Manual Crossmember

[72ShortboxManitoba]

This morning I pulled the old bull-low 4 speed out of my 72 shortbed, I have a 700R4 trans sitting on the floor waiting to go in. My question is do I have to remove the old stardard crossmember, it is the one that the bell housing bolts to and runs from frame rail to frame rail. It looks like it might be able to remain ( hard to tell till I lift it in).Has anyone done this swap and left the crossmember? And if so is the trans pan still removeable?

I think the crossmember gives the frame alot of support.

By the way as I sit here I can see it is starting to snow out, guess it almost garage season.