The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline 1950 chev truck 261 and T5 Trans cross member

I have the 1950 chev truck with a 261 . I am putting in a five speed T5 from a 1986 s10 .I am still at the bare frame stage with most of the suspension done . But I am wondering about the support for the T5 Transmission . I have read alot about the need or no need for the transmission cross member. I ordered the wrong one from Summit racing Part number CLP-CP9424. But it is for automatic transmissions. So my question is can the Summit Racing cross member be modified to work. Should I try to find the original transmission cross member.?


I see threads on the JBC (Jimenez Bros. Customs) cross member but they are using a side motor mount adaption for the engine along wuth the trans cross member. I have a front mount for my engine and theirs is pricet at $300.00.

Any suggestions?

Rick

Rick, you will likely get a few different opinions about this. What I've learned is that you can use the stock crossmember (you'll need a thin rubber pad...about 1/8 or 3/16" thick. Measure the gap, get the pad, make holes in it, raise the rear of the transmission gently with a jack, slide the pad in, line up the holes and use a couple of bolts/nuts to attach it. But...you may not like it. If your transmission has any bearing noise at all (and many of them do), that noise will be telegraphed into your cab through that crossmember. When I did this the noise was almost as irritating as chewing on foil if you have tooth fillings...a little bit goes a very long way. It sounded like I had a bad throwout bearing or the pilot bushing was going bad or maybe the flywheel gear was spinning the starter gear. So I did away with it and haven't had any problems. Let's see what others think.

There is no need to support the T-5 transmission. In fact, doing so may cause damage to this aluminum transmission case.
The front engine mount, and the two rear mounts at the bell housing is all that is needed to support your engine and transmission.
Adding a third support at the transmission tail housing is where the problem is.
Think of when you have a stick in your hands that you want to break on two. It is hard to do with only your two hands. Now, put your knee in the center of the stick as the third point and you will find that the stick will almost break itself.
So can your transmission with the third mounting point add in.
It would be a good idea to locate and install an original transmission crossmember to stiffen up the frame. Just don't attach the transmission to it.
Starting in 1954, these trucks no longer had a transmission crossover because the crossmember for the bell housing was redesigned and beefed up, negating the need for the transmission crossmember.
If the '54 and later truck came with either a 3 speed or a 4 speed, there was no support for the rear of the transmission.
Those transmissions weigh considerably more than a T-5 BTW.

Thanks Jon and Carl for your advise. I will forget about needing a cross member for the t5. I will see if I can find an original cross member to beef up the frame. If I can’t find an original cross member I probably could use the after market one?

Rick

Probably so, Rick. The frame does need it even though the T5 doesn't. If you can find an old frame in an old junkyard or on a farm somewhere remote, you can find the original one. Thanks to a doubling of wholesale steel prices, the high prices are with us until at least 2022 or 2023.