Marlin Dual case crossmember REVIEW

[TATER]

  Sorry, no pics. If you dont know what the crossmember  looks like, check the product pages.

As promised, here's the review.

  The crossmember arrived wrapped in bubblewrap. Quite a few layers and taped up really well. I found no scratches from shipping and only a couple of marks from bending that where covered with powder coating. One thing I did notice was that on each side of the crossmember one of the frame mounting holes/slots had what looked like a bolt or washer scar on the powder coat. I'm not sure, but I think it may be a test fitment or a process of the bending. Overall finish was acceptable.

After supporting transmissiom with a jackstand, I unbolted the stock crossmember and tossed into the ever-growing pile of Toyota parts. Using a block of wood and a floor jack, I manuvered the crossmember into place. Not too heavy, but a little awkward. I used 2 stock frame mounting bolts to temporary hold crossmember in posistion. This is when I noticed that the frame mounting holes/slots where a lot bigger than the stock crossmember. The slots measured 17mm. Interesting, because the heads of the factory bolts are 17mm also. The diameter of the bolts are 14mm.  Must be why you are provided with washers. The washers are 19mm inside diameter, so it had a look of "make it work" to it.

  Satisfied that the crossmember wasn't gonna fall and land on me, I proceeded onto the T-case mounts. The counter-sunk holes for the t-case mounts were large enough for all bolts to be started and snugged up without much problem. One of my t-case mount had to be well worn, as it needed a little prying to get things lined up.

  After looking at the frame mounting holes for a little while, I descided to use new bolts. I used  bolts that are longer to make up for the added thickness of the 3/8 steel. Aftermarket bolts generally have a bigger head and the bolts I used have a 19mm head. It looked better than the factory bolts with the provided washers.


  I'm comfortable with saying Marlins Dual Case Crossmember is a solid piece that should give the user years of faithfull service. It may not look extraordinary or have a lot of features but this thing should be indestuctable.

 

 

[Hyena]

We installed the dual case crossmember in a friends toy yesterday.  It went in very nicely and it looks sweet.  The only problem we had was the bolts holding the rubber mount to the crossmember.  We had to run to the hardware store for the right size torques(?)  bit.  We were also wondering about the big round part on the bottom of the rubber mount.  It sticks down below the crossmember were it could get hung up on rocks.  Should there be a spacer in there somewere?

[lowgeared]

My Sky's dual skid plate came with UHMW spacers and the rubber bottoms of the transfer case mounts are flush with the bottom of the skid plate.  You may need to space yours.

[kyle_22r]

now, what i'd like to see is a conversion one for us '79-83 guys who want to put in a late tranny

[Hyena]

I actually took the second spacer that i had from my sky-manufacturing skid plate and we put it on his marlin slid plate.  We also had to use the sky bolts too.  It is now sitting above the bottom of the slid plate and has a lot more room for t-case movement.