The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Welding on front cross member?

I got a new sway bar from CPP, but it won't mount correctly to the front cross member of my GMC because it's different than a Chevy cross member. I need to fabricate something to carry the flat plane of the bottom of the cross member outboard a few inches. I've seen brackets made to accomplish this that are bolted on. A mechanic friend of mine has offered to weld brackets onto the crossmember, but I wonder if there is any reason not to. Will welding to the cross member cause structural or other problems?

I think it will be fine to weld to the cross member. I modded my rear cross member (involved welding) without issues.

The only thing ruined is originality. There is always a way to accomplish something without drilling extra holes or welding.
But if its not something in great factory stock shape, go for it.

i would go back to cpp and talk to them. you might want to venture over here http://oldgmctrucks.infopop.cc/eve
some guys have them and some are in the midst of putting them on. i dont recall any welding so check it out.

Oldcarkook suggests bolting a flat steel plate to the bottom of the crossmember that extends far enough on each side to bolt the Chevy mounts to it.

I have a real problem with altering the truck in any way that can't easily be undone. I think I'll put off installing the sway bar untill I can do something 'bolt-on'. Thanks guys

what cletis is saying is a bolt on

And I am ageeing with cletis. And Truckrolet.

How far to forward is it?

Look at this tech tip from my '37.

http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/driveline/swaybar/index.html

I used the same sway bar you have which was really long for this chassis. I went over the axle and mounted it behind. It works just the same way and gave me the clearance I needed to mount it with bolt on brackets. There is no danger of it ever getting hit by the axle or frame and if it does, you did something very wrong and that would be the least of your worries.

Joe

I think I would bolt on instead of welding. I like the option of removal if not what I'm looking for. But again it's your truck & it's whatever you feel comfortable doing. Good luck.

My Chevy CCP sway bar came with triangular shape flat brackets that bolted to the bottom of the spring bolts. You are saying you didn't get those or those won't work on your GMC?

DrewP, my sway bar came with the same triangular brackets, which I have installed. The problem is with the other end of the sway bar, where it mounts to the front cross member. The GMC cross member drops down in the middle because the GMC engines are longer. http://oldgmctrucks.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/633004236/m/19120719073?r=33220629073#33220629073 You'll have to scroll to the top.

I'm surprised CPP and others don't offer a 'GMC mounting kit'.

Is this what you are talking about?
https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=928706#Post928706