What do you guys think about welding in your crossmember? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

fastbagged68 · 02-02-2005, 03:52 PM

So I was going through the new Street Trucks Mag....on the cover it has got a 67-68 Slammed Yellow Fleetside. The guy welded in his crossmember. i have been thinking of doing the same to my burban. It would make your front end stronger. I also plan on boxing my whole frame. What do you guys think about welding in the crossmember......pros vs cons!

Fat Tom · 02-03-2005, 04:33 AM

I like bolts, they come apart much easier than weld.

**Captkaos** · 02-03-2005, 12:47 PM

This is just my opinion, but where you would have to weld it would be a pain, especially if your upper control arm studs ever got bent, you would have to cut it off, plus and I don't really see a benefit of it.

Shev · 02-03-2005, 12:52 PM

They did like a 3 1/2" crossmember drop on that truck...could that be a reason they welded it in?

fastbagged68 · 02-03-2005, 01:15 PM

Well here is what I'm thinking....

fastbagged68 · 02-03-2005, 01:19 PM

Since I have done a 2inch crossmember drop I could cut and put to c-notchs to be able to get my upper control arm studs out. Mine are almost at the top of the frame. I also moved my crossmember up almost 1 inch I think.... to center my wheel in my wheel well. Welding it looks cleaner. When you do a must II front end or a fatman fabrication, tci, etc you got to weld it in. So why not weld it in. After you have it in why would you want to take it out? Once mine is in there it is there for good. My burb is going to the shop to get finished in about 2 weeks. So I will post pics in a few months of what I did....doing!

**Captkaos** · 02-03-2005, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shev

They did like a 3 1/2" crossmember drop on that truck...could that be a reason they welded it in?

Most likely that was the reason.

**N2TRUX** · 02-03-2005, 06:09 PM

I guess it all depends on what crossmember you are using.....

68LSS1 · 02-04-2005, 05:25 AM

Correction, the Fatman Fabrications set up is bolt in (at least for the coil overs which is the stage III package). But I too am thinking about welding it in just because I probably will be locating it in a different position also.

**N2TRUX** · 02-04-2005, 10:19 AM

I guess it depends on what you want the end result to look like. It can be bolted in and would allow you to remove it later if needed. If your going with a Fatman IFS I assume your going for appearence as well as function. I say weld it in and clean up those frame rails. Just remember measure twice, weld once....

fastbagged68 · 02-04-2005, 01:01 PM

I was not even going to measure.....i was going to eye ball it! j/k
I plan on boxing the whole frame and then welding it in. I know what needs to be done.

**N2TRUX** · 02-05-2005, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fastbagged68

....
I plan on boxing the whole frame and then welding it in......

Sweet! Nothing looks better than a boxed frame. Keep us posted in the progress....

GMCGRANDS · 02-07-2005, 09:54 PM

Stage V fatman bolts in as well. I modified mine by moving it forward 1.400" to better center the wheel in the wheel well. Im using the 2" drop spindles in conjuntion with the shockwaves. I had to assemble and diassemble everything multiple times. Did alot of measuring and drilling to move all the mounting points evenly. Fabricated 3/16" plate to the same dimensions as the side flanges of the fatman crossmember, welded them to the flanges to fill the gap. then bolted it back on. The frame width gets narrower as you go forward. I like the idea of being able to repostion or go back to stock if I wanted.

02-02-2005, 03:52 PM	#1
fastbagged68 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Tri Valley California Posts: 792	What do you guys think about welding in your crossmember? So I was going through the new Street Trucks Mag....on the cover it has got a 67-68 Slammed Yellow Fleetside. The guy welded in his crossmember. i have been thinking of doing the same to my burban. It would make your front end stronger. I also plan on boxing my whole frame. What do you guys think about welding in the crossmember......pros vs cons!

