Day 4: Re-notching Grandma’s Frame Rails

Holiday’s are over, and it is time to get back in the saddle. We left off last year with Grandma’s frame notching for tire clearance. As Maxwell Smart was prone to say: “Missed it by that much.”

Starting the day by playing catch up, that is; taking the previously welded cap back off of the frame rail and cutting it down a little more. None of us were looking forward to undoing work that we just did last week, but to get these big Mickey Thompson’s to fit in the wheel well, we had to do the unpleasant task of cutting through Mike’s nice weld to remove the cap.

The problem was that by notching and rewelding the frame rails narrower – we didn’t leave enough room for the 295/65 M/T ET Drag Radials to fit up into the wheel well. Thankfully our friends at Yellow Bullet were there to help us figure it out.


Back to the future. We cut the cap off to remove some more material from the frame rail. This is the where we were last time. Then check out the photo from below.

Once we got back to square one, maybe not square one but at least two backwards steps from progress, Mike pressed on by removing more material from the frame rails. The goal was to remove all the metal from the channel to make the frame rail look somewhat like a piece of flat stock. This will help make enough room for the big M/T’s.


We used the omnipotent Cornwell Plasma cutter to simplify the cutting job. You can see that our frame well was going to end up being less of a channel and more of a flat piece of metal.

Once the cutting was done, we ended up gaining an inch to an inch and a half more clearance. The goal was to support the frame rail from the inside on each side of the vehicle. That would allow the maximum amount of tire and wheel clearance and still be able to support the frame rail for strength. Without the backside support, our Grandma would be turned into a Chevy Low Rider unintentionally.

And yet again it was time for the true test. We put our big meaty Mickey Thompson tire on the tranny jack and raised it into the wheel well. While we all held our breaths and crossed the fingers and toes, the tire was raised to ride height.


Test fitting our tire…again. Check out that bitchin ride height.

The tire fit perfectly into the wheel well as we all breathed a collective sigh of relief. The next step was to run the tire through the full length of travel. We needed to be certain that there would be no chance for the tire to rub anywhere within the range of tire travel. We raised the tire to it’s upper limit, and again there were fingers and toes crossed awaiting the outcome.


Our tire fit with room to spare.

Next it was time to strengthen what was left of the frame rail. Taking a few tips from those that have been through this process before on Yellow Bullet, we opted to bend 1 3/4 inch tube to the exact curves of the frame rail, then halve the tubing right down the middle leaving us with two identical pieces of tubing. Mike tack welded the halves of tubing to the frame rails, one on the right and one on the left.


Tubing was bent and welded to the inside of the frame rails for support.

Finally, we got around to cutting out the spare tire retainer in the trunk area. The gargantuan round tub that holds a full sized spare tire located on the right side of the trunk………GONE. I think we were all pleased with that modification.


Using our new favorite tool, the sawzall, to remove the spare tire tub in the trunk. Now you see it…


Now you don’t.

So it would seem that our start to the new year is off and running with great success. We packed up our tools, shut down the garage and prepared ourselves for another day in the long running saga of PROJECT GRANDMA.

Check out below for some photos and more captions of our work.


The complete tacked in inner support for our frame rail. We’ll be adding plenty of tubing back here that will support this area.


We had to make our inner support tube in two pieces because of the compound bends and because the frame rail changes angles. We found it easier to do it this way.


Welded in completely. Notice how the bar goes through the upper control arm cradle and is welded their for strength.


We started to seam weld the upper control arms areas for strength. We will also be tig-welding MIL-spec washers in this area as well to positively locate the rear end suspension.

Until next time…

About the author

Bobby Kimbrough

Bobby grew up in the heart of Illinois, becoming an avid dirt track race fan which has developed into a life long passion. Taking a break from the Midwest dirt tracks to fight evil doers in the world, he completed a full 21 year career in the Marine Corps.
Read My Articles

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