I removed my subframe and sent it out to get it powdercoated. In that process I obviously had a cross-member bolted to it that was removed in the disassembly. Today I went to reinstall the subframe, and went to bolt the cross-member onto it, and the mounting holes don't line up. If I stand back from the frame it looks like the driver side 'leg' is bent inward maybe a half an inch off of square.

Holy $#!@!

Has anyone ever seen the heat of baking on the powder coat warp the frame or should I suspect that the guy that did the powder coating dropped or otherwise mashed the frame to get it in this condition?

Anyone have a suggestion for getting it straight again?

Thanks,

Mitch

 

Powder coating doesn't get hot enough to warp the subframe. He must have dropped it, or run into it with a forklift, etc.
It can be straightened, but you need to take precise measurements and secure the parts of the subframe you don't want to move first. This might be done by securing the passenger side to the body, then pulling the driver's side out with a puller or cable winch, but it would be best if you took it to a body shop that has a frame jig and clamp it down there to push the driver's side out.
Only other option is to go back to the powder coater and see if he can explain what he did to it, and what he'll do to make it right.

 

I tucked the subframe under the body tonight, and lined up the unibody mounting holes with the subframe. 5 of 6 holes align almost dead-on, and the 6th (the driver side rearmost) is off by more than 1/2 inch. Geez.

That means the very rear of the driver side subframe was tweaked in isolation from the rest of the frame. I've considered torquing down the 5 aligned mounting locations, and then using a bottle jack braced on the passenger side rear part of the subframe to try and push the tweaked part of the driver's side back into position.

Trouble is, I can't tell how much things were tweaked in the vertical direction. it looks like that might be a bit off too (like the driver's side was bent in and up). I may have no choice but to have this thing professionally straightened. There's no way I can fix the vertical component of that bend, and leaving it there would have consequences for how the suspension performs and wears. Ugh.

 

Thanks for the info 1971BB427! I'm gonna have to talk with the powdercoat guy.

 

I would go to the powder coat guy also to see what he has to say, I bet he does not know because "when it left his place it was perfect" but that is just my guess, if he was a stand up guy to start with he would of told you he dropped your part and that there may be damage. When all else fails file a complaint with the BBB and go pay to have your part fixed, that is about all you can do.

 

I wouldn't mess around with it. I'd simply take it to a reputable body shop with good frame rack and have them straighten it. A good frame man can fix it in a short amount of time.

 

OK, an update on this...

I took the frame to a body shop, and the guy took one look at it and declared 'That ain't bent, that frame looks perfect'. To which I replied, heck no, can't you see the crossmember won't line up? He reaches over, grabs both side rails, and presses them apart, and darned it they didn't move nearly an inch.

Geez, I felt like a fool. The subframe is quite flexible, contrary to my original belief that a heavy steel frame would be pretty rigid. Also, depending on the temperature, it looked more or less 'bent'

So, I took it home, threw it under the body, and used my legs to stretch the driver's side leg to match the bolt hole. It bolted in no problem. Sheesh, live and learn.

Oh, by the way, I also talked to the powder coat guy (Mark at Colorado Powder Coating) and he was very alarmed this could have happened, and offered to make it right. Great guy. He'll be relieved when I call and tell him I got the frame bolted on with no fixing.

Thanks for all the feedback guys!