Horsecollar crossmember

[Fearofrunner]

Ok guys, got a question for you.

Just got the duals in and shafts redone and i notice that my CV DS is going to hit the horsecollar crossmember.  Now should i slip some 1/2" plate between the t-case crossmember and the frame to drop it down out of the way enough for the CV to clear, or should i notch the horsecollar x-member?

It's scares me to cut that horsecollar and risk loosing integrity in the frame.  (i would plate and support where the material is takin out but that's gonna be some work).

This is on and 84 4runner.

Thanks

Fear

[SLIVER]

I just did duals on my 85 and it didn't hit at all. Maybe 84 is different??

))--SLIVER-->

[Fearofrunner]

Do you have a CV shaft?

This is pretty close to the point of where I might be ok just to drop the t-case a little with a spacer, but how it sets now the grease fitting on the u-joint would be gone with one revolution of the DS.

[Gittinit]

I notched the crosmember on my pickup. Before you cut be shure to tack some steel accross the frame to act as a crosmember till you get the integrity back into the horsecollar.

[Fearofrunner]

you got any pictures on how you did yours gittinit

[Fearofrunner]

would there be any problems with doing a crossmember drop with dual cases? Does the add anymore stress to the engine mounts?

[Gittinit]

I did, but I can't find them right now. I just used some 1/4 flat stock welded in the shape of an upside down U. I cut out the offending area, and welded this new U shaped section. I did this becouse I didn't like the idea of lowering my cases, causing potential breakover angle issues.

[Fearofrunner]

Cool man, thanks.  I'm gonna go work on it right now.

[OOPS]

Here is how a friend did his. Ran it this way for many years of abuse.



He modified it later to move his cat and xhaust up.

[Fearofrunner]

oh very nice that looks like a flat belly though.  I'm not going quite that far but thanks.

This is what i just got done, it's just right at full flex... i hope.




Do you guys think i should weld som support in there somewhere or should this hold up just fine?

[Duffil]

I vote cut it up.  the pic above shoud work, but why not reinforce it while you are in there?  I like the pic OOPS posted.

[4.3 headache]

i would at least plate the bottom, and weld up all those small grooves that were made with the cut-off wheel, eliminating any areas that will be prone to cracking later 


here's a pic of mine

[OOPS]

oh very nice that looks like a flat belly though.  I'm not going quite that far but thanks.

This is what i just got done, it's just right at full flex... i hope.

Do you guys think i should weld som support in there somewhere or should this hold up just fine?

It was a little flater.

Yes I would plate it and weld it up.

I sent you a PM, please read.

[SLIVER]

Do you have a CV shaft?

This is pretty close to the point of where I might be ok just to drop the t-case a little with a spacer, but how it sets now the grease fitting on the u-joint would be gone with one revolution of the DS.

Ya I do have a CV shaft, 84 must be different than 85 because mine bolted up no problems at all. I haven't wheeled it yet but have driven it quite a bit on the road with no clearance issues at all.

[Hottrod81]

I just knotched mine out on my 84.  It would hit if I accelerated hard.  I spoke to Marlin about it and he said to just knotch it.  I also spoke to Rocky @ Marlin and he said the same thing.  It's not a structural cross member.

[Fearofrunner]

I vote cut it up.  the pic above shoud work, but why not reinforce it while you are in there?  I like the pic OOPS posted.

If i reinforce what it is now then i'll have to cut up more so i can get some good plate in there. It's just right on the clearance of everything now.

What Hotrod is saying makes me feel alot better, that marlin guys say it's not a structural corssmember. I'm gonna keep and eye on it and if it shows any kind of tearing at those cut lines or bending at all it'll get all reinforced for sure.

Thanks guys this helped me out out alot, hopefully it comes up on a search for others needing these ideas.

If you guys got more pictures and ideas keep posting up, cause a flat belly might be in the future

[Not A Toy]

in my opinion I dont think you need to reinforce it. but it would never hurt man and why not just doit right now to prevent having to fix later on? it wouldnt take but a half hour to notch it out and weld some plate in there, ill even help ya!

[Not A Toy]

this does look pretty clean man! I think you should look into something like this!!!!