drilling/ mounting to frame rails

[RLDSL]

I've got my brownie tranny all ready to go in and am lining up a spot for it.
It looks like I'll have to remove a couple of factory frame crossmembers , one at the driveshaft center support bearing and the one about 2 feet behind that.
I'll be replacing them with 2 semi ridgid crossmembers. I'm going to use the crossmembers that came with the tranny, front and rear, but they are each about 5inches too narrow on each side and were originally setup for soft mounting ( on a single post transmission mount at each corner ).

Anyway, I have some flexibility as to how I can extend the crossmembers to meet the frame rails.

Would it be better to drill into the top of the frame and run a couple of bolts in there, or would it be better to drill into the side of the frame rails and weld up some angled brackets that wrap around the frame rail and bolt to the side?

The factory stuff just goes in the top of the frame rail.

Thanks---------Robert

 

[Andylad13]

either way is fine. depending on how good you can weld, if you wanted more strength, then i would mount the crossmember inside the channel in the rails.

 

[MIDNIGHT RIDER]

It don't matter where you drill, so long as you post tons of pictures.


My brownie is still resting in the shop floor, along with a pile of drive-shaft yokes and such.

Mine, also, is meant for cushion-mounting at the ends of the cross-members, but I didn't get any of that and they torched the cross-members off about three-inches from each side of the unit; so, I am just guessing as to what a properly mounted one should look like.


I was looking at some Chevy cab-mount bushings/bolts/washers that I ?think? would make ideal mount-cushions for my set-up, but not sure if this is the route to go or not.



Without actually taking any real measurements, it sort of appears that I will also have to lose the front fuel-tank, in order to make room for this monster; what are your findings on this??


Losing the front tank would really be more of an annoyance, than a real problem, as I currently have three tanks and can just as easily mount another sort of big truck style.

 

[RLDSL]

My welding may not be the prettiest on earth, but I can get something structurally sound where needed. I've got a Hobart 115v MIG setup so for anything that heavy it's multipass.
I hadn't been considering welding it in, I had always thought it was better to bolt on things like that where you were dealing with frame twist . I could be wrong of course the rubber mounts are going to suck up most of that.

 

[MIDNIGHT RIDER]

Definitely bolts to the frame-rails.

 

[RLDSL]

It don't matter where you drill, so long as you post tons of pictures.


My brownie is still resting in the shop floor, along with a pile of drive-shaft yokes and such.

Mine, also, is meant for cushion-mounting at the ends of the cross-members, but I didn't get any of that and they torched the cross-members off about three-inches from each side of the unit; so, I am just guessing as to what a properly mounted one should look like.


I was looking at some Chevy cab-mount bushings/bolts/washers that I ?think? would make ideal mount-cushions for my set-up, but not sure if this is the route to go or not.



Without actually taking any real measurements, it sort of appears that I will also have to lose the front fuel-tank, in order to make room for this monster; what are your findings on this??


Losing the front tank would really be more of an annoyance, than a real problem, as I currently have three tanks and can just as easily mount another sort of big truck style.

The difference in year and body style will make a difference in fit ( mine's a '92 crew cab ) but it looks like it's going to just barely slip up in between the front tank and the muffler on mine ( I have a 4"straight through big truck muffler running on the other side ) I measured it today and there was exactly enough clearance, I may have to do some exhaust tweeking.

I'm having massive computer problems right now, but my new laptop should be here in a couple of days and I'll try to get some pictures of those complete crossmembers.

That should allow it to tuck up in there pretty tight so it doesn't hang down too far.

I was going to yank the drive shaft out today and poke it in there so I could measure for the drive shafts and get them ordered, but i found I needed a long T45 torx bit to get the front U joint off,my short one wouldn't get past the weld on the shaft, so I spent a couple of hours chasing my snappy truck down and ran out of day

 

[69dieselfreak]

damn i cant wait for pics
snappy is just a phone call a way
if you get his number but i owe them a **** load of moeny so they would come to me to get my moeny
anyway pics !

 

[oldmisterbill]

Personally I would rather drill into the sides of the frame than the top.Especially since it will be nearer to the middle of the truck. Wish you were nearer to me I have 2 migs 1 is a 220 volt Hobart 250.They have just been sitting most of the time.

 

[RLDSL]

Chances are I'll poke those holes with my plasma cutter , I don't have the patience or the arms left to worry away that much frame material with a drill but either way, it would still make it easier to get to.

 

[RLDSL]

Personally I would rather drill into the sides of the frame than the top.Especially since it will be nearer to the middle of the truck. Wish you were nearer to me I have 2 migs 1 is a 220 volt Hobart 250.They have just been sitting most of the time.

Yeah, that 220 mig would make for a clean joint. That sucker would penetrate through REAL nice. Now with that setup I'd just go with some heavier material on the outer ears to weld up to the frame and just make sure to find some rubber tranny mounts with a fair enough amount of give to them where i wouldn't have to worry about frame cracking from flexing

 

[FordGuy100]

Can you go and rent a bigger welder for a couple hours? Anyways good luck man, I'm excited to see some pics on how it comes along

 

[RLDSL]

Can you go and rent a bigger welder for a couple hours? Anyways good luck man, I'm excited to see some pics on how it comes along

I see you've never priced renting that sort of thing. It's cheaper to buy it. Heck For me it'd be cheaper to drive over to Bills house, but that'd be a good trick with the driveshaft out

 

[oldmisterbill]

I bet you could haul it to your house if necessary.My plate is full for now taking care of the wifey.So that could work.

 

[MIDNIGHT RIDER]

I see you've never priced renting that sort of thing. It's cheaper to buy it.

It is ridiculous what those rental places can get for half-a-days use of their junk.

 

[FordGuy100]

I see you've never priced renting that sort of thing. It's cheaper to buy it. Heck For me it'd be cheaper to drive over to Bills house, but that'd be a good trick with the driveshaft out

No I havent, how bad is it?