Originally Posted by Hotrod Lincoln
Saginaw 4 speeds have a very rugged cast iron case- - - -you probably don't need a rear crossmember unless you just want it to be there for some reason. Even the aluminum case Muncie 4 speeds worked OK without a rear mount on some applications.
Jerry
Why waste material on a 1953 and earlier additional cross member?

Yes, you can probably get by without one.
But, why do you think they had one for all those 1953 and earlier years?