automatic crossmember removal - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Don Smith · 09-30-2002, 02:41 PM

Any suggestions on a good way to remove crossmember , I Cut rivets out and short of cutting it into or beating it out with a hammer I have been unable to get it out.

lotik · 09-30-2002, 02:50 PM

do you want to use it again? if not, cut a chunk out of the middle? heh

Don Smith · 09-30-2002, 02:57 PM

I plan to reuse it I am going to modify it so I can remove transmisssion pan without lifting tail end of transmission.

chevroletrucks · 09-30-2002, 10:29 PM

I cut the rivets off of mine and then used an air hammer with a pointed bit to push the rivets the rest of the way out........hope that helps

minibike · 09-30-2002, 11:25 PM

Drill or grind out the rivets that hold the angled pieces to the cross member. Then take them off. This will allow you to raise one side of the cross member and get it out.

Rod · 09-30-2002, 11:48 PM

I have never seen an automatic crossmember with rivets to the frame,... usually bolted in.

minibike · 09-30-2002, 11:51 PM

Mine was from a junkyard, so there were only rivets holding the "wings" onto the straight part of the cross member. These "wings" are what needs to be removed to give some wiggle room.

junkyardjohn · 10-01-2002, 12:48 AM

I'VE PULLED QUITE A FEW AT BONEYARDS. EVERYONE I'VE SEEN HAS 4 BOLTS ON EACH SIDE. ONCE YOU REMOVE THESE (& PLAN ON GETTING GREASY ALL OVER) I USUALLY LAY ON MY BACK, & KICK ONE SIDE FORWORD AS FAR AS IT'LL GO. & THEN REVERSE MY POSITION & KICK THE OTHER SIDE TOWORDS THE REAR. AS LONG AS THE FRAMES NOT BENT, IT'LL COME OUT.

palallin · 10-01-2002, 05:46 PM

The Tranny x-member on my PG-equipped '67 SWB was riveted in. PITA to get out the first time: very easy thereafter

**1971Stepside** · 10-01-2002, 05:57 PM

Take out the rivets/bolts and take a 3lb hammer and gently tap one side. I took mine out twice now with no problems this way. Once you get it cocked a little sideways you will have to tap the other end from the opposite direction. It should be pretty easy to do.

09-30-2002, 02:41 PM	#1
Don Smith Registered User Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Hampton, Ga, USA Posts: 217	automatic crossmember removal Any suggestions on a good way to remove crossmember , I Cut rivets out and short of cutting it into or beating it out with a hammer I have been unable to get it out. __________________ 68 Short Stepside, 350, quadrajet, 700r4, 3:73 posi, power front discs, HEI, Factory Air, Tilt, Tach, accelerator cable instead of rod, sway bar. 96 Impala SS 97 Monte Carlo

09-30-2002, 02:50 PM	#2
lotik drag it like you stole it Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Louisiana Posts: 542	do you want to use it again? if not, cut a chunk out of the middle? heh __________________ negative camber //LA\\

09-30-2002, 02:57 PM	#3
Don Smith Registered User Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Hampton, Ga, USA Posts: 217	I plan to reuse it I am going to modify it so I can remove transmisssion pan without lifting tail end of transmission. __________________ 68 Short Stepside, 350, quadrajet, 700r4, 3:73 posi, power front discs, HEI, Factory Air, Tilt, Tach, accelerator cable instead of rod, sway bar. 96 Impala SS 97 Monte Carlo

09-30-2002, 10:29 PM	#4
chevroletrucks Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Northwest,Indiana Posts: 128	I cut the rivets off of mine and then used an air hammer with a pointed bit to push the rivets the rest of the way out........hope that helps __________________ 67' Chevy C10 Lwb small rear window 71' Gmc 1500 custom 4x4 72' Gmc Grande Sierra

09-30-2002, 11:25 PM	#5
minibike Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Lafayette, LA Posts: 500	Drill or grind out the rivets that hold the angled pieces to the cross member. Then take them off. This will allow you to raise one side of the cross member and get it out. __________________ 69 SWB LT1/4L60E www.classicplace.com

09-30-2002, 11:48 PM	#6
Rod Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Eastern - Manitoba Canada, Winnipeg Posts: 4,369	I have never seen an automatic crossmember with rivets to the frame,... usually bolted in. __________________ Senior active founding member. 70 3/4 ton GMC Suburban 4x4 250/4 spd. 71 1/2 ton Suburban Chevy 4x4, 350/350 72 Chev 1 ton tow truck 402BB w/Holmes 440 wrecker on propane 2005 FLSTSCI Harley Springer 85 FXSB Harley Lowrider 72 Triumph 650 Bonneville 5spd "Poor people don't have hobbies" Quote from wife.

09-30-2002, 11:51 PM	#7
minibike Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Lafayette, LA Posts: 500	Mine was from a junkyard, so there were only rivets holding the "wings" onto the straight part of the cross member. These "wings" are what needs to be removed to give some wiggle room. __________________ 69 SWB LT1/4L60E www.classicplace.com

10-01-2002, 12:48 AM	#8
junkyardjohn Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SOMERSET KY. Posts: 6,427	I'VE PULLED QUITE A FEW AT BONEYARDS. EVERYONE I'VE SEEN HAS 4 BOLTS ON EACH SIDE. ONCE YOU REMOVE THESE (& PLAN ON GETTING GREASY ALL OVER) I USUALLY LAY ON MY BACK, & KICK ONE SIDE FORWORD AS FAR AS IT'LL GO. & THEN REVERSE MY POSITION & KICK THE OTHER SIDE TOWORDS THE REAR. AS LONG AS THE FRAMES NOT BENT, IT'LL COME OUT. __________________ junkyardjohn 69 1 TON TOW TRUCK // 84 4WD CUCV BLAZER// 85 1 TON 4WD STAKE TRUCK// 86 M1031 5/4 TON 4WD CUCV// ALOT OF OLD TRUCKS FOR ONE OLD MAN TO DRIVE. THERES ROOM FOR ALL OF GODS CREATURES RIGHT NEXT TO MY MASHED POTATOES// LIFE MEMBER OF P.E.T.A (PEOPLE EATING TASTY ANIMALS) DON'T RENT U-HAUL ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH IT WILL AMAZE PART OF THE PEOPLE & ASTONISH THE REST

10-01-2002, 05:46 PM	#9
palallin Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: St. James, MO Posts: 1,239	The Tranny x-member on my PG-equipped '67 SWB was riveted in. PITA to get out the first time: very easy thereafter __________________ '69 Longstep K-10: 327/SM465/T-221/Closed Knuckle Dana44/12-bolt.

10-01-2002, 05:57 PM	#10
1971Stepside Almost Satisfied Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 2,932	Take out the rivets/bolts and take a 3lb hammer and gently tap one side. I took mine out twice now with no problems this way. Once you get it cocked a little sideways you will have to tap the other end from the opposite direction. It should be pretty easy to do. __________________ 1971 C10 Stepside. LSx 6.0 with BTR Stage IV, Speed Engineering Headers, 4L80e transmission w/3200 Circle-D Stall. 3.73. Posi. Purchased this truck when I was 17. I started the rebuild (or take apart) in 1993. I have drug it around all over the country in pieces. Finally back on the road in 2021. "I can't complain, but sometimes I still do. Life's been good to me so far."

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