[RocktimusPryme]

Does anyone have a good picture, either installed or loose of a 1962 Cat cross-member? Even better if someone has a picture of one installed but moved to facilitate a TH400 swap

Long story short, my 62 safari has a cobbled together swap of a smog era olds 455, and long tail th400. Its done very poorly, its at a steep angle, Im honestly stunned it doesn't driveline shake. Ive not measured it but I would be its more than 6 degrees downward.

I ASSUMED this was because of the slimjim skinny transmission tunnel, but then I've been reading through old threads where people said not that much floor pan hammering was required to install a th400 in the 61-62 catalinas. So my assumption that they put it angled heavily down as a way to get around the skinny trans tunnel may have been erroneous. Of course it still may be that as the olds motor may be located further back than the original 389. Lots of maybes.

I already read that you could use the stock transmission cross-member, just sliding it back and drilling a few new holes. Again, I assumed that's what was already done with mine. But now I'm questioning that, I think it may be a cross-member from another car that they just made work, and may be whats leading to my extreme angle. The whole thing makes one problem lead to another, makes my exhaust too low, I believe it makes the trans leak once the converter drains back it fluid.

I think I am most likely going to perform another swap and do it better, (probably my first LS swap, go ahead and boo me but the original pontiac mounts have been cut out of the car) but if I can utilize the stock cross-member to either facilitate a swap or at least better mount the current trans I might want to be on the lookout for one. The old turd of an Olds is actually running decently now, but a borescope of the cylinders shows some pitting. Surprised it doesn't smoke and I feel like its days are numbered.

Ill get a pick tomorrow of the cross-member I currently have, and you guys can confirm if its wrong or not. I suspect its out of whatever car the 455 came out of.

[stevep]

Leave the stock crossmember where it is an extend the porch if you are using a 400 with a 9" tail. That way your E brake cables will work.

[RocktimusPryme]

Originally Posted by stevep

Leave the stock crossmember where it is an extend the porch if you are using a 400 with a 9" tail. That way your E brake cables will work.

Im pretty sure that's all gone with mine. Thats kinda what Im trying to confirm.

I found a lot of text about people who had done TH350/400 conversions in 61-62 Cats, but I did not find ANY visuals. So Im really looking for pictures here when someone gets some time to snap me any.

Ill take anything, but I'm especially interested in someone who has a clean th400 swap.

My brake cables are still in but they are damn close to touching the driveshaft, probably because the trans tail is too low.

[RocktimusPryme]

I know this is a bad picture but I was in a hurry. Here is a glimpse of what I’m currently working with.

[stevep]

Originally Posted by RocktimusPryme

I know this is a bad picture but I was in a hurry. Here is a glimpse of what I’m currently working with.

Not a factory setup

[tom s]

My 62 GP has a 62 auto X member under a ST-10 4 speed.I did not have room to put it where it belonged on the frame,Mine is mounted under the frame rails.If interested I could put the lift up and get a pic.Tom

[carcrazy]

I have a 62 GP with a T400 installed. I'll see if I can get a picture sometime this weekend. Seems to me when I did one many years ago we extended the porch.

[RocktimusPryme]

I would be interested in pictures of both of those setups when either of you have time. Its not super pressing.

[tom s]

Car has a 4 speed now but still using the auto X member.

[pfilean]

Search for post Bye Old Jim, Hello 350. Its a 350 not a 400 but has the original cross member with a kind of funky extension to the 350 mounting point. 400 mounts a bit different but check the different transmission dimensions
and see if it gets the information you need. Originally I had a little problem with the U joint interfering with the Cross member but the 400 may be enough longer to solve that.

[RocktimusPryme]

Originally Posted by pfilean

Search for post Bye Old Jim, Hello 350. Its a 350 not a 400 but has the original cross member with a kind of funky extension to the 350 mounting point. 400 mounts a bit different but check the different transmission dimensions
and see if it gets the information you need. Originally I had a little problem with the U joint interfering with the Cross member but the 400 may be enough longer to solve that.

I will do that.

Little stroke of luck (I should have done this to start with) The old parts car our back still has its cross-member installed. I hate robbing parts off of it, because its good enough to be a project for someone, but I am going to tob this part of it.

Ill look up that old thread and see what I can do to make my setup better. That said I may wait until my engine swap to do anything. So Im not welding on it twice.

[webfoot]

I used a 68-72 A-body crossmember and welded 2 ears to it to make it wide enough. Its nice having dual exhaust humps in it.

[RocktimusPryme]

Originally Posted by webfoot

I used a 68-72 A-body crossmember and welded 2 ears to it to make it wide enough. Its nice having dual exhaust humps in it.

That might actually be what I have, but between the car itself being lowered and the cross-member maybe not being mounted as high up as it should, the whole thing is too low. The exaust scrapes on bumps even with the humps.

At the end of the day, I might opt to just make one out of square tube if needed.