Transmission Swap - Question

['63MurderTruck]

Okay,

'63 Stepside C-140

We're replacing the 3 speed manual tranny with a Turbo 350.

The engine is a I6 250.

My question is: Will the current "cross member" work, or will I need a different one?

Thanks in advance

[Chevy Fleetside]

You need to get an automatic crossmember.

['63MurderTruck]

You have any links or suggestions where to get one? Thanks

Originally Posted by Chevy Fleetside

You need to get an automatic crossmember.

[DPowers]

Look for one from a '67-72 or make your own.

[Captainfab]

You will need to remove the bellhousing crossmember and install an auto trans crossmember from a '63-'87 2wd truck, Blazer or Suburban.

[mikejnang]

i did this same swap a while back. used a piece of angle iron maybe 2x2 or 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 inch. the angle iron sat in the frame rail. get a trans mount block to attach trans to angle iron. in other words, the bottom of the trans will be level with the bottom of the frame rails. Not the strongest of cross members but with the stock I6, it worked fine. drove truck daily for years like this. cost maybe 20 dollars for parts. Sorry i never took pics of it.

[bj383ss]

Here is a pic of the crossmember you need to remove. It is the second one from the front.

DSCN7924 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

It has rivets on top and bottom you have to grind off.

DSCN7929 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

And here is a pic of the auto trans crossmember I got from CPP for $100 with poly mount.

DSCN8274 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

The PO of my truck had used the emergency brake crossmember to mount my trans no good. He also just torched out part of the bellhousing crossmember to make the trans fit. And it was mounted so that the pan could not be removed. All half A$$ed.

Here is the engine and trans in.

DSCN8280 by bjohnson388, on Flickr

Bret

[padresag]

here is a picture of an OEM crossmember


has the emerg brake hook-ups with it
ron

[63longfleet]

you might try JC's truck salvage down the road from you in Bridge Creek, he has never failed to have what i needed.

[Captainfab]

When installing a trans crossmember, you need to be sure that the angle of the output shaft is parallel to the pinion. Otherwise you will have driveshaft vibrations. This is one of the reasons I prefer to use a factory trans crossmember.

[Chevy Fleetside]

I found mine in a pick and pull out of a 67. I have one out of a 66 that will go in my daily driver. I am not looking forward on taking out the bell housing cross member. PITA with the engine in and the cab on but doable.

[LostMy65]

So funny.
I'm in the middle of doing the swap from my sm420 to a th350, and was searching the forums for related topics.
I ran across one thread where a very nice clean install pic showed the manual crossmember still in there. My first thought was "Crap, was I supposed to leave that in there for frame rigidity?!!!!" eek!
But started searching again because I was sure I saw others with it gone.
Whew, found this thread... I'm good now.