now becoming valuable, than I have several handfulls for sale to the highest bidder.

Also, with all of the interest in the Titanic, do you think that I might be able to sell these as "Titanic Boiler Bolts"? They sure look like it. They actually were holding the seats in place on my GT[xx(].

How could those bolts hold anything in place?

Chip
'63 Cruiser daily driver
'57 Packard wagon almost on the road!