The frame crossmember on my 70 Dart which is an original 4-speed car has metal cut out of it (very roughly) where the shifter rods pass over it right next to where the trans. crossmember mounts. I was telling a guy I know at the body shop I use about it (who owns a Duster) and he said his car was the same way when he got it. But a friend of mine who also owns a 70 Duster has a crossmember that is not cut. Another friend of mine was telling me he has seen this before. He and I were discussing the possibility of this being done at the factory or if people just cut them through the years to accommodate aftermarket shifters. I'm just curious as to whether or not owners of other original 4-speed A-bodys have crossmembers that have been cut where the shifter rods pass over it.

We've had many 4-speed A-body cars and none have ever had the crossmember cut.I suspect it because of either a cheap aftermarket shifter install or using another body line shifter assy.

My 70 Swinger 340 4-spd is original and shows no signs of being cut at all.

My 72 340 demon has not been cut on.

I think we need a picture.

I took a 4 speed hump out of a Duster back in the late 70's/early 80's, can't remember year , but the torsion bar Xmember was cut out where the shift rods were , it was done at the factory best I could tell .

Neither torsion bar or trans crossmember are cut on my 70 Dart.

I just cut up an original 65 dart and the t-bar crossmember had metal removed! factory 4 spd w hurst shifter

Nothing cut up on my 69 Dart

I would think that as long as you "cap" the crossmember with 1/8 plate steel, then it would still be strong.