The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot '60-'66 Trucks Tranmission mounts for 700R4

We're underway with our first rebuild of any type of vehicle and so far we're having a ball (by we I mean my wife and I). We have a 66 C10 and want to swap the original 283 with 3-speed manual to a 350 with a 700R4. I know I need to add a rear mount for the new transmission, but do I need to remove the current transmission mount/cross member in order to do that? I've read through a number of posts that point to the need to remove it, but I want to make darn sure before I remove a substantial part of the frame. Thanks for you help.

Yep, to put an automatic in that truck the trans cross-member has to come out. Auto & stick trans uses 2 completely different cross-members...Joe

Thanks Joe. It looks like I'll be drilling out some rivets this afternoon!

66shortwide, ZooKeeper is correct, you will need to remove the manual transmission cross-member and install one from an automatic.
I pulled one from a 71 or 72 (can't remember which) that I found at the boneyard from a truck using a automatic. I got lucky and found one that was bolted in verses riveted.
First bolt the transmission to the cross-member to determine where it will attach to the frame (keep everything square) and attach the cross-member to the frame. I had to use my welder to fill in the holes on the new cross-member. Then drill where necessary. Of course the engine needs to be bolted in for all of this.
You will also need to shorten the drive shaft.
In the end it is a great combo.

Thanks for the info. As a newbie I really appreciate a great resource like this forum.