Butchered X-member (cont. from alf4444's post) - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

HeavyK20 · 10-09-2003, 03:47 PM

I am replacing my TH400 with a 465/205 setup and a one piece driveshaft.
Can I completely remove the cut cross member since I will not have a center bearing on the driveshaft?
Did the automatics come without that cross member?

Eric

Scrub · 10-15-2003, 11:38 PM

I'm a little fuzzy on what you want to do. If you are talking about zapping the crossmember that was holding your driveline carrier bearing, I would say go ahead as the 4x4 with a one piece driveshaft doesn't have that crossmember. Instead it has the crossmember that holds the transfer case up. My 87 with a th400 has a 2 piece driveshaft and the crossmember for the carrier.

Why do you want to go to a one piece driveshaft? that seems to be the most vulnerable target under a 4x4. I am going to a 2 piece from a one piece as I can get much better driveline clearance.

Check out the output shafts on your existing 205. My 205 that is behind a th400 has big ujoints and I think it has a 32 spline front output. Most 205's behind 465's are weenie 10 splines. Don't trade out for junk. consider swapping out the best parts as yours obviously is transplanted.

I just pulled out the crossmember I think you need (that holds up the tcase and back of the tranny), but I am going to a divorced 205 and I might still need it. How soon do you need the crossmember?

Do you have the 465 and tcase yet? I also have a 72 465/205 that appears to have been rebuilt, but you are too far away for the freight to make sense.

I have never liked automatics, but I really like this th400. It is the only automatic I have ever seen that will actually hold back a load on a hill. I came off a killer grade over 10 percent slope at 11,900 pounds gross weight and it held me back, I was in low range and 1st gear, but it held me back. It has a shift kit of some kind and it is behind a 6.2 diesel. I don't which of those 2 facts makes it work, but I wouldn't trade it for a 465. A 5 speed yes, but a 465 no. have you considered an NV4500? Kmech had a great deal on the whole setup.

Anyway, good luck and keep us posted on your project.

Dean · 10-16-2003, 08:28 AM

Let me know if you need pics. I have K20s with both the TH350 and the 465. If the truck is lifted, you might want to have your new driveshaft made a little longer so more of it is engaged.

I'm not exactly sure which crossmember you are taking about either. How about a pic?

HeavyK20 · 10-16-2003, 03:18 PM

Yes, I'm talking about the cross member that holds the driveshaft carrier bearing. When the 400/205 was installed in my truck, the driveshaft went right through this cross member. To fix it they cut out the middle of the cross member and welded in a piece to clear the driveshaft.

Now that I see the advantages of a two piece driveshaft, I may reconsider and use a two piece instead of a one piece. That means I need the cross member and carrier bearing support.

Does anyone have one I can they want to sell?

HeavyK20 · 10-31-2003, 12:52 PM

Here is a pic of the cross member in question.

HeavyK20 · 10-31-2003, 12:58 PM

If the 4x4's with a one piece drive shaft didn't have this cross member, like scrub said, then I guess I'm going to cut in out.

Anyone else seen 4x4's without this cross member?

**Canadian694x4** · 10-31-2003, 11:15 PM

I have a 69 K10 lwb with a one piece drive shaft and I don't have that cross member..... it's been converted to a 350TH auto by previous owner...

Truck Hippy · 11-01-2003, 07:47 AM

I have had several LWB 4x4's and none of them had the 2 piece drive shaft. They have all been 72' 1/2 tons. Wes.

ZOOMY · 11-16-2003, 12:17 AM

I have 2 K20's with 1 piece driveshaft, & neither have that crossmember........Zoomy

rogf4 · 11-28-2003, 08:05 AM

I have had several 4x4's and worked on just as many My experience is that trucks with one piece do not have the cross member trucks with two piece do I see no problem in removing this cross member but once you do you cant put a two piece back in.

72C10chevy4x4 · 11-29-2003, 11:29 AM

my K10 doesn't have it either.

My guess is that it will stiffen the chassis. there is not much holding the two frame rails together. if you've ever looked at newer truck chassis, you may have noticed a tube connecting both rails around middle of the frame-does similar job to the brace you have.

*racedvl* · 11-29-2003, 10:40 PM

I really don't see it hurting anything. I would leave it.

10-09-2003, 03:47 PM	#1
HeavyK20 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: New Richmond, WI Posts: 547	Butchered X-member (cont. from alf4444's post) I am replacing my TH400 with a 465/205 setup and a one piece driveshaft. Can I completely remove the cut cross member since I will not have a center bearing on the driveshaft? Did the automatics come without that cross member? Eric __________________ Eric 1969 K20, 465/205 package

