Im putting a 350/350 in my '60. I can only seem to find tranny crossmember kits for 63 and up. Does anybody know where i can find one for a 60? The one thats there doesnt look very trustworthy, the last owner did a pretty bad job welding it, and i dont trust my own welding skills to make one either. Thanks! Jesse
"The one thats there doesnt look very trustworthy" Was this originally a standard trans truck ? It's possible that the PO converted to an automatic trans,,, and used the E-brake bracket, ( it LOOKS like a crossmember, but it's NOT), for the trans crossmember. I've seen that done and it fits the description on non-trustworthy. Give Bow-Tie Overdrive a call and ask them for a crossmember. If I remember correctly, They Do ! Val
Try BTO or CPP. Does the E-brake attach to it? BTO sells a crossmember for a 700R4 set up with that bracket. I ended up using the CPP one cause it was half the price. http://www.classicperform.com/Store/1960_1972_Chevy_Truck/CP9427.htm
the E brake has been completely removed, there is none. The "crossmember" that its on now is just a flat peice of 1/4 inch or possibly 5/16 steel going from the bottom of the frame on one side to the bottom on the other. It doesnt seem to match anything under there so i was assuming the PO put it in, but maybe that fits the description of the E brake thing you guys are talking about? I've been eyeballing that one on CPP that drabo linked to, but it says its for 63 and up, mines a 60. I thought there was no difference but i guess there is? Also, while i was under there i realised that when this thing is back on the ground (and lowered about 3 inches all the way around) there doesnt look like much room for exhaust to go. Any helpful hints on what i can do to keep the exhaust tucked up as high as possible? Thanks guys! Jesse
To keep the exhaust tucked, start by using 3/4 or shortie headers. Your exhaust guy will love you. On my panel, I wanted old-school dump tubes right behind the front wheels. My exhaust guy installed a " Y " pipe behind each dump tube then ran the exhaust down the outside of the frame rails to the rear corners using turn-downs on the ends. ( this will only get you to the back of the cab on a stepside, but on a fleetside you can get all the way to the back bumper staying above the lower edge of the frame rails.) Val
Once again check out CPP. They sell a new Crossmember for your trailing arms. There are holes cut into it to allow your pipes to pass through it. If you go this route make sure to use a heat shield under the bed to prevent possible burn marks. Also shorty headers will help you keep those pipes tucked in tight. Since your e-brake is missing then that special bracket is a non issue. As long as the frame widths are the same then there is also no problem using the 63-72 crossmember. The only other issue might be the transmission tunnel. I would crawl under the truck and measure it for you but there is way to much snow on the ground to be crawling under the truck. Maybe Dennis could help you out.
That trailing arm crossmember, with the holes cut in, was originated at Early Classic Ent. They have a version themselves. That crossmember is really for "extreem" drops of 5 inches or more. The existing crossmember can be adapted to route the exhaust through, but some welding is required. 3 inch hole saw with a 3 inch pipe section welded in for structural support. One of the slickest ways I've seen to handle this was on Stacy David's Copperhead project. A bracket was used at the trailing arm crossmember to "solid mount" the exhaust to the crossmember. This requires a piece of flexible exhaust tubing that looks like braided steel to be used right behind the headers to allow the motor to torque flex. The bracket was created by Early Classic Ent with an intention to make them a production item. Don't know if that happened or not. Even if you do run the exhaust through this crossmember there is still some very creative exhaust fabrication needed to snake the tubes the rest of the way through to the rear. If a fuel tank is relocated back there it's pretty tight, but not impossible. Val