i'm looking for suggestions here. on my project 4runner the front frame rail aka bumper mount is bent and rotted throught on the back side. the rest of the frame is good minus the slight twist in the passanger side frame which is like a said SLIGHT.

i have decided i want to replace it other then try to straighten it and weld a new plate one the backside. my thought to fix it was to get a solid bar, machine out the backside and drill and tap the holes in this solid bar.

heres a microsoft paint pic to help a little. note...i suck at drawing.


i am aware of the weight issue, thats why i plan to machine out some material. note the red on the drawing. as for the bumper supports i plan to cut the old ones off and weld them to the new rail.

anybody got any other ideas? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

thanks again

nathan

Or for $39 just buy the one from Front Range

http://frontrangeoffroadfab.com/nfo...;osCsid=3f3383ab3db697955fa2439728c3d213

looks like they just cut and welded a plate in there. mine is actually bent, so the passanger side frame is slightly twisted and pulled in about 1/2 inch.

It's not thick gauge stuff, you could easily cut it and mount more significant material in there, which is what I'd do if it was twisted...

I used the FROR brace. It didn't line up with my existing holes very well, it required... well, some modification. I blame it on toyota body tolerances and front end wear and tear:

Post deleted by TheGreyFox

hmmm...i'm sure i can undo that twist with the right presuation. i'm still liking the idea of machining a solid bar. i'd get the steel for free and it would fill time in my advanced machining class...

is there anything wrong with this idea in the engineering side of it? weight concerns? i don't think there will be, but then again i am no engineer.

I needed a lil extra room for my oversized radiator. so I cut nime out and put tube steel in.

I added a braced to my front end when I put the custom bumper on. The front end of the yota's is weak....That thin little 1/8" box with the holes cut in it isn't going to do much it you tag a rock or tree stump. It's more likely to be bent inward...taking the frame rails with it, than hold the frame solidly when tapped good.

I was going to buy the FROR weld in brace....but, it's just a hunk of 1/4" plate....So, I saved the trip and cut one myself (almost not worth the effort considering FROR's brace is only around $40). Plus, the 4Runner front end is slightly different that the truck. The bumper mounts on the sides of the body perch's, not on the front of the frame.

.....definitely put some kind of brace on the front if you go off road.