Engine Cross Member or Rail

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Dec 5, 2020 | 10:15 AM

J2Davis

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Mountain Pass

Joined: Oct 2001

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From: Northwest

Engine Cross Member or Rail

55 F100, coil over IFS. A vender asked me what the distance was between my frame rails. When I told him he recommended putting in an engine cross member. The crossmember would sit just behind the IFS so I'm not certain that it would add any structural benefit. I know that some will cringe when I share this but I was given an LQ4 and 4L80e so am installing that. Is there a frame rail span that if exceeded makes it difficult for a frame mount tower and engine mounts to properly support the engine, and forces generated by the engine? Would a crossmember provide any benefits versus rail mount towers as far as headers and steering shaft?

Thanks
Jerry

Dec 5, 2020 | 12:31 PM

ALBUQ F-1

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From: NM

Doesn't your IFS have its own crossmember?

Dec 5, 2020 | 12:46 PM

1956_F100

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Quote:

Originally Posted by ALBUQ F-1

Doesn't your IFS have its own crossmember?

That is my question as well. Plus, is the original transmission crossmember still installed? That one is a major structural component. Many remove it because some transmissions simply will not fit. But in my opinion, if it's removed, some other type of crossmember needs to be installed near where that original trans crossmember was. Without it, the weight of the cab on the front cab mount wings can potentially twist the frame rails.

Dec 5, 2020 | 01:06 PM

52 Merc

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From: Burbank, WA

Typically, an engine mount crossmember and an IFS crossmember will want to occupy the same space. That usually doesn't work too well and a plan B is required.

Dec 6, 2020 | 10:41 AM

J2Davis

Thread Starter

Mountain Pass

Joined: Oct 2001

Posts: 176

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From: Northwest

Thanks guys! I am pretty certain that I do not need another cross member. Yes the installed coil over IFS has it's own crossmember so I am on to plan B. I have not removed the stock transmission crossmember but I suspect that I will need to replace it. I am guessing that maybe the engine mount towers will be mounted directly on the IFS crossmember or the rails. Thanks

Jerry

Dec 6, 2020 | 11:02 AM

Waygonner

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I have mustang ii setup from tci and am installing Ford 390. Engine mounts weld to frame and xmember and you need to set it up with the transmission attached and trans xmember in place so you can set proper angle in relation to rear axle. It isn’t really plug and play but you don’t need another xmember for the engine, the ifs one is plenty.

Dec 6, 2020 | 04:14 PM

Cougar54

Laughing Gas

Joined: Oct 2012

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From: Milford, Michigan

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waygonner

I also have a TCI Mustang II front end that I am installing and an extra crossmember at the engine mounts is not necessary. That front crossmember is plenty beefy. I am removing the OEM transmission crossmember since mine was hacked up by a previous owner. I can get away with this since I will be using a firewall mount booster and master cylinder. The crossmember will be replaced with a new crossmember to support the transmission. This way I can set up the transmission crossmember at the perfect distance and the proper angle as needed.

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Dec 6, 2020 | 04:40 PM

Cougar54

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Joined: Oct 2012

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From: Milford, Michigan

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old F1

The small angles we are talking about shouldn't affect the fuel level very much in the carb and can be reset if necessary. My 302 is fuel injected so this isn't an issue for me.

Dec 6, 2020 | 05:16 PM

#10

Waygonner

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Old F1

You aren’t wrong. It would be ideal to have the carb level at ride height. I do also need to make sure my drive shaft has relative angles to the trans and rear end so I don’t eat u joints and have vibrations. I also don’t know exactly what level will be for the carb with out all of the weight of everything on there so there is a bit to figure out.

apologies for thread hijack. At the end of the day, I think we are all in agreement that you don’t need an additional engine xmember besides the ifs one.

Dec 7, 2020 | 08:18 PM

#11

J2Davis

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Mountain Pass

Joined: Oct 2001

Posts: 176

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From: Northwest

Thanks again guys. I have fuel injection in mine, so I am not certain being level is as important.

Dec 8, 2020 | 03:47 PM

#12

1956_F100

Elder User

Joined: Apr 2016

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Quote:

Originally Posted by J2Davis

Thanks again guys. I have fuel injection in mine, so I am not certain being level is as important.

Also, carb angle is very dependent on intake manifold. Set it up level for one intake, then change intakes and all is lost.

On another note, with fuel injection, single plane intakes work better simply because they have more equal distribution between cylinders..