Keisler Crossmember Has To Be Wrong
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,424
Likes: 0
From: Lakeland FL
Keisler Crossmember Has To Be Wrong
Ok, it's late and Keisler is closed for now so as usual I'm going to post my problem here for opinions. I bought my Keisler auto to manual conversion kit back in 10/06 and am just now installing it. We mated the engine and tranny last night and dropped the two into the frame late last night. I knew when we left it that the rear of the tranny didn't look like it was going to line up but it was late so we left it for this evening. Tonight I went out to work with it some more and the pics below are what I found. There is no way that the transmission is going to work with this crossmember without some modifications. The removable crossmember was part of the kit I purchased from Keisler so I'm a little disappointed right now. I think there must be a newer version of the crossmember because I saw a post from Spedaleden and his crossmember looks completely different from mine. He has an '81 also. My tranny hits the crossmember before the mount ever touches the crossmember. Also the tranny mount holes will never line up with the crossmember holes since the mount is too far forward.
Here are the pics: Does anybody know if there is in fact a newer crossmember design from Keisler?
Here are the pics: Does anybody know if there is in fact a newer crossmember design from Keisler?
Former Vendor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,092
Likes: 2
From: walpole ma
Why dont you just extend the tab that the mount attaches to forward a little? It seems that it will solve your problem. If the crossmember is mounted in the right spot(I am assuming the stock location) ,then thats kind of weird.
ALSO, are you sure you didnt mount the crossmember UPSIDE DOWN???? Usually the tranny mount mounting bracket curves downward not up.
ALSO, are you sure you didnt mount the crossmember UPSIDE DOWN???? Usually the tranny mount mounting bracket curves downward not up.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 1,246
Likes: 1
How can you mount it upside down? The top has holes for the through bolt and the bottom bolts to the underside of the frame. Also, the parking brake guidewheel would be on the wrong side. That mount however is most certainly too short and too low. Time to break out the saw.
Former Vendor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,092
Likes: 2
From: walpole ma
How can you mount it upside down? The top has holes for the through bolt and the bottom bolts to the underside of the frame. Also, the parking brake guidewheel would be on the wrong side. That mount however is most certainly too short and too low. Time to break out the saw.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 286
Likes: 0
From: Pensacola Fla
Before cutting and modifying you paid good money for this kit and I would recommend that you contact Keisler for tech support,I assume that they will give you support and should make good on their product.Later Geno
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,424
Likes: 0
From: Lakeland FL
Spedaleden's crossmember is definitely different than the one I received. Based on the dates on his pics he would have gotten his about 2 - 3 months after I got mine. I'm betting they modified the crossmember because they didn't fit. His has a cutout that allows the tailshaft to sit lower and it looks like the plate that the tranny bolts to extends further forward. My tranny is hitting the crossmember before the tranny mount does and the bolt holes will never line up.
I'll see what Richard says tomorrow and post the response unless he posts it himself here.
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,424
Likes: 0
From: Lakeland FL
The tail end of the tranny isn't centered right now but I think once I put bolts through the mount to the crossmember that it will all line up just fine. Right now I can pull the rear to the center where it should be but it's pretty tough and it goes right back to where it is now when I let it go. I had Vansteel put the frame on a jig to ensure it was straight when they powder coated it so I think everything should be fine. I'll snap some more pics and look at it a little more in depth tomorrow though to be sure.
Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 258
Likes: 0
From: TN
I had a problem with a Keisler-supplied mouting bracket when I did my 69. I contacted them and they made me a new bracket based on my measurements. Fit perfectly.
I'm not saying they'd do that every time, but their customer service was great.
I love my Keisler. Best mod ever.
Aaron
I'm not saying they'd do that every time, but their customer service was great.
I love my Keisler. Best mod ever.
Aaron
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,424
Likes: 0
From: Lakeland FL
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 57
From: Mundelein Illinois
Richard will make it right. The other two things to check is the driveshaft. Have someone balance it. Keisler balanced mine but it was off quite a bit. They may have fixed the problem but i would have it checked again. The other thing is Keisler places selaer on the yoke, so oil does not leak out. Redo the seal. They place a thin coat of sealer. I sealed the yoke from the inside and outside.
Again Keisler are good people, Like any business, they have growing pains.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 57
From: Mundelein Illinois
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,826
Likes: 3
From: Tennessee
I sent Richard an email at Keisler. After paying $4900 for the conversion kit I'm not modifying anything. I'm expecting this to be a "bolt in" conversion and I'm hoping they'll make this right. I have no reason to believe they won't but I wanted to post here to see if somebody else had run into this before me.
Spedaleden's crossmember is definitely different than the one I received. Based on the dates on his pics he would have gotten his about 2 - 3 months after I got mine. I'm betting they modified the crossmember because they didn't fit. His has a cutout that allows the tailshaft to sit lower and it looks like the plate that the tranny bolts to extends further forward. My tranny is hitting the crossmember before the tranny mount does and the bolt holes will never line up.
