Thanks for the insight.
I am planning on using the NV3500 manual transmission but the bell housing is integrated to the transmission so in some ways not terribly different than an automatic.
52Carl, if I understand your setup correctly the modified cross member is not attached to the engine/transmission but retained to provide the frame stiffness that would otherwise be lost. I am assuming that there is a new transmission support cross member farther back but given that it is only providing transmission support it doesn't need to be as robust for frame reinforcement.
Sounds like I need to stop getting ahead of myself (again) and when I get to the point of putting in engine mounts I can better evaluate the clearance issues associated with the original bell housing cross member.
You are correct about the modified crossmember is just there for support of the leaf spring mount.
I used the original bolt-on crossmember which supports the torque tube for my transmission tail mount. I had to slide it back on the frame 4 inches, but got lucky as the two rear holes in the frame lined up with the two front holes of the crossmember, so I only had to drill two holes in the frame.
I used a transmission mount designed for my auto transmission.
