Crossmember relocation....

[Z97_Silverado]

Yesterday I ran into a little bit of a snag while working on my old 83 GMC Seirra 1/2 ton, I swapped out my th350 for a fresh 200r4 (so my son could have OD for his summer road trips).

Anyways as i found out I had to relocate my crossmember as well as my exhaust on the passenger side, now as you all know the crossmembers are a 2pc and I had no problem finding the new location, my problem lies in the small second piece, I can drill new holes but how do u get a bolt in without taking the cab off the chassis? Or is that little second piece even really needed as the tranny is fully supported with just the long single piece.

[Zembonez]

Is it possible to put the bolt in from the bottom and just install the nut on top? Same clamping force. Perhaps I am not understanding the question.

[Z97_Silverado]

Is it possible to put the bolt in from the bottom and just install the nut on top? Same clamping force. Perhaps I am not understanding the question.

No your understanding the ? just fine, I thought about doing that but I was worried about the exta bolt that would be pressing into the cab. If I go one size smaller with the bolt then I dont have any threads after the washer is on and If i use the proper bolt it rubs the underside of the cab....

Does the upper piece have to be used? Its just a stock 350 with a cam so its not huge power here lol

[Zembonez]

A pic would really b nice here. I'd make sure the crossmember had 2 bolts per side. If the lower section allows for that, you should be fine.

[Z97_Silverado]

A pic would really b nice here. I'd make sure the crossmember had 2 bolts per side. If the lower section allows for that, you should be fine.

Im workin on the pic but the wife took the camera to the farm, I have 4 bolts on the drivers side as per the holes and 2 on the passenger side, all the bolts are on the long piece and I have no bolts in the small top piece. I think that should be fine but Im looking for a more educated guess as i have never had to relocate one b4

[Zembonez]

Is the piece removable?

[Z97_Silverado]

Is the piece removable?

yes, I was thinkin about just bolting the one end of the small section to the long section via the 3 9/16 bolts and then just welding the rest of it to the frame, if i had to.

[ScottyBoy]

How hard would it be to loosen the cab mount bolts and jack up the cab about 2 inches with a floor jack and a piece of wood so you can get the bolt in? Another idea, if you said the bolt would touch the cab if you put the nut on top and the bolt on the bottom: Maybe use a prybar or a hammer and a big deep socket or something and make a slight indent in the cab floor?

[Z97_Silverado]

How hard would it be to loosen the cab mount bolts and jack up the cab about 2 inches with a floor jack and a piece of wood so you can get the bolt in? Another idea, if you said the bolt would touch the cab if you put the nut on top and the bolt on the bottom: Maybe use a prybar or a hammer and a big deep socket or something and make a slight indent in the cab floor?

Im not sure how hard it would be to lift the cab 2" as i have never had to do that....ever, If that would be an option I would be all for givin it a try, I would just have to loosen or remove the cab bolts on the passenger side and then jack it up? There would have to be more to it than that no? the truck is complete and would the cab lift with the front clip still attached?

[Silverado4x4]

Why dont you cut the remaining threads off the longer bolt so it wont hit the cab? Just measure how long the bolt needs to be then cut the rest off but if you do it that way put the nut on first then cut the threads then remove the nut as this will straighten the threads back out so you can reinstall the nut. Or you could put a few more washers on the head of the bolt to space it down as long as you dont go overboard with the washers.

[Z97_Silverado]

Sorry guys for the slow response, its been busy, anyways i got it all figured out, i ended up just goin from the bottom up with the bolts and called it a day, I gotta say its weird drivin ol' yeller without the slapshifter and with an OD tranny, I think my kid will enjoy her as much as i did.

[Bigredmariner]

Good to hear, glad it all worked out for you.:thumbs: