Folks, I've been driving my '51 half-ton for several years after putting a Nova subframe in the truck and I have loved every minute. Right now I have the front of the truck apart and the Olds V-8 and Turbo 400 pulled out so that I can clean up and detail things.
When we put the new engine/trans in years ago after the subframe was already in, we left the original crossmember that supported the rear of the old 6 cylinder engine--for strength we guessed. We had to modify the crossmember for trans pan clearance and shifter linkage clearance, but basically, it's not doing anything. The frame is plated really strong at the subframe graft so the big, heavy Nova front crossmember is doing its job and the T-400 is mounted on the heavy crossmember at the rear where the original tranny mounted.
My question is: do I really need the old, rear engine mount crossmember that is really doing nothing but going from frame rail to frame rail?
I appreciate your opinions... Thanks in advance!
Rockettruck
