700r4 into a 63 crossmember question

[63 Chevy Stepside]

I thought I would pull on some of the great experience here to ask about installing my 700r4 into my 63 C10. The motor is a 350 of course. Do I need to cut out both of the crossmembers in this picture? Can I use the front crossmember and move it back to the proper spot for the 700? What is the best way to mount this trans into this 63. Thanks guys.

[wildearp]

More than likely your trans pan or torque converter will hit where the front mount is. I cut mine out of my 47. However, my frame is boxed and welded to a Mustang II cross member. You will lose a lot of structural integrity if you remove the front mount, unless you add additional bracing.

You can easily measure from your engine mount to the cross member and compare it to an engine with the trans hooked up to see where the pan and converter will be.

[towersddg9]

Here is a pick of my 700r4, I had to pull that crossmember, I did have a TH350 with stock mounts and it was fine

[Captainfab]

I would remove the bellhousing crossmember all together. The other crossmember is for your e-brake cables and mechanism. For a trans crossmember you can use one from a '63-'87 truck with an auto trans. You will just need to drill the holes for it. Regarding the e-brake crossmember. You can either convert to the '66-'72 style e-brake cables that doesn't use a crossmember. Or modify/adapt the brackets on the original e-brake crossmember to the new trans crossmember. There are a couple of members here that have fabricated and adapter parts to their trans crossmembers to utilize the '63-'65 style e-brake mechanism. member TR65 is one of them. Look in his build thread.

[jj1965]

I removed the front crossmember and modified my factory E-brake crossmember to accept my TH-350. Been great for 10 plus years. Plan to use the same crossmember when I convert to 700R4.

[harry]

Originally Posted by jj1965

I removed the front crossmember and modified my factory E-brake crossmember to accept my TH-350. Been great for 10 plus years. Plan to use the same crossmember when I convert to 700R4.

did you just drill holes in your ebrake crossmember to use as gearbox mount

[63 Chevy Stepside]

Thanks guys that is what I was thinking. You helped save me a lot of putting motor / trans in and out to measure and such. Towersddg9 thanks for the pic it is just what I needed. Capt thanks for your input as usual, I am hoping to keep the vintage look of the e-brake and will check TR65 for reference.

[1955 mancave]

ok so i saw that Captian said we could use the crossmember from an auto (NEVER MIND) i need to read more lol.

HELP ! so on my 64 with the 4spd when i swap to the 700r4 can i use the original crossmember ? see my truck has dual exhaust and the crossmember that is in it now is made to clear the pipes.

i know this will be a pain to pull since its rivited, and the top 2 rivits, they mount on the curve of the fram so if it has to be moved towards the rear of the truck wont that be an issue ? or should i just cut it out and get one from a donar truck 72-87 c series ?

[Captainfab]

You will have to remove the original bellhousing crossmember. It can not be reused for an auto trans. All you need is an auto trans crossmember from a '63-'87 C series truck with an auto trans. You'll just need to drill the holes in the frame to bolt it in.

Originally Posted by 1955 mancave

ok so i saw that Captian said we could use the crossmember from an auto (NEVER MIND) i need to read more lol.

HELP ! so on my 64 with the 4spd when i swap to the 700r4 can i use the original crossmember ? see my truck has dual exhaust and the crossmember that is in it now is made to clear the pipes.

i know this will be a pain to pull since its rivited, and the top 2 rivits, they mount on the curve of the fram so if it has to be moved towards the rear of the truck wont that be an issue ? or should i just cut it out and get one from a donar truck 72-87 c series ?

[1955 mancave]

thanks John ! i will pick up one today i called the guy and he has one for $25.00 , then i'm back at it