Ok guys, well, this week my elec. fan decided to take a dump, after replacing the water pump last. The next day my smog pump grenanded and sent the pully flying. So I am in the middle of changing my fan motor when what do I see??? A crack in my frame rail right where the steeringbox bolts up. I cannot believe this ****. Everything short of the motor giving out has happened. Now more than likely I will need a new frame rail welded in? This is unbelievable. I will try and snap a pic tomorrow for you guys so you can see what I mean. There is a large bolt that goes through the rail and threads the steering box. I looks as though it is pulled out, like the frame was yanked outward. This is not good at all, and I am having serious doubts now about spending any more money on this mule......

Have any of you guys run into this problem??? Or seen it before. I am pretty sure this is a major repair, because if its anything like the framerails on BMW's then its a motor out job for sure. and big bucks. Anyway thanks for listening to me rant fellas, any help would be appreciated....

WILL

 

Damn, that's is crazy. You would think it would of taken a pretty good impact to do that. Mine has been hit hard enough to make it nearly impossible to get a good alignment but no cracks.

I see these cars with bad motors and trans selling for cheap. Might want to consider a transplant if the price to fix it is to much.

 

Stress cracking of the front subframe in the steering box area is actually a fairly common problem in these cars. It's due to the extra stress that's put on the subframe during tight turns at low speeds (wide tires make it even worse.) GM used the "wonderbar" to brace that area on some cars, but not all. I don't know what it takes to fix it, but if you do get it fixed find a Wonderbar at a junkyard or order one from Top Down Solutions so that it doesn't happen again.

 

Steering box support brace is the correct name for the part installed on IROC's (aka Wonder bar). This was named by people who wondered what it was.

 

Clean the area around the crack down to bare metal. Remove anything close to the crack that could get damaged by heat or an open flame. Then take the car down to any muffler shop and have them weld the crack. Then go get a Wonderbar.

 

All that stuff going wrong and now this? Sounds like a bad omen to me. Sorry bro.

 

Thanks guys, I will do this soon. I might have a new motor sometime in the next few months, and I might just wait till then, as the car will be sitting for at least a week..... But thanks, I saw a nice powercoated wonderbar for sale and I think I will pick it up

Will