72 Transmission X member removal

[macblazer]

Ok...I'm TOTALLY at a loss on this one.

I got a new tranny x-member for the truck to get my exhaust pipes tucked up.

I have the old one unbolted but for the life of me....I can't figure out how the heck to get it out from inside the frame rails.

There has to be a trick to this? So can anyone shine some light on this one?

Thanks

[RaceAGMC]

Did you get the bolts that are on the top side of the frame as well? If so, you may just have to persuade it a lil.

[macblazer]

Originally Posted by RaceAGMC

Did you get the bolts that are on the top side of the frame as well? If so, you may just have to persuade it a lil.

Yup...pulled all 4 from both sides. It seems to tight inside the frame. I have no clue how they even got in in there. I can slide it forward and back, but I can't figure out how to get it from between the frame rails.

[PipsC10]

mine was a pain too. I just beat it to death with a big hammer until I could wedge it out

[macblazer]

Originally Posted by PipsC10

mine was a pain too. I just beat it to death with a big hammer until I could wedge it out

What did you do? push one side forward and the other back until you were able to pop it out? Did you do the same with the one you installed?

I thought about doing that, but kept thinking "there has to be an easier way of doing this that I'm just NOT seeing"

On the plus side the newly rebuilt motor is closer to running. hehe We got it to fire up and such a couple times but ran out of time since it was getting late and right now I don't have the exhaust system hooked to the headers. hehe

[ChevyDude]

I used a sawsall and cut it in half and then persuaded with a big hammer.

[PipsC10]

I think ChevyDude is right, if your not going to re-use it, then cut it in half and it should come out, you may still have to help it a little with a hammer. There is 30+ years of rust and road grime in between the frame rails and the crossmember. I went with an ECE trans cross member and it slipped right in with no problems at all. Could not be happier with it.

[macblazer]

Originally Posted by PipsC10

I think ChevyDude is right, if your not going to re-use it, then cut it in half and it should come out, you may still have to help it a little with a hammer. There is 30+ years of rust and road grime in between the frame rails and the crossmember. I went with an ECE trans cross member and it slipped right in with no problems at all. Could not be happier with it.

Yeah I'm ripping it out to put in one pretty much like that to get clearance for the exhaust system.

[cdowns]

if you cut it in half it has no resale value to somebody that needs one//i've always just beat the passenger side back and the drivers side foward //bigger the hammer the easier it pops out

[Madmandav]

Big hammer worked on mine.

[PipsC10]

Originally Posted by cdowns

if you cut it in half it has no resale value to somebody that needs one//i've always just beat the passenger side back and the drivers side foward //bigger the hammer the easier it pops out

I had a friend take mine along with my a-arms and some other misc parts to the SWAP meet twice, ended up giving them away cause they had no interest at all. I guess if you have the room to store spare parts then it would not be a bad idea to keep them around in case someone needs them one day.