55.2-59 Advice needed pls. Setting engine/trans

[dsraven]

one of those pics shows the trans cross member as well. sitting on a flat plate on the frame. it can be slid fore to aft depending on the trans of choice. it is not finished as there would also be a connection from the lower part of the frame to the upper part to triangulate the connection.

[dsraven]

not a big fan of cross members that only connect to one flange of the frame. check the pics in ogre's reply, the original cross member can be seen behind his home made cross member. notice how both of those set ups connect the upper and lower flange (ogre's is waaaay beefier so a lot stronger). just remember that other systems, like exhaust, need to be run to the rear of the truck too. sometimes I wonder about the fancy X frame stiffeners as they don't leave much of a path for other systems to be installed. they are beefy though, not much frame flex in those.

[dsraven]

here is another pic showing the mounts a little better, in case anyone is interested. note they are not completed yet and would have a stiffener between the fore and aft plate near the engine mount end of things.

[_Ogre]

if you come up off the x-member with motor mounts, you have lots of room for steering shaft and exhaust, or in my case hydroboost lines.