Trans crossmember question.

[rs74]

On my 85 short bed, if I leave off the passenger top bracket to the crossmember will it really be bad for it. I was thinking about doing this in hopes to be able to run my x pipe up and over the crossmember on both sides. I have had alot of cars that the trans crossmember only bolted to the bottom flange of the frame and never had a problem with them twisting or anything. I have thought if needed then I could build a brace that goes from the bottom flange of the frame where the crossmember bolts up to the top flange.

[KQQL IT]

Tried my 73 without and the rail rolled In more than I was comfortable with when trans was dropped down
Posted via Mobile Device

[i heart square bodys]

I was actually wondering the same thing but my buddy took both his off his 85 ford and seemed to have no issues, he told me the way he looks at it, the tranny is mounted on a stud jammed in to a piece of rubber, and that is likely going to give out long before the cross-member. there are still 6 (I think) bolts that are holding it on there. that's just my 2 cents

[rs74]

I think I might try it with out the top brace. If there is plenty of room for the pipe to go over on that side and I need to I will fab up something to tie in the upper part of the rail.

[lilpoindexter]

I couldn't get mine to fit when i moved the crossmember for a tranny swap. I drove it like that for a year - nothing failed. I had the bellhousing off for another reason earlier this year, and I used a drill and file to make new holes to get the bracket to fit, and I put them it back on, just because.

[walkerb]

I just put both my brackets back on. The po before me had taken them off. My thought is that it will lessen the vibration in the stick conversion. Does yours just have one bracket? Make sure everything is tight and you should be fine.
Posted via Mobile Device

[rs74]

Yeah just the one bracket. It wraps around the outside drivers frame rail and goes across to the passenger side and bolts to the bottom flange of the frame rail.

[wraprail]

GM must have had a reason to put it there. You should try and use it if you can. If not I like your idea of tying the upper and lower frame together to help prevent twist.
I used one of those pre made drop crossmembers on my truck. They only connect inside the frame in one spot so I added a brace to tie into the top of the frame rail.
Can't hurt
Posted via Mobile Device

[77c10]

I had to modify my croosmember when I swapped to the 700r4. It only bolts to the bottom of the frame now. So far, I have not had any issues with it.