5.3 into 87 4x4 - what to do with front crossmember?

[Juiced06GTO]

I was just wondering if anyone has any pictures of what they did with the front crossmember on their 4x4 trucks? I have an idead of what i want to do, I am just not sure if it has already been done before or not. I saw the pictures that Thaelin put up, but his crossmember looks a little different then mine.

Anyone with any exp on the 87 trucks? I will post some pics up this weekend as I will finally be able to get back to working on it!

[Juiced06GTO]

Anyone have any ideas?

[glock35ipsc]

I would like to see the pics. I don't know what a 4x4 square front crossmember looks like.

What are the specific issues you are having?

[Juiced06GTO]

I will have some pics up this weekend. I've been working pretty long hours and haven't even had time to look at the truck!

Basically when you set the engine down on the motor mounts, the front of the block rests right on top of the front crossmember. There is no room to fit the accessory bracket the holds the ps pump and alt. I still have to extend the motor mount plates back about 1 3/4" and redrill new holes for the motor mounts.

Even with the trans dapt motor mount adapter plates the motor still sits too far forward to meet up with the trans unless i slide everything forward. I'd like to avoid that because that means moving the transfer case, lengthening the rear ds, shortening the front ds, and who knows what else!! I'll have some pics up this weekend to illustrate whats going on with it.

Thanks ahead of time for the help!

[68GMCCustom]

85burb has a 4x4 suburban and is getting ready to put in a 6.0L...he needs to get in on this one

[85burb]

I would help you with this but i have no front crossmember...But i will be getting one when i put engine in. This is what i will buy. It may not fit in factory location but it will for sure help. http://www.offroaddesign.com/catalog...rossmember.htm

[Juiced06GTO]

Hmm on my truck there is another crossmember in front of that one, it will be much easier to see in the pictures. I will get them up asap.

85burb, see if they can set the cross member up for an ls engine before you order it!

[85burb]

It will be a while befor i order it. I am going to put engine in then order one. Still have more parts to order. I will email them tho.

[Juiced06GTO]

Finally some pictures - The rusty spots on the frame are where the motor mounts are, I removed them to weld a plate on them to move the motor back about 1 3/4". The motor hits right about in the middle of that crossmember. My plan is to cut it out, box the ends, and use a piece of 2x4 steel to replace it and move it down a few inches.

[Juiced06GTO]

Here are some pics of what I started with for those that might not see it in the build section.

[Juiced06GTO]

The pics give anyone any ideas?

[glock35ipsc]

Without being able to see it in person, and just thinking out loud here........ Could you brace it real good, then cut the center section out and move it forward, then gusset it enough to retain strength, but provide enough room for the engine to set down in it?

If you have seen how the 2wd guys that "Z" their frame so that it sits lower than a lady bug, that might give you an idea of what I am thinking.

EDIT: Here is a quick crayola cad drawing of what I was thinking. This is looking from the top, and of course the gussets should be all boxed in:

[Ratpowerd67]

i have had several 4x4 trucks that didnt even have this xmember on them for some reason, and they are used to suport the frame from twisting without cracking the block. id say ditch the factory one, install the engine, and then fab one up that clears everything. to make it easy,cut the ends off of the old factory xmember, bolt them up to factory location, then fab something up that clears and then weld it up.

[Juiced06GTO]

Glock, thanks for the input I was hoping you would have some ideas!

Rat, thanks for the info, it is good to know what it was actually used for! Knowing that, I like your idea of just removing it to get the engine in and then fabbing something after the fact. It would be much easier to do it that way and maybe make it out of some tubing with a bracket that would bolt to the frame.

Thanks for the input guys! Hopingto get some more work done on it this week!

[SWB4x4]

Have you looked into the CPP crossmember? I am curious if anyone here is using one.

[Juiced06GTO]

I got the motor in to the truck today, had to modify the existing motor mounts and I cut out the extra cross member. I am going to build one after I get everything in, there are two sets of holes on each frame rail/motormount perch that will make a great place to bolt in a removable cross member. I will get pics of what I have done, and then what I will plan to do once I have everything mocked up! It feels good to have finally made some progress!!!

[Juiced06GTO]

More progress, got the wiring harness modified last night. Things are coming together!!

[Juiced06GTO]

Some updates -

[85burb]

Looks good. What is required to make the factory manifolds work?

[Juiced06GTO]

All i did was weld up the egr hole on the pass side. I think i got lucky, i did move the motor back about 1 3/4" when i made up the motor mounts which may have helped with some of the clearences.

[85burb]

Thanks looks great.