Engine and Trans Crossmember?

[Tod59]

Hey Guys,

I want to convert my 59 from a 6 cylinder 3 "on the tree" to a sbc v8 and an automatic (350 or 400 turbo). Brothers Truck Parts offers a V8 engine and tranny cross member kit for this installation.

Question: I assume that I will have to weld the ends of the tube to the brackets that attach to the frame for both pieces? How will I know what rotation (angle) to use and weld the brackets accordingly? I don't have a V8 yet or a tranny.

Does someone else sell the cross members that are pre-welded to a fixed angle? I have good welding skills as far as welding the brackets to the frame....I'm more concerned about messing up the angle and welding it in the wrong position.

Also, how will I know where to weld the engine cross member to the frame? Are there measurements?

Any advice is much appreciated.

Thanks
Tod

[Sim6]

I did mine with the front clip off. Engine and trans bolted together. I set it in and blocked it up where I wanted it, leveling it left to right and getting the front to back less than 3 degrees up in the front. You have to make sure you driveline angle is good as well. Then I put my mounts up and tacked them in. You can pull them off and finish welding them. Make sure you leave enough room for your fan and pulls set up at the core support. I've only done one of these there are many others that have much more experience than I.
Jeff

[mr48chev]

Sim6 said exactly what I would have said and what we did in the past on similar rigs. Get it all fitted up, tack it in a few spots and take them back out to weld on the bench/welding table.

[_Ogre]

any kit that you have to cut and weld is hardly worth buying
front mounts and a trans x-member are one of the most basic fabrication projects you can start with

it's a lot easier with the truck apart, but the first set i did was in my daily driver
with the motor in, on the stock bell housing mounts i fabbed and welded these front motor mounts
using the stock bell housing holds the stock motor location

i bolted up 68 chevy truck motor mounts to the motor, then stuck some 3/8'' thick wall tube in the mount
cut 10 ga triangles with a grinder and tacked everything in place
i cut the tacks holding them in and fully welded the brackets on the bench
stuck them back in, bolted them up and finished welding on the frame

these are the actual mounts that i cut out when restoring truk to it's current version



remove the bell housing, cut out the old trans x-member and bolt up the new automatic
the trans x-member is simply a piece of 1'' square tubing cut to fit under the frame
with a piece of 10 ga to bolt the trans mount to welded to it

one issue you will have from cutting out the stock trans x-member is it also supports the front cab mount brackets
when i redid truk in to it's current version i added bracing to the cab supports

[_Ogre]

where in michigan are you?
i live in novi

[Tod59]

Thanks for the advice everyone, much appreciated.

OGRE: I am in Jackson Michigan, not too far from you; I'll be posting more questions, so I really appreciate your advice and wisdom.

Thanks!