02-03-2005, 04:33 AM	#2
Fat Tom Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Maple Ridge, B.C., Canada Posts: 42	I like bolts, they come apart much easier than weld. __________________ 69 GMC 2wd 350cid 82 Toyota 4wd, 3.8L V6, 6" lift, 35's, locked and loaded 76 Datsun F10 1.4L *FOR SALE* 04 Honda Shadow 750

02-03-2005, 12:47 PM	#3
Captkaos www.73-87chevytrucks.com Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 6,935	This is just my opinion, but where you would have to weld it would be a pain, especially if your upper control arm studs ever got bent, you would have to cut it off, plus and I don't really see a benefit of it. __________________ Chris Lucas 1973 Chevy C-10 1978 GMC Jimmy (2WD) - SOLD 1987 R10 twin turbo LS 1991 R3500 SRW CrewCab 1985 K5 diesel swapped project 1989 K5 2WD conversion w/ Vette susp Project Captkaos Customs 73-87chevytrucks.com

02-03-2005, 12:52 PM	#4
Shev Head Peon Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Imlay City MI Posts: 296	They did like a 3 1/2" crossmember drop on that truck...could that be a reason they welded it in? __________________ '72 Suburban, factory tilt, tach, front & rear AC, front & rear disc brakes, 383/700-R4

02-03-2005, 06:09 PM	#8
N2TRUX Happy to be here Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 39,023	I guess it all depends on what crossmember you are using..... Attached Images __________________ Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @N2trux.com Articles- "Jake" the 84 to 74 crewcab "Elwood" the77_Remix 85 GMC Sierra "Scarlett" "Refining Sierra"

02-03-2005, 01:15 PM	#5
fastbagged68 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Tri Valley California Posts: 792	Well here is what I'm thinking....

02-03-2005, 01:19 PM	#6
fastbagged68 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Tri Valley California Posts: 792	Since I have done a 2inch crossmember drop I could cut and put to c-notchs to be able to get my upper control arm studs out. Mine are almost at the top of the frame. I also moved my crossmember up almost 1 inch I think.... to center my wheel in my wheel well. Welding it looks cleaner. When you do a must II front end or a fatman fabrication, tci, etc you got to weld it in. So why not weld it in. After you have it in why would you want to take it out? Once mine is in there it is there for good. My burb is going to the shop to get finished in about 2 weeks. So I will post pics in a few months of what I did....doing!

02-04-2005, 05:25 AM	#9
68LSS1 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Tampa Posts: 1,191	Correction, the Fatman Fabrications set up is bolt in (at least for the coil overs which is the stage III package). But I too am thinking about welding it in just because I probably will be locating it in a different position also. __________________ '68 Short Step LS1/T56, Hydratech, Fatman Fabrications Stage III, Baer, Hot Rods to Hell, US Body, S&W, etc

02-04-2005, 10:19 AM	#10
N2TRUX Happy to be here Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 39,023	I guess it depends on what you want the end result to look like. It can be bolted in and would allow you to remove it later if needed. If your going with a Fatman IFS I assume your going for appearence as well as function. I say weld it in and clean up those frame rails. Just remember measure twice, weld once....

02-04-2005, 01:01 PM	#11
fastbagged68 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Tri Valley California Posts: 792	I was not even going to measure.....i was going to eye ball it! j/k I plan on boxing the whole frame and then welding it in. I know what needs to be done.

02-07-2005, 09:54 PM	#13
GMCGRANDS Registered User Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Franklin , N.C. USA Posts: 105	Stage V fatman bolts in as well. I modified mine by moving it forward 1.400" to better center the wheel in the wheel well. Im using the 2" drop spindles in conjuntion with the shockwaves. I had to assemble and diassemble everything multiple times. Did alot of measuring and drilling to move all the mounting points evenly. Fabricated 3/16" plate to the same dimensions as the side flanges of the fatman crossmember, welded them to the flanges to fill the gap. then bolted it back on. The frame width gets narrower as you go forward. I like the idea of being able to repostion or go back to stock if I wanted. __________________ Mark 72'GMC Sierra Grande 2wd SWB, Fatman stageV IFS, 6.0 liter LQ4 Gen 3 and 4L80E under construction 05' GMC Sierra Denali LQ9



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