Front crossmember replacement
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 459
Likes: 6
From: Fort Worth Texas
Front crossmember replacement
I'm replacing the front crossmember. From what I can tell, this is the primary support for the nose ...in that it supports the core support, and the core support bolts to the inner fenders. Should the nose be supported before pulling the front crossmember? If so, what's the best way to brace it? Also, I'm not seeing any shims between the core support and front crossmember, but from what I've read there may be, and I may find some when the support is pulled. Anyone with experience with this swap, and anything to lookout for? Thanks
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 971
Likes: 45
From: Middlesex NJ
On my 69 the front crossmember supports (as you say) the radiator support which holds up the inner fender wells. It also support the nose and front bumper via the "horseshoe bracket" and the thin rod that goes from the radiator support to the nose support bracket at the very tip of the nose that support the very front of the headlight buckets.
The front bumper outer bumper brackets are still attached to the frame horns (if yours are still in place) and will lend a great deal of support to the nose on their own via the outer edges of the bumper.
I would support the nose if you are going to take off the cross member. I am guessing you are going to do this with the car up in the air some.
My suggestion (may or may not be right) Put the car up on ramps so that the chassis and suspension are still holding the car up in its typical way NOT the frame via jack stands.
I would then use something like scissor jacks or a mechanical bottle screw jacks (these wont loose pressure like a hydraulic can and you can feel the load your are putting on them a little better) to just slightly relieve the pressure on the tip of the nose via the bumper and down at the very bottom of the front spoiler edges (use a 2x4 to spread out the contact). Just take the pressure off lightly.
Loosen the four frame horn bolts that hold the cross member to the frame at either frame horn and the two bolts that hold the cross member to the bottom of the radiator support. Then the the four bolts that hold the horseshoe bracket to the cross memeber. If you notice undue pressure on the bolts then you may have to take up more pressure on the bottle or scissor jacks but I would not do very much.
Swap out the cross memember and put all the bolts in loose first so they all start easy and then bring them down by hand if possible and lock them all down.
The front bumper outer bumper brackets are still attached to the frame horns (if yours are still in place) and will lend a great deal of support to the nose on their own via the outer edges of the bumper.
I would support the nose if you are going to take off the cross member. I am guessing you are going to do this with the car up in the air some.
My suggestion (may or may not be right) Put the car up on ramps so that the chassis and suspension are still holding the car up in its typical way NOT the frame via jack stands.
I would then use something like scissor jacks or a mechanical bottle screw jacks (these wont loose pressure like a hydraulic can and you can feel the load your are putting on them a little better) to just slightly relieve the pressure on the tip of the nose via the bumper and down at the very bottom of the front spoiler edges (use a 2x4 to spread out the contact). Just take the pressure off lightly.
Loosen the four frame horn bolts that hold the cross member to the frame at either frame horn and the two bolts that hold the cross member to the bottom of the radiator support. Then the the four bolts that hold the horseshoe bracket to the cross memeber. If you notice undue pressure on the bolts then you may have to take up more pressure on the bottle or scissor jacks but I would not do very much.
Swap out the cross memember and put all the bolts in loose first so they all start easy and then bring them down by hand if possible and lock them all down.
