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Torsion bar crossmember

Posted By: rocksmopar

Torsion bar crossmember - 10/06/14 03:21 PM

Hi everyone, I need some advice, I just found a bunch of rot on the torsion bar crossmember of my 73 Barracuda. Is that as easy as drilling out spot welds to remove and replace or is it more complicated? I'm not a body sheetmetal guy but am thinking of tackling this myself. Floor pans are in good shape. Any input?
Posted By: flypaper

Re: Torsion bar crossmember - 10/09/14 03:22 AM

its not as easy as you are thinking...
the entire main floor pan has to be drilled out to be able to replace it in one piece.
Posted By: moparmarks

Re: Torsion bar crossmember - 10/09/14 04:02 AM

It can be replaced without removing the floor.
Do have to drill the spots at the floor to the x-member.
Then the spots for the x-member to the front frame rails.
Then the spots for the x-member to the rockers. The x-member has tabs that go between the floor pan and the rockers. At that point you need to cut the pan there and lift it to get to those tabs on top of the rockers. Once the new X-member is in then lay and weld those cut areas back down.
Not real easy but very doable.

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Posted By: Rick_Ehrenberg

Re: Torsion bar crossmember - 10/09/14 04:11 AM

If it isn't a platinum resto, the caps from Auto Rust technicians make the job a cinch, and stronger than OEM.

Rick
Posted By: flypaper

Re: Torsion bar crossmember - 10/09/14 04:19 AM

i never tried it that way.
its good to know it will work as i have a car
with a good floor and a rusted out torsion member myself.
i was planning on drilling the floor out of the car..
Posted By: moparmarks

Re: Torsion bar crossmember - 10/09/14 04:32 AM

Ya sure saves a lot of work.
Posted By: jbc426

Re: Torsion bar crossmember - 10/09/14 10:14 AM

Wow, and I was worried about putting a notch in my crossmember, so I could run an automatic overdrive. You guys that have to deal with rust, my hat goes off to you!

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Posted By: jbc426

Re: Torsion bar crossmember - 10/09/14 10:15 AM

Added a little on top to help it out.

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Posted By: cudabitten

Re: Torsion bar crossmember - 10/09/14 03:19 PM

Quote:

It can be replaced without removing the floor.
Do have to drill the spots at the floor to the x-member.
Then the spots for the x-member to the front frame rails.
Then the spots for the x-member to the rockers. The x-member has tabs that go between the floor pan and the rockers. At that point you need to cut the pan there and lift it to get to those tabs on top of the rockers. Once the new X-member is in then lay and weld those cut areas back down.
Not real easy but very doable.



Only problem for this fix is you will be welding out of position(upside down). This was always the hardest thing for me during my restore.
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