10-15-2003, 11:38 PM	#2
Scrub Collector of rusty Items Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Sisters,Oregon USA Posts: 731	I'm a little fuzzy on what you want to do. If you are talking about zapping the crossmember that was holding your driveline carrier bearing, I would say go ahead as the 4x4 with a one piece driveshaft doesn't have that crossmember. Instead it has the crossmember that holds the transfer case up. My 87 with a th400 has a 2 piece driveshaft and the crossmember for the carrier. Why do you want to go to a one piece driveshaft? that seems to be the most vulnerable target under a 4x4. I am going to a 2 piece from a one piece as I can get much better driveline clearance. Check out the output shafts on your existing 205. My 205 that is behind a th400 has big ujoints and I think it has a 32 spline front output. Most 205's behind 465's are weenie 10 splines. Don't trade out for junk. consider swapping out the best parts as yours obviously is transplanted. I just pulled out the crossmember I think you need (that holds up the tcase and back of the tranny), but I am going to a divorced 205 and I might still need it. How soon do you need the crossmember? Do you have the 465 and tcase yet? I also have a 72 465/205 that appears to have been rebuilt, but you are too far away for the freight to make sense. I have never liked automatics, but I really like this th400. It is the only automatic I have ever seen that will actually hold back a load on a hill. I came off a killer grade over 10 percent slope at 11,900 pounds gross weight and it held me back, I was in low range and 1st gear, but it held me back. It has a shift kit of some kind and it is behind a 6.2 diesel. I don't which of those 2 facts makes it work, but I wouldn't trade it for a 465. A 5 speed yes, but a 465 no. have you considered an NV4500? Kmech had a great deal on the whole setup. Anyway, good luck and keep us posted on your project. __________________ Scrub Sisters, Oregon - Home of the Sisters Rodeo. 70 GMC 1,000,000 + miles 72 K-20 project, 456 Dana60 front, Corp14 rear w/locker, 265R19.5 tires 20-ply. Warn 12k winches both ends, Cross-over steering with raised tie-rod, Powerbox steering, 4500 watt 120-AC power, Air, Hydraulic aux power, 4 inch lift, 5000 lb air-bags both ends. Last edited by Scrub; 10-15-2003 at 11:49 PM.

10-16-2003, 03:18 PM	#4
HeavyK20 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: New Richmond, WI Posts: 547	Yes, I'm talking about the cross member that holds the driveshaft carrier bearing. When the 400/205 was installed in my truck, the driveshaft went right through this cross member. To fix it they cut out the middle of the cross member and welded in a piece to clear the driveshaft. Now that I see the advantages of a two piece driveshaft, I may reconsider and use a two piece instead of a one piece. That means I need the cross member and carrier bearing support. Does anyone have one I can they want to sell? __________________ Eric 1969 K20, 465/205 package

10-31-2003, 12:52 PM	#5
HeavyK20 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: New Richmond, WI Posts: 547	Here is a pic of the cross member in question. Attached Images __________________ Eric 1969 K20, 465/205 package

10-31-2003, 12:58 PM	#6
HeavyK20 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: New Richmond, WI Posts: 547	If the 4x4's with a one piece drive shaft didn't have this cross member, like scrub said, then I guess I'm going to cut in out. Anyone else seen 4x4's without this cross member? __________________ Eric 1969 K20, 465/205 package

10-16-2003, 08:28 AM	#3
Dean Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 1,492	Let me know if you need pics. I have K20s with both the TH350 and the 465. If the truck is lifted, you might want to have your new driveshaft made a little longer so more of it is engaged. I'm not exactly sure which crossmember you are taking about either. How about a pic?

10-31-2003, 11:15 PM	#7
Canadian694x4 Born To Lose Club Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Calgary, Alberta/Oxenden, Ontario, Great White North Posts: 13,306	I have a 69 K10 lwb with a one piece drive shaft and I don't have that cross member..... it's been converted to a 350TH auto by previous owner... __________________ Brian Smith - "Born To Lose" 1969 Chevrolet K10 LWB Fleetside - Proud Owner For 20 Yrs - 1 of 208 Built & Sold In Canada! - 283 V8/350TH/NP208, 2" All Spring Lift, 32" Good Year MT/R's. 1972 GMC K2500 Custom LWB Fleetside - Proud Owner For 2 Yrs - 1 of 571 Built & Sold In Canada! - 350 V8/SM465/NP205, 4” Rough Country Lift, 33” Interco TSL Thornbirds 2007.5 GMC Sierra SLE 2500HD 4x4 - Proud Owner For 15 Yrs - 6.6L V8 Duramax Diesel/Allison 1000, 2" Lift, 33" Mickey Thompson MTZ's. 2008 Yamaha Raptor 700r - Proud Owner For 13 Yrs - ITP Mud Lites. 2015 John Deere 1025R - Proud Owner For 6 Yrs - 24HP Diesel/H120/54D/260B/SB1154.

11-01-2003, 07:47 AM	#8
Truck Hippy Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Hickory, NC. Posts: 776	I have had several LWB 4x4's and none of them had the 2 piece drive shaft. They have all been 72' 1/2 tons. Wes.

11-16-2003, 12:17 AM	#9
ZOOMY Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: WIS Posts: 1,752	X-member I have 2 K20's with 1 piece driveshaft, & neither have that crossmember........Zoomy

11-28-2003, 08:05 AM	#10
rogf4 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: whitesburg,Tn Posts: 223	I have had several 4x4's and worked on just as many My experience is that trucks with one piece do not have the cross member trucks with two piece do I see no problem in removing this cross member but once you do you cant put a two piece back in.

11-29-2003, 11:29 AM	#11
72C10chevy4x4 UK Wildcat Fan! Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dover, DE Posts: 515	my K10 doesn't have it either. My guess is that it will stiffen the chassis. there is not much holding the two frame rails together. if you've ever looked at newer truck chassis, you may have noticed a tube connecting both rails around middle of the frame-does similar job to the brace you have.

11-29-2003, 10:40 PM	#12
racedvl Account Suspended Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Woodstock, IL Posts: 7,020	I really don't see it hurting anything. I would leave it.



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