Custom Transmission Cross Member W/sm465? What Has Been Done?

Good morning.

I've got a question for you. I'm now grappling with the trans cross-member for my sm465 swap. With the D20 clocked in the down position (which is the only place it fits), and the considerable bulk of the 465, It looks like my factory cross-member will hang really low if I use it. In addition to having clearance issued with the bottom of the d20 .

What solutions have you guys used? Pics, suggestions.

I'm considering fabricating my own out of 3" C-channel and plate steel, but it will still hang down pretty far. If there is a better option or suggestion, I'd love to hear it.

I'll get some pics of the rig up here tonight If I can.

 

I made one for mine out 3/8" plate. I still had torque arm issues. The OEM mount hangs down ~3", so the flatter the better.. I ended up buying a kit from Dave's in AZ and installed it..

Universal Transmission Crossmember Kit

 

I modified the original cross member.



I also kept the original location of the isolator mount.

 

I looked at the Dave's kit. I really like the low profile of it, but I'm not sure it will work for my application. I emailed Dave's asking for measurements to check if it will work for me. I'm using an AA adapter kit, and it doesn't have the nifty flat bottom that the Novak kit does...

You can see that they have provided 2 big rubber bushings, but I feel like they drop really far down if I install them on top of the factory crossmember. I wonder If I could notch the daves kit.

I might go with a modified crossmember for now and see how it works out.

Scott, how far down is the crossmember spaced from the frame?

 

Good timing for this topic, I'm going to be trim-u-lating my T18 into my rig in the near future. Looking for ideas.

 

I kinda went my own way and build a full integrated skid/cross/torque mount thingy.. The mount for the torque thingy is a F head motor mount and the original tranny mount is under there somewhere.. And yeah someday I will paint that all one color..

 

1” spacer blocks.

 

On my 75 I couldn't get the end mounts up in the frame like newer wider jeeps. I put mine on the bottom of the frame.

 

Made a crossmember out of inch and one half tube and attached it to the inner frame rails with suspension bushings. Covered it with 3/16 steel plate belly pan. It’s nice to be able to easily drop the belly pan without needing to support the drivetrain.

 

Belly pan.

 

I have something very similar to this on my 57. It works very well.

 

Here is what I came up with when I did mine. I used a spring bushing on the passenger side and some 1/2" thick rubber for the trans mount and drivers side.