crossmember removal

[JMARQUEZ_13]

Whats the easiest way to remove the trans crossmember? I need to take out and replace with a auto trans crossmember.

[Dunenutt]

It should just unbolt, and swing out of the frame rails.

[50bomb]

hey I am curious to know the best way/tools to get that thing off too. I had the original 3 speed overdrive trans in it and took out. So i could put a th350. But I see its like riveted bolts or whatever the name of them called. Like flat round ends on both sides no nuts on them. I was gonna grind them off but grinder wont fit between the cab and frame.

[JMARQUEZ_13]

Ya mine is rivets holding it in place, i ve gotten the 4 bottom one grinned off but really cant get to the top ones.

[hayhauler71]

air hammer

[Mt Man Chad]

Tops are a Major PAIN!
Air chisel or die grinder are what I have used in the past.

[brans72]

steady hand and a touch setup! Blow the tops right off took like 4 mins to do.

[trkfrk]

Removing frame rivets suck!! Grind the top of the rivets flat. Drill the center out. Hit hard with a punch and hammer. You may get lucky and get one out in five minutes or spend over an hour on one.. Having your cab on the frame will make it challenging but can be done.. Did I mention frame rivets suck?

[Hubscrub]

air hammer/chisel is the only way to go if you can

[rsavage]

+2 on the air chisel if the cab is on the truck. Keep sharpening the chisels too. I could only get at a few with the grinder; the rest were chiseled off. When you put in the auto crossmember, you might want to take out the rivets (here you can grind, drill, and punch out) from the upper ears and bolt them back in with grade 8 bolts once you have the main section of the crossmember installed. It makes clearing your brake line, fuel and vent lines without damaging them when installing the member.

[RW71]

I used a sawsall to cut rivet heads off.