Which holes to use?
 

I just got my frame back from paint and will be assembling it this weekend. I do not know which holes to use for the crossmember? I had a th400 in before and am now putting in a manual trans. Pictures would be excellent! :D

my guess is that:

since the 4 speed/3 speed and turbine tranny's were shorter by about 4 inches the crossmember would be fastened to the set of frame holes closer to the engine,

and since the th 400 is about 4 inches longer the crossmember for that application would fastened on the set of holes further to the rear.

No more input?

I have a 67 convertible with a 4sp and as I recall my crossmember is bolted to the 2 outer holes. I have a stock crossmember with the stock rubber insulators and steel keepers(not sure what to call them). The car is kept elsewhere so I can not take any pictures today, but last weekend I was putting the transmission back in and I am sure I used the outer holes.

If your assembly this weekend is including setting the engine and trans, then it should be obvious were the crossmember should be bolted once engine and trans are in place.

JT

If I remember correctly aren't convertible frames different from hardtop frames? Mine is a hardtop. It'll first be 2-3 weeks before I pick up my new power plant to put on the frame so I may just put the crossmember in a set of holes and move it where I need it at the time I put the drivetrain in.

the hard top and sedan frames are "c" section and the cross member just sat in side the c section.

In my experience having owner several of each body style, its easy on the c sectioned frames to simply move the cross member forward square it up and drill new holes.

the cross member goes up inside the c section, not underneath. I have seen a you tube video where they R&R an engine and trans for I think a 65, the cross member is bolted under the botom of the c section. wrong! it goes up inside.

good luck

the two outer holes are for a pontiac application, the two inner holes are for chavelle's, chavelles used a different crossmember that bolted solidly and directly to the frame mounts where as the pontiacs the cross member was sandwitched inside a rubber mount and clamped in place with an upper metal bracket, suposedly the chevelle set up is structurally stronger but tranmits a bit more drivetrain and road noise. some frames had only chevelle holes, some only had pontiac holes and some including replacement frames had both. depends on what car lines shared what assembly lines

My car is a hardtop and I have the c frame design. There are several ses of holes in the frame for the crossmember.

well, if the holes are already there then install your tranny, install the crossmember and it will natually set in place close to the correct set of holes to use. your park brake cables for the 400 will not work for the MT. the yoke and drive shaft will not either.

I ordered new park brake cables already for the manual trans, the yoke from the th400 fits fine into the 4 speed. I don't know if it makes a difference or not but my trans is a 78 borg Warner st10.