Frame Help Needed
Thread Starter
|
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2025
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Frame Help Needed
Hi There!
I've been checking out this site for years and found a ton of useful information that has helped me work on my truck.
I have been working on the frame of my 1999 Dodge Dakota, regular cab 2WD 6.5ft bed......cutting out and welding in patch panels on the frame where the 2 sections meet by the rear axle. To do this I had removed the bed, rear bumper, tailgate and dropped the tank. Next came the fun part of removing the spring hangers for the front of the rear springs that are riveted to the frame. Once those were removed I removed the cross member that holds the rear of the gas tank, removed the shocks, bolts, muffler, heat shields, wiring, etc. to get it to the point where I could pull the 2 sections apart. After the 2 sections were apart I cut our the rust and welded in patch panels. This was only done on the vertical section of the frame rails as the top and bottoms were fine. Finished up with grinding the welds smooth, wire wheeled the frame sections to remove the surface rust and priming and painting.
I assembled everything and it went together relativity smooth.......except for 1 issue I can't figure out. I never touched the front bed mounts and when I am taking my measurements the front bed mounts to the 2nd mount points ( fuel tank cross member) it is about 1/2" out @ 20" spacing. Should be 19.50". When I measure from the front mounts to the 3rd and 4th mounting points which are slots, they are 1" out. I'm at 57.5" and 73". Should be 56.5" and 72". If I measure from the fuel tank cross member to the 3rd and 4th mounting points the distance is correct at 37" and 15.5".
Lastly, when I measure diagonally from the front mount to the rear mount I should be getting about 2082mm between centers and I am getting 2100mm.
Not sure what the issue is or how to fix this as I never touched the front bed mounts that were welded to the frame from the factory.
All of the top holes on the frame are lining up and the 1 spring mount hole that I was able to salvage on each side also lines up between the 2 sections.
Any help is greatly appreciated!
Front bed mount to fuel tank cross member. Top mounting holes line up.
Top frame holes line up good.
Pic from front mounting hole to 3rd mounting location.
Side view:
Diagonal measurement:
I've been checking out this site for years and found a ton of useful information that has helped me work on my truck.
I have been working on the frame of my 1999 Dodge Dakota, regular cab 2WD 6.5ft bed......cutting out and welding in patch panels on the frame where the 2 sections meet by the rear axle. To do this I had removed the bed, rear bumper, tailgate and dropped the tank. Next came the fun part of removing the spring hangers for the front of the rear springs that are riveted to the frame. Once those were removed I removed the cross member that holds the rear of the gas tank, removed the shocks, bolts, muffler, heat shields, wiring, etc. to get it to the point where I could pull the 2 sections apart. After the 2 sections were apart I cut our the rust and welded in patch panels. This was only done on the vertical section of the frame rails as the top and bottoms were fine. Finished up with grinding the welds smooth, wire wheeled the frame sections to remove the surface rust and priming and painting.
I assembled everything and it went together relativity smooth.......except for 1 issue I can't figure out. I never touched the front bed mounts and when I am taking my measurements the front bed mounts to the 2nd mount points ( fuel tank cross member) it is about 1/2" out @ 20" spacing. Should be 19.50". When I measure from the front mounts to the 3rd and 4th mounting points which are slots, they are 1" out. I'm at 57.5" and 73". Should be 56.5" and 72". If I measure from the fuel tank cross member to the 3rd and 4th mounting points the distance is correct at 37" and 15.5".
Lastly, when I measure diagonally from the front mount to the rear mount I should be getting about 2082mm between centers and I am getting 2100mm.
Not sure what the issue is or how to fix this as I never touched the front bed mounts that were welded to the frame from the factory.
All of the top holes on the frame are lining up and the 1 spring mount hole that I was able to salvage on each side also lines up between the 2 sections.
Any help is greatly appreciated!
Front bed mount to fuel tank cross member. Top mounting holes line up.
Top frame holes line up good.
Pic from front mounting hole to 3rd mounting location.
Side view:
Diagonal measurement:
Thread Starter
|
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2025
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Hi Moparite! I did not take measurements.......I went by the sizes in the frame section of the FSM and those sizes/pattern match the mounting hole pattern on the bed. The light is reflecting off at 10".