The crossmember doesn't have to support the engine/trans assembly, but it served another purpose. If you'll look at its position, it also adds rigidity to the frame where the back of the springs attach. I'd suggest boxing the frame for about six inches near the spring mounts, and fabricating a bolt-in crossmember made of 2 inch square tubing with plates welded onto the ends that bolt into the boxed sections. You can angle it down, across, and back up with just a couple of pie-wedge cuts and welds to clear the bellhousing. I'm always spooky about cutting out parts the factory engineers though were necessary when the frame was built.
BTW, I hope you're using the factory-type rubber rear trans mount at the channel iron crossmember. Never bolt a powertrain rigidly to the frame anywhere. It transmits all the engine noise and vibration to the frame and body if you do. Ditto on exhaust system parts.
Jerry
Edit: The mail order hotrod suppliers like JEGS and P.A.W. have adjustable crossmember kits that can be adapted to a wide variety of frame setups, but with a little square tubing, steel plate, and some ingeneuity, you can build your own for a lot less cash. The only downside to the channel iron approach is it's HEAVY, and butt-ugly to boot.
Jerry
Last edited by Hotrod Lincoln; 08/10/2008 4:08 PM.
