70 Auto trans X member
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,900
Likes: 3
From: Nixa Missouri
70 Auto trans X member
In order to clean and paint my crossmember on my 70 coupe with a 400 auto, when I remove the crossmember should I or do I need support the transmission in some mannor. WIAI (while I'm at it) I'm going to replace the transmission mount for the cross member.
Then when I replace the cross member is there any torque spec on the cross member bolts?
Any suggestions will be appreciated.
Thanks for any information.
Then when I replace the cross member is there any torque spec on the cross member bolts?
Any suggestions will be appreciated.
Thanks for any information.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,264
Likes: 3
From: Vero Beach FL
When I pull mine out to clean and paint it I used a floor jack with a piece of ¾ plywood to support the transmission under the pan. You will need to lift the transmission slightly to remove the cross member after you unbolt the transmission mounts from the cross member. I assume your exhaust has already been removed.?
Best of luck
Best of luck
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,900
Likes: 3
From: Nixa Missouri
Thanks for the information guys.
Easy Mike, Thanks for comfirming this info. I was going to at least place a jack to slightly lift the rear of the tranny then place a jack stand under the very back of the trans or as far forward on the drive shaft as possible then shim it to the height of the jack for the best support. I may or may not have the trans pan off at the same time and dont want to get dust or dirt anywhere near the open transmission.
So when I replace the cross member do I just tighten up all the bolt or are there torque setting for the crossmember bolts. I havent been able to find any yet.
Roco 71, Thanks for the crossmember tip and yes sir the exhaust has been removed. In fact I just installed new side pipes a couple of weeks ago.
Just trying to pre plan pulling this cross member job cause I have a master cylinder repair first to deal with.
Thanks again guys and have a Merry Christmas.
Easy Mike, Thanks for comfirming this info. I was going to at least place a jack to slightly lift the rear of the tranny then place a jack stand under the very back of the trans or as far forward on the drive shaft as possible then shim it to the height of the jack for the best support. I may or may not have the trans pan off at the same time and dont want to get dust or dirt anywhere near the open transmission.
So when I replace the cross member do I just tighten up all the bolt or are there torque setting for the crossmember bolts. I havent been able to find any yet.
Roco 71, Thanks for the crossmember tip and yes sir the exhaust has been removed. In fact I just installed new side pipes a couple of weeks ago.
Just trying to pre plan pulling this cross member job cause I have a master cylinder repair first to deal with.
Thanks again guys and have a Merry Christmas.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,264
Likes: 3
From: Vero Beach FL
Sorry I did not mean to leave you hanging but I had to leave town for a few days without internet excess. Mike answered your question more directly than I did. When I removed mine to clean and paint it I left the jack under the transmission. The one thing not mentioned was the parking brake cable. Loosen the tension on the cable a bit before you unbolt the cross member. You will need to remove the pulley before you can completely remove the cross member from under the car.
Good luck
Good luck
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,900
Likes: 3
From: Nixa Missouri
Sorry I did not mean to leave you hanging but I had to leave town for a few days without internet excess. Mike answered your question more directly than I did. When I removed mine to clean and paint it I left the jack under the transmission. The one thing not mentioned was the parking brake cable. Loosen the tension on the cable a bit before you unbolt the cross member. You will need to remove the pulley before you can completely remove the cross member from under the car.
Good luck
Good luck
As a matter of fact I changed my plan of attack and went ahead and droped the cross member to get it cleaned and preped so I can take advantage of the 50 to 55 degree weather were going to have tomorrow so I can get it primed and painted outside and not in my garage.
I didnt check this thread till tonight and now wish I had cause I did exactly what you said to look out for and that was the brake cable. Must admit it made me laugh.
Thanks.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,900
Likes: 3
From: Nixa Missouri
Well I took advantage of the weather here yesterday and turned out to be a productive day. I managed to get the crossmember cleaned up, buffed down, primed & painted. Heres some pic's.
I must admit my frame is in excellent shape for a 40 year old car. In fact the paint on this cross member looked and acted like the old original asphalt paint.
Crossmember still on the car.
Got it off the car.
Cleaned it up then took it to the car wash to wash inside the crossmember.
Buffed it down with some 400 grit sand paper and primed.
Then got R painted.
Now I have clean all around the transmission and side rails and buff and paint the side rails over this weekend.
Thanks for the suggestions.
I must admit my frame is in excellent shape for a 40 year old car. In fact the paint on this cross member looked and acted like the old original asphalt paint.
Crossmember still on the car.
Got it off the car.
Cleaned it up then took it to the car wash to wash inside the crossmember.
Buffed it down with some 400 grit sand paper and primed.
Then got R painted.
Now I have clean all around the transmission and side rails and buff and paint the side rails over this weekend.
Thanks for the suggestions.
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,900
Likes: 3
From: Nixa Missouri
Thank You Sir,
I have jacked myself in terms of time cause I didnt order the transmission mount in time & with the christmas mail build up I'll be very lucky if it show's up by monday.
