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New modified cut/welded tranny X-member brace #3197815
12/15/23 08:59 PM
12/15/23 08:59 PM
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Washington
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hemienvy Online content OP
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I've seen pictures where guys have cut out the crossmember arch that goes over and across the tranny,
then they tied the two cut "ends" together with a reinforced straight piece, under the tranny.

Does anyone make a bolt-on piece that does this ? I'm talking B and E body. A-body I don't know.

You would need to do this if your putting in a physically bigger tranny and need to cut out the tranny tunnel.

Re: New modified cut/welded tranny X-member brace [Re: hemienvy] #3197845
12/16/23 12:07 AM
12/16/23 12:07 AM
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Understand the forces induced here if OEM TB's are still in play, plus the weight the trans mount carries.
If it is a converted coil IFS, the forces are much reduced on this crossmember.
Crash worthiness is another discussion, a cage with a dash bar kinda also needs a lower member to keep the cage in place in that area.


Reality check, that half the population is smarter then 50% of the people and it's a constantly contested fact.
Re: New modified cut/welded tranny X-member brace [Re: hemienvy] #3197860
12/16/23 12:48 AM
12/16/23 12:48 AM
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Oregon
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Yeah I did that about 30 years ago on my Coronet when I switched over to a Doug Nash 5 speed. It has worked okay over the years. I have a picture of the crossmember that I built back then. I've replaced it with a better design but I don't think I have a picture of the new design.

DSC_3232 (Large).JPG
Re: New modified cut/welded tranny X-member brace [Re: AndyF] #3197961
12/16/23 01:41 PM
12/16/23 01:41 PM
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Rogue River, OR
Jeremiah Offline
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I cut the floor brace out as needed and on the passenger side splice in a 180°bend of 1-5/8 or 1-3/4 tubing to the oem bracing. On the driver side you can land the tubing perpendicular to the boxed section of the brace. I holesaw through the bottom for weld access.



Re: New modified cut/welded tranny X-member brace [Re: Jeremiah] #3197969
12/16/23 02:57 PM
12/16/23 02:57 PM
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Washington
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hemienvy Online content OP
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Thanks guys, I could probably practice my butchering techniques,
but I could have sworn I saw somebody that made one.
Can't remember what I put in the search engine.

Re: New modified cut/welded tranny X-member brace [Re: hemienvy] #3197973
12/16/23 03:31 PM
12/16/23 03:31 PM
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A collage of whims
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I would think that someone could map out the floor contour.
Then fab tooling (maybe using CAD or whatever) to make a shallower but thicker replacement piece.
Or maybe make a 1/4" plate, formed to match the floor contour, for welding in.
There would seem to be a market for such a thing.

Re: New modified cut/welded tranny X-member brace [Re: hemienvy] #3198169
12/17/23 04:46 PM
12/17/23 04:46 PM
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Rittman Ohio
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Originally Posted by hemienvy
Thanks guys, I could probably practice my butchering techniques,
but I could have sworn I saw somebody that made one.
Can't remember what I put in the search engine.


BigDad made a really nice crossmember for his silver 64 Plymouth with pics posted many years ago.

Gus beer


64 Plymouth Savoy
493 Indy EZ's by Nick at Compu-Flow
5-Speed Richmond faceplate Liberty box
Dana 60
Re: New modified cut/welded tranny X-member brace [Re: hemienvy] #3198181
12/17/23 05:38 PM
12/17/23 05:38 PM
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Oregon
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US Car Tool sells a variety of Mopar transmembers for different swaps and such.
https://store.uscartool.com/

Re: New modified cut/welded tranny X-member brace [Re: AndyF] #3198249
12/17/23 08:29 PM
12/17/23 08:29 PM
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Washington
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Thanks Andy, I guess those will all work with the OE top connector hoop cut out.
Possibly I'm trying to remember something that I never actually saw.

If I used one of those crossmembers, I would increase the size of the bolts holding it in.
The forces from the T-bars cannot be allowed to flex the floor area.

Re: New modified cut/welded tranny X-member brace [Re: hemienvy] #3198353
12/18/23 10:56 AM
12/18/23 10:56 AM
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Maryland
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mrob Offline
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Here's an option for a 66-70 B-body. It looks beefy enough to withstand the forces of the torsion bar suspension.

Hope this helps.

https://www.holley.com/products/engine_swap_parts/mounts_and_crossmembers/crossmembers/parts/BHS539

Re: New modified cut/welded tranny X-member brace [Re: mrob] #3198364
12/18/23 11:59 AM
12/18/23 11:59 AM
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Posts: 20,755
A collage of whims
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That Holley design looks a lot like what I was thinking, but it seems to capture the trans crossmember.
Not the end of the world, though, I suppose.
But I'd prefer a welded upper arch; maybe a short sleeve at each side for the T-bar member.

Re: New modified cut/welded tranny X-member brace [Re: mrob] #3198379
12/18/23 01:02 PM
12/18/23 01:02 PM
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Washington
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That Holley thing looks interesting.

Re: New modified cut/welded tranny X-member brace [Re: hemienvy] #3198409
12/18/23 03:45 PM
12/18/23 03:45 PM
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Bitopia
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1/2" steel strap? eek


Reality check, that half the population is smarter then 50% of the people and it's a constantly contested fact.
Re: New modified cut/welded tranny X-member brace [Re: topside] #3198678
12/19/23 04:58 PM
12/19/23 04:58 PM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,277
West Coast, USA
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Originally Posted by topside
I would think that someone could map out the floor contour.
Then fab tooling (maybe using CAD or whatever) to make a shallower but thicker replacement piece.
Or maybe make a 1/4" plate, formed to match the floor contour, for welding in.
There would seem to be a market for such a thing.


I used a 1/4" steel plate about 4 inches wide and just over 2 feet long welded through the floor pan to the top on the remaining cross member. I had to heat the steel band red hot to bend it and spent time getting it to match the original floor's contour.

I also welded most of the original torsion cross member solidly to the floor pan when I installed the full US Cartool Chassis Stiffening kit. I cut the actual tunnel portion of the cross member down flush, but left the factory flanges and boxed the bottom of the trimmed crossover back in with like-sized steel. I did this fab work with the torsion bars out.

In my case, this was done to fit an overdrive automatic. I may soon be doing further modification, as I'm putting in an even larger automatic to accommodate a more powerful engine.

These are the only pictures that I currently have of the lower modified crossover. I was able to retain the factory cross member bolt locations.

200R4 4.jpg200R4 5.jpg
Last edited by jbc426; 12/19/23 06:31 PM.

1970 Plymouth 'Cuda #'s 440-6(block in storage)currently 493" 6 pack, Shaker, 5 speed Passon, 4.10's
1968 Plymouth Barracuda Convertible 408 Magnum EFI with 4 speed automatic overdrive, 3800 stall lock-up converter and 4.30's (closest thing to an automatic 5 speed going)






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