easy to make the brackets for the bolt in application...
f.n.g.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
I wouldn't hesitate to do this modification. If you have a fixed crossmember cut it and make it removable. Saves alot of work in the future. I did this for a 73 this past summer.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,010
Likes: 3
From: Moon Twp. PA USA
Originally Posted by zwede
Very common mod when installing a 5 or 6 speed tranny. Here's mine:
If I am correct that you just cut out the center, could you provide details?
Thanks,
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,361
Likes: 383
From: Plano TX
Yes, I just cut it out with a sawzall. It was very easy to do and I only scratched the floor in one spot. Then I welded brackets to the piece I cut out:
Drilled holes in the the "stumps" still on the car and bolted it up. One of these days I will weld in steel tubes to avoid the frame from bending where the bolts go through, but I haven't had any problems even without the tubes.
Drilled holes in the the "stumps" still on the car and bolted it up. One of these days I will weld in steel tubes to avoid the frame from bending where the bolts go through, but I haven't had any problems even without the tubes.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
I would guess that cutting the transmission crossmember isn't going to compromise the frame stiffness, since the auto trans crossmember is only attached by a couple of bolts on each side. I wouldn't try that with any of the other crossmembers, though!
Rick B.
Rick B.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,010
Likes: 3
From: Moon Twp. PA USA
Originally Posted by zwede
Yes, I just cut it out with a sawzall. It was very easy to do and I only scratched the floor in one spot. Then I welded brackets to the piece I cut out:
Drilled holes in the the "stumps" still on the car and bolted it up. One of these days I will weld in steel tubes to avoid the frame from bending where the bolts go through, but I haven't had any problems even without the tubes.
Drilled holes in the the "stumps" still on the car and bolted it up. One of these days I will weld in steel tubes to avoid the frame from bending where the bolts go through, but I haven't had any problems even without the tubes.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 7,562
Likes: 9
From: B'Ville NY
Cruise-In III Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05
I like the way Zwede did his, it looks to be much easier than the route I took.
I cut my stock crossmember at the frame rails and installed a BTO crossmember:
I then welded tabs in the inside of the frame rails so that each end attaches with 2 bolts and then a long cross bolt:
This was an un-nerving thing for me at the time when I was under my vette with the sawzall
Very glad I did it 
I cut my stock crossmember at the frame rails and installed a BTO crossmember:
I then welded tabs in the inside of the frame rails so that each end attaches with 2 bolts and then a long cross bolt:
This was an un-nerving thing for me at the time when I was under my vette with the sawzall
Very glad I did it
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,161
Likes: 0
From: pr, frederick md.
F.n.g.
yes F.N.G. was only a joke as it was my first thread/reply here. thanks for all the prompt info and help. i wanted to do this when i did the tremec swap, but i was nervous as hell, and decided against it. now i will do it during this winters engine swap. mostly becuase of the difficulty of the tranny install. i think i will stay with the way zwede did it, looks stronger. did zwede bolt all the way through? or weld nuts to the inside?thanks again
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,361
Likes: 383
From: Plano TX
The two lower bolts are through-bolts. The upper one uses a clip. I'd recommend spot welding a steel tube inside the frame for the through bolts. I didn't and it has been OK, but I should have... "do as I say, not as I do". 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,938
Likes: 1
From: San Diego CA
My question would be does it make it stronger to saw off at the frame rails and weld flat plates to the ends of the sawed off center section and bolt it to the rails or like Zwede did? FAUXRS did that and it came out nice. Just trying to figure which is easier, stronger, best looking, less calories.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
having recently had a hands on experience with both the original and the BTO engineerd crossmember....... i do know that the Bow Tie Overdrive engineered cross member is considerably lighter then the original and gives incredible space under neath it....and not too bad at $175...after all how many of these are you going to buy????