ECE Trans crossmember trans angle

[beaterku]

Afternoon all,

I installed an ECE trans crossmember this weekend. This thing mounts the trans pretty low. I added a few washers between the mount and crossmember to raise the tail a little to add some clearance between the yoke and crossmember but I am still right at 3° down. I know these are for lowered trucks, but is this right? The mount is torqued pretty good. It seems like it is asking for the mount the fail.

The image below is what I am working with. It is a little exaggerated due to the camera lens.

[ZEKE68]

Check your rear end pinion angle. If your transmission shaft angle is 3 degrees down, your rear pinion should be around 3 degrees up. They should be equal but opposite. So the are parallel but offset.

[beaterku]

Originally Posted by ZEKE68

Check your rear end pinion angle. If your transmission shaft angle is 3 degrees down, your rear pinion should be around 3 degrees up. They should be equal but opposite. So the are parallel but offset.

My pinion angle is slightly under 3 without the bed on. So I am more or less equal. I’ll have to check it again when the bed is on and back on the ground. . My concern is how the rubber mount torques when the crossmember is horizontal and the trans is at 3 degree.

[HO455]

Any chance the front motor mounts are high? If not then I agree with you, it isn't correct and being forced out of a neutral position may or may not cause it or the front mounts to fail prematurely, but it will definitely cause more vibration to be transferred to the truck. I would have a discussion with the vendor about correcting the misalignment.

[beaterku]

Originally Posted by HO455

Any chance the front motor mounts are high? If not then I agree with you, it isn't correct and being forced out of a neutral position may or may not cause it or the front mounts to fail prematurely, but it will definitely cause more vibration to be transferred to the truck. I would have a discussion with the vendor about correcting the misalignment.

I wasn’t aware that they could be mounted high. Can they be mounted differently? Now I’m curious. Bill take a look in the morning.

I know a lot of guys on the board have used this crossmember, curious how theirs looks.

[HO455]

Originally Posted by beaterku

I wasn’t aware that they could be mounted high. Can they be mounted differently? Now I’m curious. Bill take a look in the morning.

I know a lot of guys on the board have used this crossmember, curious how theirs looks.

I didn't know if your truck has had an engine transplant or was stock. I know when I replaced the front motor mounts on my Burban the new ones were about 1/4" thicker and I had to shim the transmission mount to get the pinion angle back in spec. You may have a case of tolerance stacking between motor mounts and a cross member that is slightly out of spec.

[beaterku]

Originally Posted by HO455

I didn't know if your truck has had an engine transplant or was stock. I know when I replaced the front motor mounts on my Burban the new ones were about 1/4" thicker and I had to shim the transmission mount to get the pinion angle back in spec. You may have a case of tolerance stacking between motor mounts and a cross member that is slightly out of spec.

Gotcha. I’m going to take a look and see what’s going on. It has a mutt driveline in it now. Late 70’s 350 and th400. The trans crossmember that was in it didn’t appear to be stock. The truck was originally a 3 speed manual. I’m curious what’s cooking with the motor mounts. I’ve got 3/16” of shim on the trans mount now. I will most likely need to add more once the bed is back on and suspension settles a little. Almost nothing on this truck is stock so I’m chasing little things. It’s a domino effect. Appreciate your insight.

[uncle]

Most of 67-72 trucks I’ve had with 400 trans have had metal spacer under trans mount. I think that’s what’s missing.

[Grumpy old man]

What engine perches is it sitting on ? By chance it's sitting in the 6 location ?

[beaterku]

Originally Posted by uncle

Most of 67-72 trucks I’ve had with 400 trans have had metal spacer under trans mount. I think that’s what’s missing.

I have seen some with spacers as well.

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

What engine perches is it sitting on ? By chance it's sitting in the 6 location ?

As far as I can tell, it is on stock SB perches in the correct location.

[beaterku]

Alright, I did some digging and combing through some threads and found another truck with the same crossmember. I stole the first image from 67c10rustbuket. It looks like his trans is angled down about the same as mine. The second picture is mine at a similar camera angle.

Judging by these pictures, it would appear this is how this trans crossmember mounts the trans.