Currently buffing down the passenger side side rail and will get it primed here shortly then tomorrow will wash and detail the bottom of the body. I need to figure how to attack the grime build up on and around the transmission and trans tunnel. Maybe I'll have the driver side side rail finished by sunday night if I'm lucky.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 911
Likes: 5
From: TN
foam heat shield
Since you have the crossmember out you can install a heat deflection foam piece that came from the factory glued to the top of the transmission. The foam sealed the area between the transmission and the body deflecting engine heat. Your 70 might still have it as well.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,900
Likes: 3
From: Nixa Missouri
Since you have the crossmember out you can install a heat deflection foam piece that came from the factory glued to the top of the transmission. The foam sealed the area between the transmission and the body deflecting engine heat. Your 70 might still have it as well.
Thanks for the suggestion. I have the foam piece that I'll install and the big foil insulated tunnel deflector is still in and in pretty good shape concidering it's the original. You can see a small piece of it in the first picture I sent. Thats the area where I'm not to sure on how to clean it other then my hand full of different brushes and degreasers to reach up there to remove the small amount of grime build up. The back end of the deflector is a little loose and hangs down a bit and I need to figure out how it keep it up tight to the body. I noticed the crimping clamp is what I'll call it that holds the deflector to the body is out and will fix that. I'm afraid if I remove what I have now which is not in to bad of shape & try to install a new deflestor I'm going to wish I hadnt.
Once I get the car finished I'll enjoy it for a few years then do a proper complete body off and that was my thinking from the beginning but can assure you I'll never do a body on restoration again cause I've doubled up on all the work I've had to do under this car.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,245
Likes: 21
From: Abingdon MD
GP,
Crossmember looks great. In fact, it looked great before you took it down to paint it!
Now, as sure as the snow is flying today (mid Atlantic area), somebody will criticize you for "rattle canning" the crossmember. And, should you ever sell the car, prospective buyers will suspect that you painted it to hide rust, blah, blah.......
Rickman
Crossmember looks great. In fact, it looked great before you took it down to paint it!
Now, as sure as the snow is flying today (mid Atlantic area), somebody will criticize you for "rattle canning" the crossmember. And, should you ever sell the car, prospective buyers will suspect that you painted it to hide rust, blah, blah.......
Rickman
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,900
Likes: 3
From: Nixa Missouri
GP,
Crossmember looks great. In fact, it looked great before you took it down to paint it!
Now, as sure as the snow is flying today (mid Atlantic area), somebody will criticize you for "rattle canning" the crossmember. And, should you ever sell the car, prospective buyers will suspect that you painted it to hide rust, blah, blah.......
Rickman
Crossmember looks great. In fact, it looked great before you took it down to paint it!
Now, as sure as the snow is flying today (mid Atlantic area), somebody will criticize you for "rattle canning" the crossmember. And, should you ever sell the car, prospective buyers will suspect that you painted it to hide rust, blah, blah.......
Rickman
Thanks ok they can blah, blah, blah all they want. Truth is I'm going with a rattle can in this point in time due to the fact that this is my first restoration of any kind and felt it best to do a body on so not to get in over my head with lack of experience. Now having done most of the engine bay, engine, front suspension, radiator, & complete AC & heater system and working my way back to the rear end, I'm wishing I had gone with a body off project.
So what I plan on doing is finishing this frame and rear end section to the best of my ability then when the car is finished I'll drive it for a few years then do a body off.
Like you mention before the pictures tells the truth and the pre condition of this frame before I painted it.
Hopefully when I'm done with the frame it will take a very skilled eye to tell I did it all with the ole dredded rattle can, but then I will encourage any one to look cause I have put a lot of detail in this car doing it this way and the next car which is my vert will be a body off project for sure.
Thank again and Merry Christmas.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,245
Likes: 21
From: Abingdon MD
GP,
Excellent idea to document w pics everything underneath. Keep up the great work.
I guess w the 2' of snow we received in MD today the Corvette driving season is officially over. I will not drive my Vettes now due to the SALT placed on the roads. C'mon Spring!!
Rickman
Excellent idea to document w pics everything underneath. Keep up the great work.
I guess w the 2' of snow
we received in MD today the Corvette driving season is officially over. I will not drive my Vettes now due to the SALT placed on the roads. C'mon Spring!!Rickman
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,900
Likes: 3
From: Nixa Missouri
GP,
Excellent idea to document w pics everything underneath. Keep up the great work.
I guess w the 2' of snow we received in MD today the Corvette driving season is officially over. I will not drive my Vettes now due to the SALT placed on the roads. C'mon Spring!!
Rickman
Excellent idea to document w pics everything underneath. Keep up the great work.
I guess w the 2' of snow
we received in MD today the Corvette driving season is officially over. I will not drive my Vettes now due to the SALT placed on the roads. C'mon Spring!!Rickman
