68 C-10 exhaust going through frame crossmember question

[dubs68SWB]

I have a little C-10 that I'm getting ready to do the exhaust on. I posted a question awhile back for you guys to show me your exhaust and it seemed like most of you made 2 holes on each side of the crossmember that the rearend trailing arms attach to. My question is whether or not it's neccesary to re-enforce the crossmember once you have made the 2 holes. It seems like most of you welded in 4" steel pipe and ran the exhaust through that. I think that would be easy if the cab was off the frame, but my truck only has the bed off and there is not much room. I just don't know how much force is put on that and whether or not it's a must to weld some kind of support in there. Please let me know. Thanks!!!

[1LoC10]

Ive never done it before, but i would assume that if you cut part away you would want to weld some support in there

[JameslovesJammie]

Search the FAQ. There is a realy good writeup in there from last fall.

[Hart_Rod]

I just did that to mine. Here are some pictures and a couple of links:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...6&goto=newpost

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=226302&page=3

[Rokcrln]

yes it is a must to weld in some reinforcement. All the force of you truck gets put right on that crossmember every time you touch that gas pedal so even if you are running a stock 6cyl you still put 3500-4000lbs of weight on that one piece. Now if you have a small V8 you put even more stress and a bigger motor, well you get the picture

Kevin
LFD inc.

[corn]

Always wondered why the aftermarket x-members aren't reinforced...

[Ram-Man]

Originally Posted by corn

Always wondered why the aftermarket x-members aren't reinforced...

The ece ones are 1/4" thick. This is how they probably can get by without welding in supports.

[Rokcrln]

Originally Posted by Ram-Man

The ece ones are 1/4" thick. This is how they probably can get by without welding in supports.

Yep! I ment to add that to my above post

[corn]

That makes sense. Thanks!

[GREASEMONKEY72]

yes must reinforce

[stevess11]

I just did mine yesterday with the cab on and bed off. Welding them up is not a problem. Cutting them out was the real pain. It took me about an hour once I had everthing marked and ready. A 4 inch hole saw with the trailing arm removed would be the way to go. Steve

[dubs68SWB]

So I guess what you are telling me is since it's not a 6 cyl (it was), but a heafty 460BBC putting out about 500 ft. lbs of torque, might be a good idea to weld in some supports???? LOL

Guess I have some work to do!!!!

[Bamm]

It doesn't look like you would be able to use the "pilot" bit of the hole saw, wouldn't that make a hole saw pretty tough to use in this situation? Hey Rob, what did you cut your's with?.............................Bamm!

[onetonk5]

A plasma would make short work of it but if you wanted to use a hole saw you could always weld a strip of metal in to give the pilot bit somewhere to go.

[Hart_Rod]

Originally Posted by Bamm

It doesn't look like you would be able to use the "pilot" bit of the hole saw, wouldn't that make a hole saw pretty tough to use in this situation? Hey Rob, what did you cut your's with?.............................Bamm!

I used a cutoff wheel and an airsaw. Probably took 45 minutes for each one, .

Originally Posted by onetonk5

A plasma would make short work of it but if you wanted to use a hole saw you could always weld a strip of metal in to give the pilot bit somewhere to go.

Bingo!!! I thought about that after I finished mine, . Hopefully, everyone else can take advantage of this idea.

[68Stepbed]

Originally Posted by dubs68SWB

So I guess what you are telling me is since it's not a 6 cyl (it was), but a heafty 460BBC putting out about 500 ft. lbs of torque, might be a good idea to weld in some supports???? LOL

Guess I have some work to do!!!!

With that beast, I would say go with a 9 inch with a 4-link. Reinforcement is definetly necassary.