TH350 Swap In, 2 weeks? Crossmember?

[fortytwoandrising]

Hi Folks,

I'm new to the forum, and so far I have to say that I love this place. Anyway...I've got a '72 3/4 ton 4x2 (C20? is that right) Long bed/Fleetside. It's been sitting for a while with clutch problems and I recently took it into a shop here in the bay are to have my TH350 put in it.

So far it has been 2 weeks! A couple things they were waiting for:

1) Flexplate (okay, it may have taken a bit to get it...)
2) They told me yesterday that they have to cut the H-pipe in my exaust (no problem, I'm going to replace the exaust)
3) They said there is a cross member near the engine they have to remove...
4) They have to fabricate a crossmember for the TH350 (Shouldn't they just order one, or have seen this two weeks ago?)

I guess my question is, what crossmember do you need to remove to replace the stock granny 1st tranny with a TH350? I don't remember having to remove any crossmembers when I did the same thing on my '67.

I don't think I would really mind things cropping up, but couldn't they have looked at this crap while my truck was sitting there for 2 weeks? Does it normally take a shop 2+ weeks to do something like this?

Sheesh...

[BowTieOgre]

Ive never had a manual truck but I think there was a different (maybe extra) crossmember for those as opposed to the automatics. You can but a new auto trans xmem from Early Classic for about $90 (under trans mounts in drop down menu) and a poly mount from your local parts store for less than $30 and it bolts right in...no chance of the shop messing up fabbing a new one.

to the boards btw!

[fortytwoandrising]

Thanks! I'm just hoping during their fab that they aren't cutting on my frame.

Does anyone know what crossmember they are having to remove? I might go down there today to find out what they're talking about.

[67ChevyRedneck]

I don't know, my truck has never been in a shop.

2) They cut it, they replace it, don't let them get away with that!

3) This is true. The manual transmissions have a crossmember that is riveted to the frame at the FRONT of the transmission that bolts to the bellhousing. For an automatic, this crossmember would be in the way, and does need to be removed.

4) You can get an automatic crossmember from any 67-72 truck. Here's one on the parts board right now.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=244422

Or you could order one from CPP or ECE. Check out their websites for pics and prices.