TorqLink™ 1973-87 Square Body Chevy C10 Inner Frame Stiffener

• Complete bolt-in frame stiffening solution for Squarebody C10 pickup frames
• TorqLink™ frame stiffener requires no cutting, grinding, or welding for installation
• Kit includes frame boxing sections, cab mount crossmember, and stiffeners
• Made from 7-gauge steel and weighs 95 pounds, providing substantial reinforcement
• Built in transmission crossmember has 3/4” height and 11-7/8” fore/aft adjustment
• Supports up to 3-1/2” dual exhaust routing and one-piece driveshafts
• 73-87 C10 frame stiffener works with either short-bed or long-bed frames
• C10 frame reinforcement comes in bare steel finish ready for painting or coating
• Grade 8 assembly/mounting hardware included

Structurally Reinforce Your 73-87 Squarebody C10’s Frame with Our Bolt-In Solution

Most full frame vehicles use a C-channel style frame. What this means is the frame is stamped or formed in the shape of the letter C from a profile standpoint. Cut a vehicle’s frame in two and the cut would look like a “C” on the cut ends. GM has used C-channel style frames in the majority of their full frame vehicles over the decades, and that includes most pickup trucks including the 73-87 C10 frame. On the other hand, are partially or fully boxed frames. These frames are usually two C-channel like frame sections welded together. GM didn’t start partially boxing truck frames until well into the 1990s, adding fully boxed frames a good 20 years later for their heavy-duty truck line (2500HD and 3500HD).

So, why would you want a boxed frame (factory or aftermarket)? Boxing a frame increases the frame’s rigidity. This is helpful for towing and load capacity reasons, important for trucks, but it also helps reduce frame flexing that kills a vehicle’s handling, acceleration, and braking. You see, when your frame twists and bends under load it affects your vehicle’s handling. Instead of the spring and shock doing their job the frame is bending, preventing that nice suspension you’ve added from improving your handling. To a lesser extent, a flexing frame will also affect braking and acceleration as well. The answer? Stiffening up your frame with some form of truck frame reinforcement. For the 73-87 “Squarebody” C10 pickup’s open C-channel design frame we’ve created an easy to install 73-87 C10 frame stiffener that increases the frame’s rigidity without any cutting, welding, or other modifications.

TorqLink™ Inner Frame Stiffener Kit Includes Boxing Plates, Crossmember, and Stiffeners

Fully boxing your 73-87 C10 frame is labor intensive. It requires multiple boxing plates to be hand fabricated and welded into place to box the frame in. This process often requires relocation of fuel and/or brake lines, and other components attached to the frame. With our TorqLink™ square body frame stiffener you get all the benefits of a fully boxed frame in a bolt-in truck frame reinforcement solution. The system starts with four large C-channel sections that bolt into your factory 73-87 C10 frame. These sections box the frame in at critical points (with no need to modify brake lines, fuel lines, or wire routing) and act as mounting locations for the cab mount crossmember and stiffeners.

All C10 frame reinforcement components are made from high-strength 7-gauge steel and are left in a natural finish, allowing the installer to paint or powder coat as desired to complement their build. The forward sections of the C10 frame stiffeners feature generous cut outs to allow up to 3-1/2-inch diameter exhaust tubing to pass through, while the rear cab mounting crossmember can be configured for use with either early or late design cab mounts. The whole bolt-in 73-87 C10 frame stiffener kit is compatible with both short bed and long bed frame configurations as well. Grade 8 assembly and mounting hardware is included to get you up and running as soon as you open the shipping box.

Adjustable Transmission Crossmember Fits Most GM Transmissions

Included in our 73-87 C10 inner frame stiffener solution is a unique adjustable transmission crossmember. Using similar design elements of our other TorqLink™ standalone transmission crossmembers we have provided unparalleled adjustability to fit most any GM transmission you’d want to fit to your C10. The transmission crossmember features 11-7/8 inches of front to back mounting adjustments. This is accomplished via two rows of mounting holes laser cut into the frame stiffeners along with the ability to flip the crossmember itself to move the transmission mount pad further forward or backward as needed. The transmission mount pad itself also allows for up to 3/4-inch height adjustment to help you dial in the perfect driveline angle to keep your driveshaft U-joints happy and provide a smooth ride. So, whether you’re keeping your Squarebody a traditional build with a small block and Turbo 350 or going with modern LS power backed by a 4L80E, our 73-87 C10 frame stiffener’s transmission crossmember can adjust to your needs.

Add our 73-87 C10 inner frame stiffener kit today and see just how well that performance suspension, brakes, or additional horsepower you have can be utilized with a stiffer frame allowing those sub components to do their job correctly. Bolt our Square body frame stiffener into place and be amazed at the difference.