Damaged front crossmember

[happy2rv]

New to the forum and I recently bought a 1970 f100 long bed with plans to restore it. I'm slowly tearing it down to the frame and I noticed the very front crossmember above the twin I-beams is damaged. How concerned should I be and what options are available. I'm assuming I can replace it if I can find a donor, but should I try to straighten it? Replace it? or just leave it alone? It doesn't appear to be interfering with the suspension, but I wonder if I'm going to have alignment issues or other problems. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

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[Busboy]

I'd say it would be a good idea to take it to a frame shop.

[Madman]

It simply looks like something was run over at some point. Many 4x4's do stuff like that all the time. IMHO, I'd not worry about it, try to straighten it a little on my own, and only look closer at it if you had an inability to align the front end. I've had a truck or two and multiple jeeps look like, or worse, than that, and never had an issue.

[69Ford]

I would closely examine your I beams to make sure they were not hit also. I agree with an earlier post take it to a frame shop.

[happy2rv]

Thanks. I don't see any damage to the I beams and the frame sits level both across the frame rails and each rail vertically. It's not currently in a state where I can get it out, but once I get the bed and cab off and get things cleaned up I probably will take it to a frame shop for an assessment. It does look like someone ran over something at some point and from the looks of it more damage wouldn't have surprised me but I don't see anything else. I will look closer as I get it cleaned up.

[Bill Ramsey]

looks to me, like someone used that as a jacking point.

[Jacksdad]

It does look like someone jacked it up on the crossmember without using a block of wood or something to spread the load - and tried a couple of times judging by the numerous dents. If the I-beams are straight and original, I don't see how the crossmember could be the only thing taking a hit in a collision.

[happy2rv]

I hadn't considered the jack theory. I don't know much history on the truck. I can't say if the I beams are original, but they do appear straight and undamaged. It originally came from Texas and was built with a 240. At some point the 240 got replaced with a 300. I took some pictures by a local body/frame shop today and they thought it's mostly cosmetic. They suggested heating and bending it back out to look as original as possible. I didn't see any glaring issues with fit and alignment of body panels before I started disassembly and as previously noted it sits level. I will see how square it is when I get the cab and bed off.