Beth’s DIY Auto Repair, Where A Long Chain and Some Gumption Can Fix Anything. I think that’s too long to fit on a business card, but it’ll do. Long story short – I finally got my dream vehicle. A Jeep Wrangler. The downside is that it was in an accident. Among other things, the accident knocked the frame crooked. Can you straighten a bent vehicle frame? Yes. Yes you can.
(Update 2021 – this did work. We got the frame to within 3/4 of an inch of where it should be, which is better than some frame straighteners can do, from what I understand. The Jeep drove fine for about a year. Didn’t eat tires, didn’t pull to one side or the other, nothing. But, over time, between the bent frame and the big tires and the lift kit, we think the frame has drifted more out of whack. It will be fixed! But not by yanking it around this time, she’s getting a new frame in the future. Just an FYI if you’re wanting to attempt this.)
That bar thingy across the front should be, you know, not over to the left. We couldn’t find anyone local to fix it on an actual frame straightening machine. Next best thing: two big trucks and a cottonwood tree.
A couple good yanks got the frame almost back to where it should be. Heat applied to where the frame was actually bent, followed by more yanks, got it the rest of the way. It could still go a little further, but it’s close enough. The grille and hood fit now!
This is an alarmingly hillbilly thing to do, but it works. Any vehicle that goes off-road regularly or has been in an accident likely has a bent frame, so I’m not concerned that it’s not perfectly aligned. But the guys (my dad and husband. I was Picture Taker and Supervisor) measured it and it’s a heck of a lot better than it was.
Good enough for me.
This was how we spent our Sunday. Frame straightening. Could be worse, I guess.
See you later!
Black Spruce Hound 