Anyone build a crossmember for the tcase/tranny?

[Brad Kilby]

I'm thinking of doing just that. Build a crossmember to hold the tranny mount then have the skid bolt to the frame in the stock location and possibly the new crossmember. Question is, has anyone done this yet where I might browse a few pics?

http://www.dehesa4x4.com/bkilby/

[sethmark]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you've done that already....

Humpty Dumpty Land: Formerly Tightey Whitey World

[Brad Kilby]

Nope. My tranny mount was welded to the top of the skid plate. I'd like to keep the skid separate to make it easier to work on the rig without having the tranny fall on my chest.

http://www.dehesa4x4.com/bkilby/

[Art Welch]

I've done it, but not for the stock tranny. No pics though

[Brad Kilby]

No pics? Bummer. Did you make the CM removable? I know what I'd like to do but was just curious if someone else had another idea I haven't thought of yet.

http://www.dehesa4x4.com/bkilby/

[Art Welch]

On mine it's just a section of 1x1 box tube from side to side, 1/4 inch plate on the ends, and some bolts through the frame. The mounting point on the tranny is pushed up fairly high which makes the 1x1 work okay while still letting the skid ride flat on the frame rails. It isn't much to look at it but it's strong as heck.

[Brad Kilby]

Interesting. What kind of tranny mount are you using. Well for that matter, what trans?

http://www.dehesa4x4.com/bkilby/

[Art Welch]

The tranny is an NV4500. Now that I think about it the box tubing is actually 2x2 rather than 1x1. The connection between the crossmember and the tranny is just two bolts, some washers on each side, and a couple of old rollerblade wheels on top of the CM for bushings. Explaining it here it sounds pretty low tech but it does work well.

[Brad Kilby]

1x1 did sound a tad small but if it works it works! I might try running a square tube to the frame rails and use leaf spring bushings at each end for the mount. The tranny would be direct mounted to the square tube. I'm figuring on welding a piece of angle to the frame and have the mounts bolt to it. Well, it sounds good anyhow, now to make it work.

http://www.dehesa4x4.com/bkilby/

[Art Welch]

Sounds like a solid setup.

[Wumpy]

Brad,

Hellbender, who is a member of this board, has done that exact thing. It's a really cool set up, because you can drop the skid and not have to worry about the tranny floping down on your lap. If you do a search on the JU archives, you'll see that he posted pictures as well.

R/
William

R/
William

Brad:
With a full length skid, make a 1x1 tube type cradle to slip under the round end of the output housing on the TC then weld pieces of 1x1x1 angle on the inside of each side of the frame flush to the skid with the L facing the rear. When you have to work on things just place the cradle under the TC and on the two Angles then unbolt the skid. Much easier to work with than the stock TJ set up.
Garry

[Brad Kilby]

Thanks William. It took a while but I finally found the pics.

Garry, If I was to keep the skid I've been using, I'd do just that. However, I have to fab a new tranny mount anyhow so I figured this would be the time to make any changes that I wanted. The new skid has been cut (and looks really cool) but I started thinking more on the crossmember thing today and decided that I want to give it a try. Worse case scenario is, it'll p*ss me off and I'll just go back the to the skid I've been using for 3 years now. Thanks for the info btw! This new skid covers from the rear of the tcase to the front of the tranny pan so there isn't a whole lot of options when it comes to jacking up the tcase without the skid. A craddle would be the ticket if a CM wasn't used

http://www.dehesa4x4.com/bkilby/

[Hellbender]

Brad--Here's some pic's of my set-up if you didn't find them yet......Here's the x-member.


The tranny mount.........


Installed...........




Here's a link to a post on this forum on how the skids come together.............
http://jeepbbs.atinfopop.com/4/OpenT...821#3024050821

Be forewarned, if you want to produce these, every combo of trannies, motors and cat converters (there's a bunch) may take a different version.

2000 TJ 4.0L, A/T, all factory options.
Jeep Rater Score 360
http://www.hellbender.rockcrawler.com/
NRA Lifetime Member

[Brad Kilby]

Thanks HB. Pics are always good to look at.
I started on the crossmember tonight and would have finished it if I had all the metal at the shop.

The mount I'm gonna use (unless I change my mind again) is this one. http://www.energysuspension.com/media1/image22.gif
So far everything seems to be fitting ok but need to get the metal to finish the job.

Producing a flat skid has always been a thought (mine was built 3 yrs ago) but I don't know if I want to deal with the mess really.

http://www.dehesa4x4.com/bkilby/

[mrblaine]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Brad Kilby:
Thanks HB. Pics are always good to look at.
I started on the crossmember tonight and would have finished it if I had all the metal at the shop.

The mount I'm gonna use (unless I change my mind again) is this one. http://www.energysuspension.com/media1/image22.gif
So far everything seems to be fitting ok but need to get the metal to finish the job.

Producing a flat skid has always been a thought (mine was built 3 yrs ago) but I don't know if I want to deal with the mess really.

<A HREF="http://www.dehesa4x4.com/bkilby/<HR></BLOCKQUOTE" TARGET=_blank>http://www.dehesa4x4.com/bkilby/<HR></BLOCKQUOTE</A>>

Brad, that is a good mount, but it will transmit every tiny bit of engine, tranny, or any other vibration into the cab. It is very annoying when you are sitting at a stoplight or local rabbit crossing.

Especially if you run a urethane motor mount in conjunction with it.

It is not who you know, It is who knows you
Jeeps do not make jeepers, jeepers make Jeeps.
Which is more important, the degree or education?

[Brad Kilby]

I'm sure it will but it can't be a whole lot worse than the urathane tranny mount I've been running for the past 3 years. If it is, I know how to modify the CM for a different mount. My old mount looks alot like HB's, using a single bolt. I decided to try something different......

http://www.dehesa4x4.com/bkilby/