What is an “In Frame”?

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Midnightrider909, Oct 9, 2018.

  1. Midnightrider909

    Midnightrider909 Road Train Member

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    I hear this term thrown around a lot and I am guessing it has something to do with rebuilding the engine but what does it matter if it’s in the framer out of the frame?
     
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  3. HopeOverMope

    HopeOverMope Road Train Member

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    Inframe is a bit cheaper than an out of frame. The terms suggestjust the meaning. In frame is a motor rebuilt within the frame ( still attached ). An out of frame is when a motor is literally pulled out of the frame and rebuilt outside the truck. There’s a bit more labor involved in a out of frame rebuild, but it gives u the opportunity to put in new motor mounts and etc.

    A basic rebuild is, liners, pistons, main n rod bearings. Everything else is optional or per circumstance / investment.
     
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  4. Midnightrider909

    Midnightrider909 Road Train Member

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    Wouldn’t the piston liners also need replacing and the crankshaft have wear? How about the heads, camshafts, valves, pulleys, seals, etc? I would think it would be a lot faster just getting a remanufactured engine and swap them out and use your old one for a core.
     
  5. HopeOverMope

    HopeOverMope Road Train Member

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    Some people do this. Replace with a crate. But in a rebuild, The crankshaft is inspected for wear. Crankshafts tend to last two motor rebuilds. Sometimes more, sometimes less. A BASIC rebuild is liners, pistons, and bearings. Anything and everything else is user discretion
     
  6. Dino soar

    Dino soar Road Train Member

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    An in frame is when you have an engine that has good oil pressure and you've always change the oil in it Etc, but now you are burning oil but the engine itself is still in good shape.

    So new rod and main bearings are put in new pistons and liners and rings and if you like you can have new heads or have your heads gone over.

    Out of frame means that the entire engine comes out of the frame and everything on the engine is disassembled. All of the journals are checked the camshaft all of the bores everything in the whole engine is check the block is sent out and magnafluxed and most likely you will have a new crankshaft or cut crankshaft and a new camshaft, etc. This is a major overhaul and you will probably put all new parts all over the whole rest of the engine.

    The idea is that if you have a diesel engine that has some miles on it that the oil and filters have been changed properly and has not overheated, an in frame will renew the engine for many many miles to come without having to pull the entire engine out and do the whole thing. At that point the out of frame rebuild is not necessary saving you time and money.

    If an out of frame rebuild is needed it probably is a good idea to buy a crate motor just due to the time and expense and labor involved.

    Depending on the engine an in frame can be relatively inexpensive.
     
  7. 201

    201 Road Train Member

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    In frame=:biggrin_2556:
    out of frame=:biggrin_25521:
     
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  8. Oldironfan

    Oldironfan Road Train Member

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    In frame= 1 arm.
    Out of frame= 1 arm and, 1 leg.
     
    Last edited: Oct 10, 2018
  9. Ridgeline

    Ridgeline Road Train Member

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    Really midnight?

    Oh well .. inframe as they said is an overhaul with the engine in the truck. Other than decking the block and putting in "fire rings", I've seen inframes being a complete overhaul, including cam bearings and new cam.
     
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  10. Midnightrider909

    Midnightrider909 Road Train Member

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    Decking the block and putting in fire rings makes me think I need to get my muffler bearings and turn signal fluid doser checked as well.
     
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  11. 77fib77

    77fib77 Road Train Member

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    Decking is when you put a new head on and you make sure the top of the block is perfectly flat for the new head. Pretty sure that what it is. Someone sitting at a shipper will add too it.
     
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