Trans Crossmember not lining up

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May 24, 2021 | 08:05 PM

SMS888

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From: West Haven, CT

Trans Crossmember not lining up

Working on my project truck, just got done rebuilding the tranny and tcase. 84 F150, 351W, TOD 4 spd, Np208. Reinstating the tranny only to find that the crossmember holes won't line back up with the tranny bracket. A little background btw, my 4x4 extension housing on the tranny was cracked at the passenger mount hole. Had it welded back together, but I'm wondering if something was tweaked and now I'm seeing it. I can't figure out what is pushing the tranny toward the passenger side of the truck. I can't move the powertrain by hand, wondering if the motor mounts are causing an issue? There is nothing obvious, but as I left the jack drop the tranny, it always settles to the passenger side a bit. Roughly an inch, not like 1/8" but a whole inch off... Thanks for any suggestion!

Steve

May 25, 2021 | 12:18 PM

Max Capacity

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From: Tolland, CT

Can you get some pictures so we can understand. It's hard to tell what happened to make it not line up.

May 25, 2021 | 12:41 PM

diggerrigger

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From: Evansville, Indiana

Loosen the nuts on the motor mounts. One nut each side. Access from underneath. Let the engine pivot so the transmission aligns.

Bear in mind that both engine and transmission are not on the centerline of the truck. They are offset to the passenger side.

May 25, 2021 | 01:08 PM

Max Capacity

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From: Tolland, CT

I was thinking that too. But assumed he would have done something that simple...I guess that proves the old saying. "when you assume, you make an a** ... "

May 25, 2021 | 02:30 PM

diggerrigger

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From: Evansville, Indiana

To expand on the motor mounts, each mount has a stud that inserts into a slot on each perch. They have to have slots since the mount stud is at an angle. Angled studs drop straight downward into the elongated holes when the engine is lowered in.

My OCD requires that I look at the slots and see that the studs are even in the slots to achieve a probable level engine. A level engine and transmission puts less stress on the transmission mount. Does it make a difference. My disorder tells me, yes.

May 25, 2021 | 02:58 PM

diggerrigger

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From: Evansville, Indiana

Quote:

Originally Posted by Max Capacity

I was thinking that too. But assumed he would have done something that simple...I guess that proves the old saying. "when you assume, you make an a** ... "

IF OP has already thought of that and it still won't go, he could look to see if the Y-pipe and exhaust have it in a bind.

May 25, 2021 | 03:52 PM

SMS888

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From: West Haven, CT

Ok, so after a good night sleep(1 year old at home that I'm working around..). I decided that I should've just loosened the motor mount frame bolts and see if that would help. That got me pretty close. Close enough to get bolts in but I'm still not quite happy. I think that diggerrigger is right and I will need to fool with those bolts a bit more. The engine/exhaust are all built/custom and are very clear of everything, so I think it ultimately will come down to motor mount tweaking. And the fact that the tranny housing was broken tells me that they weren't right when the motor got installed 15 years ago... So, I'll do some toying around and if it helps, I'll keep you posted. Thank you all for the responses, sometimes we just need a moment.