Another stupid question, what is this?
 

This was bolted to the center crossmember, what is it?

Brian

Re: Another stupid question, what is this?
 

I can definitely identify that as a rectangular piece of metal (probably steel, judging by the rust) with four holes and an odd bracket attached on one end.

Glad I could help.

Re: Another stupid question, what is this?
 

Is it REAL rust or is it fake patina?:devil:

Brian

Re: Another stupid question, what is this?
 

It's a dangleflapper. Only came on California trucks.

Re: Another stupid question, what is this?
 

I've seen them but right now can't remember what they do. Exhaust support or center support for the driveshaft on long wheelbase trucks?

Re: Another stupid question, what is this?
 

the only thing I can think of is a muffler hanger that bolted directly to a round muffler body as seen on some large trucks. otherwise, possibly a muffler bearing retainer or a bracket for a hidden doo hickey .
oh, wait! now I remember. it's a retainer for the down grease tube for the feather valve on the gooseneck trailers used back in the day. I would put that thing on ebay and get a few bucks for it. you just don't see those things anymore. should be worth something to somebody......
hahaha, dunno. if the truck had a pto at some time it could possibly be a bracket for a driveshaft bearing to a hydraulic pump or something along that line?

Re: Another stupid question, what is this?
 

can you put it back and post a picture so we can see it's proximity to the drivetrain?

model and year of truck?

any other stray brackets or out of place bolt holes in that area?

if it's not a typical part commonly found in your model, my swag would be a trans mount yoke for non-typical transmission or add-on brownie box of some kind, maybe even overdrive unit or pto support, something along those lines..

or driveshaft brake mounting bracket of some kind, also maybe aftermarket since it's kind of crude and simple in design..

if not any of those, I'm going with flux capacitor, used to be able to get them at O'Reilly's.. https://www.oreillyauto.com/flux-capacitor

good luck!

Re: Another stupid question, what is this?
 

Looks like a lower shock mount, it would be bolted to the U bolts for the leaf springs

Re: Another stupid question, what is this?
 

Luckily I took plenty of photos of the frame before I disassembled it. My truck is a mismosh of years, don't even know what year the frame is, 51-53?

Brian

Re: Another stupid question, what is this?
 

if I remember correctly, that's a rear trans mount for a torque tube drive line. the 4 holes bolt to the crossmember & the u shaped part bolts to the end of the trans.

Re: Another stupid question, what is this?
 

Makes sense, thanks! Seems kinda flimsy for that but that is exactly where it is mounted, it has to be.

Brian

Re: Another stupid question, what is this?
 

It was hard to tell from the first picture because of the missing bolt.

Re: Another stupid question, what is this?
 

Are you guys serious? Yes it's a standard SM420 / Torque tube cross member support bracket.

Re: Another stupid question, what is this?
 

We aren't restorers, we remember we saw it and took it off but forget what it did.

Re: Another stupid question, what is this?
 

I took mine off in 1980

Re: Another stupid question, what is this?
 

Let's see...we called it a flux capacitor, a dangleflapper, a muffler bearing retainer, and a rectangular piece of steel. And you think we might be serious? :lol:

Re: Another stupid question, what is this?
 

LOL, I sure wasn't serious about being serious. But yes it's a SM420 to torque tube ball joint support bracket. MartinSR, if you don't plan to use it, I'd love to give it to a friend who needs one. Trade for some smoked salmon? ;)

Re: Another stupid question, what is this?
 

I will not be using it let me know where I can send it.

Brian

Re: Another stupid question, what is this?
 

I'll send you Brian's mailing address for the smoked salmon :lol:

Re: Another stupid question, what is this?
 

MARTINSR,
Sent you a PM. No, seriously!! :lol:

Re: Another stupid question, what is this?
 

I took mine off at midnight one night in 1973 after I drove the truck home with the Nova rear with spring pads welded on in the back, pulled it in the garage. jacked the back up, pulled the rear and swapped rears and then swapped transmissions and had it back together in time to go to work the next afternoon. That same process would probably take me a week now.

Re: Another stupid question, what is this?
 

Add another week for me.

Re: Another stupid question, what is this?
 

Bingo!

Re: Another stupid question, what is this?
 

flux capacitor?

Re: Another stupid question, what is this?
 

If you have the same luck mailing Brian the smoked salmon that I had mailing him a Factory Assembly Manual, the Post Office crew will have fish breath for days.