Alan Frakes ~ Tulsa, OK

It's not the most elegant.  I have to do a little bit of grinding to get it to fit a little easier between the brackets.  I can't offer much tech on the crossmember because, frankly, I don't know what I'm doing.  This is my first crossmember so it is a learning experience.  I am glad to say that my welds are getting better!  Still not really nice to look at, though.

One other thing I did before torquing the rear motor mounts is centered the transmission between the frame rails.  There is some casting flash that runs down the center of the transmission.  I used that flash, at the output shaft to get it all centered.


Norcross, GA

         make sure and save the patterns/templates that you made up. I think there would defiently be a "market" for those down the road for other people doing the same thing. I for one would be interested once I get a little more $$$ saved up. That is an excellent job your doing on it, very very professional work.

                                                                                 Michael

Michael

Sandy Valley, NV

And started work on the shifter boot.  I got a Lokar unit that should look quite nice once installed.

A friend helped with this one.  I had him mark the holes, trying to keep the pattern square with the bead in the floor pan.  Note that there is not enough room for the front two holes.  With this particular shift boot, it cannot be avoided.  The hole in the floor is barely large enough to get the shifter bolted to the transmission.

To overcome this I had him make an adapter of sorts out of 16 gauge steel.  This will be held to the floor with all but the front 2 bolts.  This will allow me to completely fasten the bezel to the floor.  I'll make a rubber gasket to seal this to the floor.

I decided to cut out the circle rather than making it exactly like the bezel for two reasons.  It should add a significant amount of rigidity to the front and hopefully make a good seal with the gasket.  It will also keep more road crud out.

It's starting to look Good!  I should have the shift boot completed this week.

Here are a few pics with the bench seat in place.

It will require a shifter with an immediate bend forward.  It is not as far back as I had expected.  I think I'll need something that bends a little toward the driverside.

I try to CAD model anything I can get the appropriate measurements for.  So if anyone needs patterns I may be able to help.  Many of these are one off sorts of things that may not apply to every truck.


Norcross, GA