Removable crossmember?
Thread Starter
Crackin' on...
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 9,431
Likes: 124
From: Somewhere in Tucson AZ
St. Jude Donor '09
Removable crossmember?
Hey guys,
Wondering if anybody could take a picture of their factory removable cross-member, as in from an auto frame? Maybe the whole thing off the car if available? Or at least where it bolts to the body?
I looked under my car again yesterday for the hundredth time, only to 'see' something new! I think mine is removable, even though mine is a factory 4-speed car! Could it be???
Just want to make sure I'm looking at the right thing!
Thanks!
Wondering if anybody could take a picture of their factory removable cross-member, as in from an auto frame? Maybe the whole thing off the car if available? Or at least where it bolts to the body?
I looked under my car again yesterday for the hundredth time, only to 'see' something new! I think mine is removable, even though mine is a factory 4-speed car! Could it be???
Just want to make sure I'm looking at the right thing!
Thanks!
Thread Starter
Crackin' on...
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 9,431
Likes: 124
From: Somewhere in Tucson AZ
St. Jude Donor '09
That's what I thought, but when I looked under there, there are 2 bolts on each side going up into the frame rails, and there is a kick up just before the rails where there are 2 more bolts going fore-aft. It's like it could be removed, but I don't know what an actual 'removable' member looks like to verify that's what I'm looking at.
All I know is that this IS an original '73 4-speed car, and I don't see any welds on it, except for around the exhaust holes! Maybe this is a one-off 'mistake' car?
All I know is that this IS an original '73 4-speed car, and I don't see any welds on it, except for around the exhaust holes! Maybe this is a one-off 'mistake' car?
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 61
From: Wichita KS
That's what I thought, but when I looked under there, there are 2 bolts on each side going up into the frame rails, and there is a kick up just before the rails where there are 2 more bolts going fore-aft. It's like it could be removed, but I don't know what an actual 'removable' member looks like to verify that's what I'm looking at.
All I know is that this IS an original '73 4-speed car, and I don't see any welds on it, except for around the exhaust holes! Maybe this is a one-off 'mistake' car?
All I know is that this IS an original '73 4-speed car, and I don't see any welds on it, except for around the exhaust holes! Maybe this is a one-off 'mistake' car?
cc
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 4,206
Likes: 8
From: Belmar NJ
The a/t crossmember is sooo nice to have even if you own a stick (clutch changes much better 
). Unless you're the original owner, theres no way of truly knowing what your car really is/was. Everything can be faked and it's been going on so long, many folks are very good at it.
If the car is a 4 speed car, then the frame was altered or changed. If the frame is original, then a previous owner didn't like the automatic. Either way, it never left St. Louis like that. Don't stress over it too much, you have the best of both worlds now. /:\
). Unless you're the original owner, theres no way of truly knowing what your car really is/was. Everything can be faked and it's been going on so long, many folks are very good at it.If the car is a 4 speed car, then the frame was altered or changed. If the frame is original, then a previous owner didn't like the automatic. Either way, it never left St. Louis like that. Don't stress over it too much, you have the best of both worlds now. /:\
Thread Starter
Crackin' on...
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 9,431
Likes: 124
From: Somewhere in Tucson AZ
St. Jude Donor '09
Well, what Will just posted is what mine looks like! That's what I've got.
The last owner was my last boss and I don't believe he would lie about this, and he gave me a file with all the receipts of everything ever done on the car. No transmission change indicators anywhere in there.
Hmmm, definitely a poser here.
Thanks for all the inputs here guys. Is there any other indication I could look at (almost 0 chance for finding any build sheet) that would tell me for sure if this was an auto car to begin with? Any other "auto only" (or "stick only") options I could look for?? Like a specific gear or code on a option plate somewhere?
This is all very confusing!
Thanks again!
The last owner was my last boss and I don't believe he would lie about this, and he gave me a file with all the receipts of everything ever done on the car. No transmission change indicators anywhere in there.
Hmmm, definitely a poser here.
Thanks for all the inputs here guys. Is there any other indication I could look at (almost 0 chance for finding any build sheet) that would tell me for sure if this was an auto car to begin with? Any other "auto only" (or "stick only") options I could look for?? Like a specific gear or code on a option plate somewhere?
This is all very confusing!
Thanks again!
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Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 4,206
Likes: 8
From: Belmar NJ
Well, what Will just posted is what mine looks like! That's what I've got.
The last owner was my last boss and I don't believe he would lie about this, and he gave me a file with all the receipts of everything ever done on the car. No transmission change indicators anywhere in there.
Hmmm, definitely a poser here.
Thanks for all the inputs here guys. Is there any other indication I could look at (almost 0 chance for finding any build sheet) that would tell me for sure if this was an auto car to begin with? Any other "auto only" (or "stick only") options I could look for?? Like a specific gear or code on a option plate somewhere?
This is all very confusing!
Thanks again!
The last owner was my last boss and I don't believe he would lie about this, and he gave me a file with all the receipts of everything ever done on the car. No transmission change indicators anywhere in there.
Hmmm, definitely a poser here.
Thanks for all the inputs here guys. Is there any other indication I could look at (almost 0 chance for finding any build sheet) that would tell me for sure if this was an auto car to begin with? Any other "auto only" (or "stick only") options I could look for?? Like a specific gear or code on a option plate somewhere?
This is all very confusing!
Thanks again!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 971
Likes: 7
From: roanoke va
Look at the frame on the drivers side behind the rear wheels, just about where the #4 body mount is. There is a vin.# stamped there, you will need a mirror to see it. If it match's the one on the pillar post the frame is original. If you look on the side of the trans. it is stamped with a section of the vin. number as is the engine.
If everyting matchs it must have came from the factory that way.
There are probally a few other ways to check and I am sure others will let you know and pass along other ideas.
If everyting matchs it must have came from the factory that way.
There are probally a few other ways to check and I am sure others will let you know and pass along other ideas.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 330
Likes: 44
From: Cincinnati Ohio
Wills670 has good advice. You may need to move the line to the evaporator to see the number. I found out that this may be positioned to cover up a number on a frame that had been changed. I know because the frame in my 73 had been changed, it has removable cross member in a 4 speed car. The only other place you can find a number on the frame is under the driver door sill and you can't get to it without lifting the body. I found the actual frame number when I got the body off as part of a restoration. Unless you are building a NCRS car, be happy because it sure makes a clutch change much simpler.
