Cross Member....???

[Phil]

Would it be stronger if you used two pieces of 1.5" x 3" and put them together to make them 1.5" x 6", so you'd have an additional vertical support in the middle?

No. Not at all. 2x6 is still stiffer than two pieces 1.5x3 put together. That "additional vertical support" does essentially nothing. The extra .5" of seperation between the top and bottom faces of the 2x6 does far more than the "additional vertical support".

Now, if you just love making more work for yourself, turn your 1.5x3 on edge and make a 3x3 crossmember.

Don't you just love (b*h^3)/12?

 

[Goatman]

I need to see pics of this....I can't imagine using a STOCK (or modded stock) crossmember for anything besides supporting the tranny.

Here's a couple of pics of mine. I've been beating the crap out of it for about 8 years and it's still working fine. I plated the bottom with 1/4" and reinforced the edges on top with small boxed tubing, leaving room for the exhaust and front driveline. At the time I thought it was a good way to easily make a higher clearance crossmember, and it's proven to be durable.

 

[Andy in Pa.]

Here's a couple of pics of mine. I've been beating the crap out of it for about 8 years and it's still working fine. I plated the bottom with 1/4" and reinforced the edges on top with small boxed tubing, leaving room for the exhaust and front driveline. At the time I thought it was a good way to easily make a higher clearance crossmember, and it's proven to be durable.

Looks great Richard, looks like 100 other modded ones I have seen...

My point was I would not use it for anything BUT supporting the tranny. In other words I would not tie any rear long arms to it...... The person I responded to said they made it to accept rear long arms as well. That sounds like a bit much for a stock crossmember (the frame mounting in particular) to handle, but I wanted to see pics before stating my opinion.

Kabiche??

 

[Goatman]

Looks great Richard, looks like 100 other modded ones I have seen...

My point was I would not use it for anything BUT supporting the tranny. In other words I would not tie any rear long arms to it...... The person I responded to said they made it to accept rear long arms as well. That sounds like a bit much for a stock crossmember (the frame mounting in particular) to handle, but I wanted to see pics before stating my opinion.

Kabiche??

Oh yeah, I missed that part. I wouldn't mount any suspension links to it, not nearly strong enough mount at the frame rails for that. I'd want rear suspension links mounted to the frame no matter what kind of crossmember it was.


100? Really?

 

[Andy in Pa.]

Oh yeah, I missed that part. I wouldn't mount any suspension links to it, not nearly strong enough mount at the frame rails for that. I'd want rear suspension links mounted to the frame no matter what kind of crossmember it was.


100? Really?

Sorry, 101 now.

 

[ttocsnekia]

Like this?

Scott

 

[recycledxj]

Scott are you mounting that cross member between the frame rails to make a high clearence cross member, I have been many thoughts behind doing something like a cross member inside the frame rails and only support the tranny, then build another cross member to support a belly pan of some sort but there isnt that much room under there....

 

[ttocsnekia]

My cross member mounts inbetween the Lower arm mounts, let see if I can find a picture....

 

[Andy in Pa.]

My cross member mounts inbetween the Lower arm mounts, let see if I can find a picture....

That is Claytons crossmember. Don't know what long arms you are running, but I recognize that piece. Its the same one I have in my XJ.

A.

 

[ttocsnekia]

Yup, Clayton's kit

 

[recycledxj]

Alright so I started on my custom cross member. I started with an 2 by 4 3/16 wall thickness box tubing. I notched the middle down 1 inch so now the tranns mount will mount an inch below the frame( an half inch better then stock). And to bolt it up to the frame Iam going to make frame reinforcements out of 3 by 3 angle iron and bolt the cross member to the angle by welding nuts on the backside and drilling holes big enough in the frame to fit the welded nuts. I need to find my digital camera so I can some pictures online... now I need to figure out the trans skidplate...

 

[barillms]

If you plan on doing long arms, it might be a good idea to incorporate your Long Arm mounts into your cross member while you're modding it.