Transmission Cross Member

[chappie]

Hello, I've got a 70 c10 and I just changed from a Saginaw 3 speed column shift to an SM465 floor shift and was wondering if it would be worth while to build my own rear cross member for under the trans or try to find one and buy it? I changed to a different bell housing as well. The only thing I'm wondering about if I build my own is I'm not sure the angle/height I should have for the rear of the trans for the drive shaft. Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks.

[Ruscal]

Chappie,
With a one piece drive shaft generally you match the engine angle to the pinyon angle. Say the pinyon angles up 3 degrees, you angle the engine down 3 degrees.
Russ

[chappie]

Thanks, I do have a two piece drive shaft though. I'm going to have to change the transmission end as well. and add a slip yoke I believe. I just don't want to get the angle wrong and rip through u-joints if I don't have to.

[Boyd67]

You could try this. a little pricey but you could use it with any transmission going forward

http://http://americanpowertrain.com...ossmember.html

[mike16]

are you trying to support the tranny or strengthen the frame. I used one out of a 73 and latter automatic trans cross member. it fit perfectly but there were no hole drilled in my frame for it so I drilled my own. A bit of a PITA. could not tell the difference either But I had a sense of superiority when asserting my self in traffic. I would do it again in every truck I own. increases the scrap value too

[chappie]

Thanks guys. I may have found a cross member out of an '83. mike16, its to support the back of the trans. I changed the bell housing so it no longer bolts to cross member behind the engine.