What went here?

[Russell Ashley]

Anyone got an idea what was originally here? This is the passenger side of the frame about even with the rear of the transmission. My truck was originally a six cylinder but now has a 350 with the original(?) three speed tranny. There's two corresponding holes in the drivers side of the frame. I'm just curious as to what it was.

These look like they were spacers with a bolt through them.

[mr48chev]

I want to think that a crossmember was in that spot originally. You might scroll through some of the Tri-5 truck build threads and there should be one or more bare stock frame photos to show what was there originally.

[dwcsr]

No cross member in that spot on 55-59. It must have been some aftermarket item. The 3 spd you have is not the original. Original was a long tail shaft transmission. That one is from a car

[mr48chev]

After looking at Blackdiesel's thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=368287 I am with dwcsr in that there wasn't a stock crossmember there. From seeing where the pad on the trans is for a rear motor mount my guess is that someone had a homemade crossmember there at one time.

[mylow53]

could this be for a pto? or a transfer case?
GT

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by mylow53

could this be for a pto? or a transfer case?
GT

That was my second guess. It may have had a 4 spd with a pto for something

[Russell Ashley]

There doesn't appear to have ever been a hole in the floor for a shifter so it's anyone's guess at this point. The crossmember for the bellhousing mounts is bolted in with non-original bolts so it apparently has been out before. Since there was no factory crossmember that bolted in at the location shown in the pic my guess now is that it had an automatic tranny in it at some point and this was where a home-made crossmember was bolted in. If this is the case they went to the trouble to convert it back to original, as the column looks to have never been disturbed and there's no sign of any other shifter ever having been there. Just part of the fun of buying a 53 year old truck I guess. The PO had the truck for 8 years but didn't know any history on it other than he thought it came from Alabama.

[OrrieG]

I think it was for a fat girl anti frame spreader tension rod that was required at some time in the past.

[OKGMC4]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

I think it was for a fat girl anti frame spreader tension rod that was required at some time in the past.

That may just be the funniest damn thing I hear all day long!!!

[Russell Ashley]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

I think it was for a fat girl anti frame spreader tension rod that was required at some time in the past.

Since it's no longer there does that mean that my girlfriend shouldn't ride in my truck?

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by Russell Ashley

Since it's no longer there does that mean that my girlfriend shouldn't ride in my truck?

If the Fat Girl ejector is still there its not a problem. If its not you need to attach the Hot Gril scoop up kit so the Fat Girls can get in.