2007 volvo vnl frame rail repair help?

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by szilszon1, May 5, 2023.

  1. DUNE-T

    DUNE-T Road Train Member

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    It's a known problem with Volvos unfortunately. Usually people just get another Volvo with a blown engine and good frame and transfer everything over. If it was only in the back, yes, people fix that, but since you got problems by the engine, you are screwed. I believe it's illegal to do any frame welding there
     
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  3. W923

    W923 Road Train Member

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    It’s pretty easy with a few strings and a tape measure. I have done several stretches and cutoffs and about 30 percent come back from the alignment shop with a pass the rest only need slight tweaking to get back in alignment.
     
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  4. szilszon1

    szilszon1 Bobtail Member

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    Under the sleeper or engine no problems Black original paint on it Cannot even compare that area to what i have behind the sleeper.
    Like it's a different truck

    Rusty behind the sleeper But mostly surface rust.
    For some reason the main problem is at the front axle, the area i highlighted on the picture,that is thin
     
  5. szilszon1

    szilszon1 Bobtail Member

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    I see.Never did this kind of job on a truck.That's why i'm so anxious.I have to admit i am

    I had a company cut my car hauler trailer in 1000 pieces,literally.(also because of the rust)But that company is specialized in rebuilding car carriers
    I said from top to bottom,left to right,tail to front,cut everything out and replace with new tubes,sandblast,prime,paint
    Nothing left on the old trailer ,only the 2 axles on the ground . That's it !

    When i saw that i said NO WAY this thing will be ever together in one piece ,and the right way.
    And i was wrong they did it,took a very long time, but they did it

    We went from this :

    IMG_8280.JPG IMG_8257.JPG IMG_8264.JPG IMG_8280.JPG IMG_8257.JPG IMG_8264.JPG IMG_8257.JPG IMG_8264.JPG IMG_8280.JPG IMG_8257.JPG IMG_8264.JPG


    To this : click on vimeo link

    Vimeo

    But i m kinda hijacking my own thread :))

    So back to the truck discussion
     
  6. szilszon1

    szilszon1 Bobtail Member

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    Twist resistance...u see i didn't even think of that .
    I have to show all these ideas what u guys gave me to the owner of the shop just to make sure
    The owner made bunch of phone calls asking frame specialists what would be the best option

    First person said replace rails from tail to bumper.That's it. But then the owner looked at me and said that's a huge job i don't think we can do it.
    Another guy said glove it from inside
    Then another said glove it from outside...
    Then the owner said about the cutout behind the cab,and my question was will it be done perfectly aligned? He kinda scratch his head a bit " yes u have a point...pfff hard to tell"

    And me, the owner of the truck just staying there and my head spins around.
    Ok,now what? i m not an expert



    thank you
     
    Last edited: May 7, 2023
  7. Cattleman84

    Cattleman84 Road Train Member

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    Find a good welding/fabrication shop to do it. Will be 100 time less money. Ive got one that has sleeved and/or stretch 3 different trucks for me/the company I work for over the last 10 years. If I could get the company to spring for the tools I want I could do them myself... But they would rather step over dollars to save dimes. Which is ok by me, I don't really have that kind of ambition anymore.
     
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  8. szilszon1

    szilszon1 Bobtail Member

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    Ok..

    got a phone call today from the owner of the shop where my truck is,that he found a complete volvo frame 2013 or 2014 from bumper to tail for 4,000 "and something"
    The person or company (i have no idea) sent him pictures and my guy saying frame looking very good.
    I never saw the pictures
    And we speak tomorrow what i choose to do,cut my truck behind the cab and weld it on or replace the whole complete frame since it's newer

    Then later on today i got another call that he found another complete frame also 2013-or 2014 " little bit" more expensive but has title.
    The other one didn't have a title

    Now i have even more questions than answers o_O Any red flags?

    Until now we were talking about fixing that #### truck somehow .Now we are talking about titles?

    Then tons of more questions....Since my truck is 2007 and than if u wanna use the whole frame of a 2013-14 volvo, nothing is gonna match with anything,starting from the holes on the newer frame, to tank locations and what not,it s impossible.

    I m looking at my friend's volvo which is also a 2007, like mine ,and not even these two are similar in length ,hole locations,he has 150 gal tanks ,i have 125,his frame is different

    How can u just buy a 2013-14 volvo frame and put it on a 2007 ?

    Maybe i don't understand what he is trying to say due to the language barrier ,i donno



    Otherwise a very good and nice guy,i have known him for 10 years, so it's not somebody i met yesterday.

    For example a friend of mine needed his engine to be rebuilt and didn't have all the money.
    This guy did it for him,and said " give me my money when you start working little by little"
    Who does that?
    This is a shop where me and friends of mine and many more people are parking and do all the work on our trucks since day one.
     
    W923 Thanks this.
  9. Big Road Skateboard

    Big Road Skateboard Road Train Member

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    If you do a cutoff, you can use anything you want.

    I'd rather do a cutoff than frame rails
     
  10. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    Definitely a cheaper option. A re-rail is probably going to take north of 100 hours. Swapping everything from the truck to the new frame would be even more than that if I had to guess.

    Personally I'd try and find a cutoff from a Volvo with the same diffs, axles etc. That way most parts will transfer right over with minimal drilling and fitting.
     
    Last edited: May 7, 2023
  11. W923

    W923 Road Train Member

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    I wouldn’t recommend switching everything from your truck to the new frame. I have done it before except crossing between different manufacturers and 20+ years. If one is good at fabricating parts and smart about which stuff to use from which truck it’s not bad but still a very time consuming job. As far as titles…personally I wouldn’t let that bother me if I wanted to swap everything. Use the title that belongs to the cab (the truck you were driving) and don’t worry. Never had anyone look for a frame vin and probably not had anyone even check the cab vin more than a few times.
     
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