Question on 1971 Frame

[11555wally]

I've been looking at a 1971 C10 that is pretty good condition with thoughts on buying it. On the glove box door it says it is a 350CI and a 350 trans. It doesn't have an engine or trans in it which is ok with me. My question is there appears to be an engine mount on both frame rails just below the firewall. They have been cut within about 2 or 3 inches of the frame rail. Not having owned one of these before I'm not sure what it is there for. I was under the impression that the rear mount was a crossmember back further from the firewall. Could it have been a frame for a standard shift transmission, a 6 cylinder engine, or what. Thanks in advance for any help.

[magwakeenercew2jh]

Originally Posted by 11555wally

I've been looking at a 1971 C10 that is pretty good condition with thoughts on buying it. On the glove box door it says it is a 350CI and a 350 trans. It doesn't have an engine or trans in it which is ok with me. My question is there appears to be an engine mount on both frame rails just below the firewall. They have been cut within about 2 or 3 inches of the frame rail. Not having owned one of these before I'm not sure what it is there for. I was under the impression that the rear mount was a crossmember back further from the firewall. Could it have been a frame for a standard shift transmission, a 6 cylinder engine, or what. Thanks in advance for any help.

Well, here's a front view of a '71 frame. If this doesn't help, I can pull the assembly book and look.

[11555wally]

Thank you. I'm sorry I don't have pics of this frame but the one you show has the front mounts on the crossmember which the one I'm looking at has holes in that crossmember where the front mounts would have been. But then back a foot or so, just about even with the firewall, there are cut off stubs (probably 3 or 4 inches wide) that stick out a couple of inches inward, (torched off). Not able to tell if it would have gone all the way across or not. They are riveted to frame. I thought the transmission crossmember was a lot further back. This frame appears to be untouched and in decent condition and no indication that the body mounts had been changed out.

[kwmech]

Sounds like the truck or the frame used to have a 4 speed in it. What you see protruding is what is left of the cross member for the bell housing. Is there a high hump floor pan?

[magwakeenercew2jh]

Hummmm.
Maybe these will help:

The factory assembly manual is a good tool. But it has always confused me.
So, here's the data I found in there.

I suspect a picture of the torched off tabs would be better than what the book's showing.

[11555wally]

I talked to the guy that owns the truck and he is going to get under and take some pics of the cut off mounts. I also sent him a copy of the assembly manual that shows diagrams of various frames and xmember locations. I could be that it was reframed at sometime in its life because the glovebox tag says truck was automatic v8. I'll post more info later. Thanks for all you help.

[11555wally]

Not sure if I figured out how to add pics but here is my try at adding one of the cut off bracket

[71meangreenc10]

You need to get some better pictures, from what I see, that looks to be a 3spd manual crossmember. I have taken some of those out.

Just because the SPID says the truck had a Automatic, does not mean that the frames have not been changed or all other types of scenarios.

To add pics, you have to re-size them so they will upload or figure out how to load them from a site. I usually resize them.

Smitty

[kwmech]

That looks to me like the manual transmission x-member, (bell housing mount) what's left of it anyways

[11555wally]

Thanks to all of you for the great information. With what you are telling me and looking up some old postings about changing from a manual to automatic transmission I think it is safe to assume that the frame was originally from a manual transmission truck and was put under this cab and bed. Sure appreciate all of the responses. Larry