700r4 swap crossmember questions

[Low84]

I have an 86 c10 305/th350 I'm swapping out in favor of a 350/700r4.

I was told to just move the stock crossmember back and drill the holes in its new position. I'm taking that advice as I can't anything else that involves not drilling into the chassis anyway.

My question to you guys that have done this before is, did you have to drop the gas tank in order for the crossmemeber to go in the right place?

I figure I have to anyway since I need the room to drill, but I don't know if the crossmember drivers side portion that goes under and up the side of the chassis will cause problems or rub against the tank down the road

[Low84]

This is the issue I'm talking about. The crossmember still has to go further back on this side to be "square"

[396ci]

might be easier to use this style cross memeber

[Jake Wade]

I did the same transmission swap on my '85 about 7 months ago.

I slid my crossmember back to the next set of holes, only one of the two would line up though.

I only have one bolt through the side on the drivers side, I do have two on the bottom drivers side and I think I had to drill one of those, Ended up working out good

[Low84]

Originally Posted by 396ci

might be easier to use this style cross memeber

Ahh! I think that's the crossmember most people I've been talking to have.

[Low84]

Originally Posted by Jake Wade

I did the same transmission swap on my '85 about 7 months ago.

I slid my crossmember back to the next set of holes, only one of the two would line up though.

I only have one bolt through the side on the drivers side, I do have two on the bottom drivers side and I think I had to drill one of those, Ended up working out good

Do you have the one 396 posted or like mine?

[Jake Wade]

Mine is just like yours

[wilkin250r]

I don't want to hijack the thread, but it's the same topic.

If I was planning a 700R4 swap down the road, what crossmember do I want? Is there a specific TH350 crossmember that is better than others? If I'm pulling the 700R4 from a donor truck, should I pull the original crossmember with it? And if so, are there different crossmembers, and are some better than others?