Anyone swapped all factory x members for aftermarket tubular? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Jl8806 · 07-01-2019, 10:12 PM

I keep pulling out factory crossmembers and replacing them with aftermarket ones and I'm kinda wanting to just go ahead and do the rest of them but I'm kind of concerned that maybe it might be weaker than the factory one, for instance the factory shock x member is riveted on the top and bottom and the aftermarket ones I've looked at just bolt to the bottom. I'd like to take out the flat curved one under the core support but it seems a lot stouter than the one that bolts in with the core support mounts.

Jl8806 · 07-02-2019, 02:50 PM

Anyone?

**Steeveedee** · 07-02-2019, 11:22 PM

Not sure why you'd want to change the cross members out, unless they were rusted beyond repair. I will say that the rivets provide tons (literally) more force on the parts held together than bolts do. If I ever had to change one out, I'd find a way to have them riveted again (or maybe even welded, if I couldn't rivet them). You'll certainly see differing opinions, but this one is all mine.

Jl8806 · 07-07-2019, 08:58 AM

I'm going to have to completely disassemble the frame the get all the rust, so now I don't know what to do, I guess I'll use grade 8 bolts, loc tite, and maybe a few tack welds...

**Grumpy old man** · 07-07-2019, 09:14 AM

Where are you in KY ? I have some frames that look a LOT better than what your working with .

CG · 07-07-2019, 09:15 AM

It’s been done tons of times here on the board. Use the google search bar at the top of the page. Make sure you click the 67-72 button. You may have to get creative on your search parameters

**Grumpy old man** · 07-07-2019, 09:22 AM

titled long bed frame .

Jl8806 · 07-07-2019, 09:44 AM

My frame is not that bad I just hate to go thru all this trouble and still know there's rust in behind the body mounts and cross members that will start creeping out...

And it's an original short bed frame. Do you have any of those for sale?

**Grumpy old man** · 07-07-2019, 09:54 AM

You posted this picture a couple weeks ago . That's a bent frame . you may want to X measure to see just how much it's bent

Jl8806 · 07-07-2019, 10:25 AM

That's all being took care of and I've done checked, it's not bent. Maybe in that one spot there but I'm really not sure what's happened with that support brace. Getting rid of all rust is my main concern at this point

07-01-2019, 10:12 PM	#1
Jl8806 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Kentucky Posts: 59	Anyone swapped all factory x members for aftermarket tubular? I keep pulling out factory crossmembers and replacing them with aftermarket ones and I'm kinda wanting to just go ahead and do the rest of them but I'm kind of concerned that maybe it might be weaker than the factory one, for instance the factory shock x member is riveted on the top and bottom and the aftermarket ones I've looked at just bolt to the bottom. I'd like to take out the flat curved one under the core support but it seems a lot stouter than the one that bolts in with the core support mounts.

07-02-2019, 02:50 PM	#2
Jl8806 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Kentucky Posts: 59	Re: Anyone swapped all factory x members for aftermarket tubular? Anyone?

07-02-2019, 11:22 PM	#3
Steeveedee Who Changed This? Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Simi Valley, CA Posts: 10,345	Re: Anyone swapped all factory x members for aftermarket tubular? Not sure why you'd want to change the cross members out, unless they were rusted beyond repair. I will say that the rivets provide tons (literally) more force on the parts held together than bolts do. If I ever had to change one out, I'd find a way to have them riveted again (or maybe even welded, if I couldn't rivet them). You'll certainly see differing opinions, but this one is all mine. __________________ ~Steven '70 Chevy 3/4T Longhorn CST 402/400/3.56 Custom Camper Simi Valley, CA

07-07-2019, 08:58 AM	#4
Jl8806 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Kentucky Posts: 59	Re: Anyone swapped all factory x members for aftermarket tubular? I'm going to have to completely disassemble the frame the get all the rust, so now I don't know what to do, I guess I'll use grade 8 bolts, loc tite, and maybe a few tack welds...

07-07-2019, 09:14 AM	#5
Grumpy old man Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Gods country East,Tn Posts: 8,545	Re: Anyone swapped all factory x members for aftermarket tubular? Where are you in KY ? I have some frames that look a LOT better than what your working with . __________________ 1967 Factory short bed - Old school '71 - 350 / 4bolt / 487 heads / Edelbrock C3BX Muncie M-22 4 speed / Hurst Comp plus Factory 12 bolt posi 3.73 / 255-70-15 Smoothed firewall / Factory cowl induction Power disc brakes / power steering / 3.5-5" drop

07-07-2019, 09:15 AM	#6
CG BlahBlahBlah Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Wa. Posts: 19,846	Re: Anyone swapped all factory x members for aftermarket tubular? It’s been done tons of times here on the board. Use the google search bar at the top of the page. Make sure you click the 67-72 button. You may have to get creative on your search parameters __________________ … … … … … … … … ... … … … … … … … … … … …

07-07-2019, 09:22 AM	#7
Grumpy old man Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Gods country East,Tn Posts: 8,545	Re: Anyone swapped all factory x members for aftermarket tubular? titled long bed frame . Attached Images __________________ 1967 Factory short bed - Old school '71 - 350 / 4bolt / 487 heads / Edelbrock C3BX Muncie M-22 4 speed / Hurst Comp plus Factory 12 bolt posi 3.73 / 255-70-15 Smoothed firewall / Factory cowl induction Power disc brakes / power steering / 3.5-5" drop Last edited by Grumpy old man; 07-07-2019 at 09:33 AM.

07-07-2019, 09:44 AM	#8
Jl8806 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Kentucky Posts: 59	Re: Anyone swapped all factory x members for aftermarket tubular? My frame is not that bad I just hate to go thru all this trouble and still know there's rust in behind the body mounts and cross members that will start creeping out... And it's an original short bed frame. Do you have any of those for sale?

07-07-2019, 09:54 AM	#9
Grumpy old man Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Gods country East,Tn Posts: 8,545	Re: Anyone swapped all factory x members for aftermarket tubular? You posted this picture a couple weeks ago . That's a bent frame . you may want to X measure to see just how much it's bent Attached Images __________________ 1967 Factory short bed - Old school '71 - 350 / 4bolt / 487 heads / Edelbrock C3BX Muncie M-22 4 speed / Hurst Comp plus Factory 12 bolt posi 3.73 / 255-70-15 Smoothed firewall / Factory cowl induction Power disc brakes / power steering / 3.5-5" drop

07-07-2019, 10:25 AM	#10
Jl8806 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Kentucky Posts: 59	Re: Anyone swapped all factory x members for aftermarket tubular? That's all being took care of and I've done checked, it's not bent. Maybe in that one spot there but I'm really not sure what's happened with that support brace. Getting rid of all rust is my main concern at this point



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