I'll see what Richard says tomorrow and post the response unless he posts it himself here.
Spedaleden's crossmember is definitely different than the one I received. Based on the dates on his pics he would have gotten his about 2 - 3 months after I got mine. I'm betting they modified the crossmember because they didn't fit. His has a cutout that allows the tailshaft to sit lower and it looks like the plate that the tranny bolts to extends further forward. My tranny is hitting the crossmember before the tranny mount does and the bolt holes will never line up.
I'll see what Richard says tomorrow and post the response unless he posts it himself here.
o.k. o.k.....I'm here. Judging from your pics, you don't have the latest revision cross member for the '80-'82 Vette. The one we use now actually have a relief on the top of the cross member, just above the perch. What is the measurement from the back of the cross member out to the end of the perch? It should be 7.750" Double check that and let me know. On the one at my desk right now, the perch is welded to the bottom of the cross member but starts at about the halfway point. Take a look at my pictures and you can see what I am talking about. I will need to know what the name is on the sales order.
The last thing is what year is this vette? I came across an issue with the 1982 vette that I haven't encountered before. Apparently, on the drivers side floor pan, GM put a rib on the bottom of the floor pan and that rib is in the way of the cross member and keeping it from bolting up. I am currently sending a call tag for a customer to retreive his original cross member as well as mine and we will have to modify it to work on the '82. If yours' is an '82 as well, I'll have to wait until we get this fixed before I can correct yours. Let me know....
Richard
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,826
Likes: 3
From: Tennessee
Richard will make it right. The other two things to check is the driveshaft. Have someone balance it. Keisler balanced mine but it was off quite a bit. They may have fixed the problem but i would have it checked again. The other thing is Keisler places selaer on the yoke, so oil does not leak out. Redo the seal. They place a thin coat of sealer. I sealed the yoke from the inside and outside.
Again Keisler are good people, Like any business, they have growing pains.
The thing about driveshaft balancing is every machine is different. If you sent me one from your local driveline shop that they check out as balanced, my machine will say that it is out of balance. Same goes for a driveshaft from us. We can make the straightest most perfect driveshaft with .000" of runout and send it to another driveline shop and their machine will say it is off as well. Every machine is different. I still don't understand it.
As for the yokes, to my knowledge we are not sealing the caps anymore as the issue was supposed to be corrected on the last batch of them we just recieved. It still wouldn't be a bad idea though just for insurance.
Richard
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
I bought my kit way too soon
I did not even get a cross member in my kit and had to make my own!
Richard, the only thing I wished would have been different is the kit clutch assembly. Instead of taking a chance on my 434 ci with the Sachs kit clutch went right to the Center Force DFX. I'm not saying that Center Force is the best. But you might offer alternative clutch and pressure plates
I did not even get a cross member in my kit and had to make my own!Richard, the only thing I wished would have been different is the kit clutch assembly. Instead of taking a chance on my 434 ci with the Sachs kit clutch went right to the Center Force DFX. I'm not saying that Center Force is the best. But you might offer alternative clutch and pressure plates
Last edited by gkull; Apr 29, 2008 at 09:41 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 1,246
Likes: 1
o.k. o.k.....I'm here. Judging from your pics, you don't have the latest revision cross member for the '80-'82 Vette. The one we use now actually have a relief on the top of the cross member, just above the perch. What is the measurement from the back of the cross member out to the end of the perch? It should be 7.750" Double check that and let me know. On the one at my desk right now, the perch is welded to the bottom of the cross member but starts at about the halfway point. Take a look at my pictures and you can see what I am talking about. I will need to know what the name is on the sales order.
The last thing is what year is this vette? I came across an issue with the 1982 vette that I haven't encountered before. Apparently, on the drivers side floor pan, GM put a rib on the bottom of the floor pan and that rib is in the way of the cross member and keeping it from bolting up. I am currently sending a call tag for a customer to retreive his original cross member as well as mine and we will have to modify it to work on the '82. If yours' is an '82 as well, I'll have to wait until we get this fixed before I can correct yours. Let me know....
Richard
The last thing is what year is this vette? I came across an issue with the 1982 vette that I haven't encountered before. Apparently, on the drivers side floor pan, GM put a rib on the bottom of the floor pan and that rib is in the way of the cross member and keeping it from bolting up. I am currently sending a call tag for a customer to retreive his original cross member as well as mine and we will have to modify it to work on the '82. If yours' is an '82 as well, I'll have to wait until we get this fixed before I can correct yours. Let me know....
Richard
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,826
Likes: 3
From: Tennessee
P.S. I tried calling you twice now but it goes to voice mail. I need to touch base with you to get these swapped out....please call me or I will continue to try calling you.
Richard