You have to take the bottom plates off to see the cracks. The inside of the frame was covered in oil and dirt from the seal leaking and it was pretty dirty. They pressure washed it and that is when they found the cracks. The cracks are on both sides. The only thing holding the frame together is the top of the frame. As bad as this is I did luck out, it could have been a lot worse. Yes the flange on the frame is the bottom.