Abstract

An anchor assembly for use in straightening unibody frame rails comprises a weld plate having at least one internally threaded sleeve projecting from a face of the weld plate. The sleeve is arranged to project into an anchor hole drilled in a metal unibody frame rail to be straightened. The face of the weld plate contacts a side wall of the frame rail in which the anchor hole is drilled so the weld plate can be permanently welded to the side wall of the frame rail with the internally threaded sleeve reinforcing the anchor hole. An anchor plate is releasably fastened to the weld plate on the frame rail. An anchoring bolt extends through an anchor hole in the anchor plate and is threaded into the reinforcing sleeve of the weld plate for releasably fastening the anchor plate to the weld plate. A short length of pulling chain rigidly affixed to an end of the anchor plate is coupled to a pulling chain on a pulling device such as a power post for applying a straightening force to the frame rail via the attachment of the anchor plate to the weld plate. The pulling force is applied with sufficient force necessary to straighten the frame rail without tearing the metal in the frame rail. Following straightening, the anchor plate is removed and the welded-on weld plate is left intact with the straightened frame rail.