Strange cut in supporting beam

[tsombrero1]

I don't get it, why would someone do this? It's the same on both sides, so it was no accident.

The cuts are identical, in the two pieces that go from the long frame beams diagonally out to support the front bumper, alongside the spare.

Maybe they wanted to look inside the beam for something? A lost pet perhaps? Or were they stuffed with dope at one point? (None left, I already checked). Or maybe this is a clever way to cut down on road vibration by adding some flex to the chassis?
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Tennessee Sombrero

1988 Westy, Syncro-nated
2003 Aprilia Caponord (now with Jif)
Atari 2600
1970 Earthbound Humanoid

[fatboypaul]

My guess is that they were damaged due to towing.
Paul.

[fuzzymath]

Yep.
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Note to self: Finish your projects.

[winkshog]

Did that to one of the cars I owned I think it was the 69 Corvair. Put the tow hook in the wrong spot. or was it that peace of s@#$ shadow. who know it all a little fuzz. Riped it open just like your pic.
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[tsombrero1]

Hmm, that would explain the carnage. I still think there's a cocaine connection though... white van, from Florida... what else would you need a van in Florida for?
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Tennessee Sombrero

1988 Westy, Syncro-nated
2003 Aprilia Caponord (now with Jif)
Atari 2600
1970 Earthbound Humanoid

[CF]

a sex machine during spring break

[lovedavdubs]

My 82 has the exact same thing. except they are not quite as bad as yours. Damn AAA tow guys!
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82 Air-cooled Westy (Lola)...My other vehicle is a subway.

[McVanagon]

Same thing here. Happened the first time I ever had it towed.

I hope more members chime in. I am curious to see (of how many T3s have been towed) how many of them have the tow-hook rip.....

~Mike

[blackglasspirate]

I've never had mine towed from the front, but I had it towed from behind once.
Somehow (God only knows) they managed to rip one of the muffler brackets off and then break the weld that held the muffler to the other bracket. The whole muffler assembly would see-saw over that one bracket.
That will teach me to be more careful about where I park.
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[Olydoug]

it could have happend during a frame repair. a tech would hook up under the van to hold it in place while pulling on a frame rack. If this is the case that guy was and idiot and hooked up on the wrong spot and used the wrong type of chain.


Or it got towed by a moron.

[?Waldo?]

When I was young and fresh to mechanicking I once had a '73 Westy towed. It wasn't running at the time and had sat on the "wrong side of the road" for too long. Anyway after two days of trying I finally got it towed back to the same spot (at significant expense and sporting a smashed rear window). When I did get the engine in and running the van had no power, squealed while driving and wanted to go every which way but straight. I figured brakes had stuck on from sitting too long. I redid the front and rear brakes with no change. After much thinking and feeling depressed I was sitting with a Haynes on my lap just gazing at the cutaway view on the cover. I noticed the arrow-straight tie rods and thought to myself "I wonder why they drew them like that, they're not straight they have a nice arched curve to them..."

I ran out to the van and, yes, mine were nicely symmetrically curved. It became apparent that the tow truck driver had hooked onto the frame just behind the tie rods and so the chain had done a great job adding a nice smooth curve to each and consequently causing the slight toe-in to be a significant toe-out...

Andrew

[Veedoubleused]

Same thing here.

[McHuntley]

I have similar marks on the holes on the inside of the frame ahead of the tire.
My poor beast has been towed too many times. I always make them flatbed her, as I have an auto!

m
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[r39o]

Mine too. The tow drivers just hook to whatever, unless you are watching and tell them not to damage anything. Ripped sheet metal, bent tie rods, etc are all common. That is why we always looked under a car before we let a tow driver leave.
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[hiram6]

85 Westy, mine has the same rips as the original posting above, just not as severe.
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1996 Mazda Miata
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited

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[kevinbassplayer]

Put me down in the "mine too" camp - the picture looks just like mine