Good Morning,
I am looking for some information on a T5 swap into a 1949 Ford F1 pickup. I am interested in learning different routes to go for the transmission crossmember.
Would the crossmember from a F3 work? It seems to have a drop vs the stock F1 crossmember.
Are there any kits available for this setup?
Or would building one from scratch be the way to go?
If so, does anyone have any rough measurements the depth and length that would be required.

I appreciate any information!

 

Welcome to the forum!

An F-2 or -3 crossmember mounted in the position for that will just about clear the T5, minor grinding required. But they mount further back than the F-1 crossmember. That means to keep the stock F-1 brake M/C position, and retain the stock clutch and brake pedal position, you either need to leave part of the original crossmember to hold the pedal bracket and M/C, or get the corresponding F-2/3 bracket. Even so the F-2/3 M/C is different, so some fab is required.

There are many different ways to modify the stock crossmember that retain the strength of it (it is a very important structural member) yet still allow install/removal of the T5, some pictures below. Cornhuskers and others make adapters for the trans-to-bellhousing that retain the stock clutch linkage. Speedway sells one also but I hear complains of poor fitment, grinding required, etc.

What trans do you have now?

 

I don't have any informstion on thr F3 crossmember or aftermarket for fitment but I think you would get the exact fit you need by fabricating your own. Just ensure it is bolt in so easy to drop trans as required. My 2 cents.

 

Thanks for the information! I really appreciate that. I will rule out the F3 crossmember.
The pictures are very helpful on using and modifying the existing crossmember. That is also a great tip to make it bolt on for adjustment, and in case I will have to pull it out in the future.
I currently have a non world class t5 from an s10, with the flat o products kit. I am thinking of using the mechanical clutch linkage at this point.

 

I did not install a T5 but similar issues will occur for most transmissions. I my case it is a 700R4. I moved the stock F-1 crossmember back and bolted it in place to retain frame rigidity and fabbed a simple crossmember for the 700R4. To retain the stock F-1 e-brake I created a new fixed point that uses the stock crossmember for the fixed point, see pic below. The replacement fixed point is the triangular structure bolted to the passenger side frame rail in the picture.

 

Anyone have more pictures or a different solution? I would have thought a kit would come with a bolt on solution.

 

I'm not often in this section as I don't currently own a ford truck from this era, but I showed up to ask some questions about a '51 F3 I'm considering. As far as the T-5 swap I completed mine 2 years ago. The truck is actually a '47 1/2 ton and I have read that my '47 half ton's frame is nearly identical to '48-'49.... Here's what I did. Some folks cut the center outa the stock crossmember and feel it's still strong enough for master cylinder etc. I made a gusset that bolts in and reinforces this area. My trans crossmember as you can see is built from 1 1/2" square tubing. perhaps 3/16" wall. In the future I would not set the angle iron brackets on top of the frame's lip. Had to alter them too much to get them into place. A friend later showed me his chev 4x4 K30 diesel with the factory crossmember under the frame's lip, held up by the bolts alone, and that sold me. Easy to work with. Instead of buying an adapter bell to my 276" 8ba, I made a 1'" aluminum plate to an 8ba cast iron hogshead. Used all stock clutch linkage etc. I'm semi-retired and on social security so I like to work with what I have on hand, and nearing 50 years on this 10 acres and at least thirty '28-'59 ford trucks gone through my grasp, I have a lot of 'stuff on hand'.

 

Thank you for the pictures, this reconfirms I need enough drop to get mount level with frame or a bit lower even in the back.

 

I’m just about to order this and give it a try. Any thought before I do???

 

says it’s for a Chevy are the frames the same width?

 

Both are 34” and this says 33+1/2 overall from what I can find

 

Are you going to set it on top of the frame rails? Looks like it has some drop so hopefully it’s low enough to get transmission level. I’m looking forward to what you find out.

I have my T5 adapter and 1985 S10 Transmission.

Need to order 10.5” clutch and pressure plate.

Crossmember you are looking at.

Then figure out drive shaft.

 

Fort Wayne has been good to work with on my clutch and pressure plate

 

What made you decide to use them? I bought my T5 adapter kit from Speedway, was going to get their 10.5” clutch and pressure plate.

 

I tried a similar looking universal crossmember, but it wanted to use the same space as the power brake/booster. So I ditched the power brake booster I went back to the stock MC... and then the universal crossmember worked just fine. My crossmember was made from flat bar which had some flex, so I lengthed the gussets to stiffen it up. That one you pictured is tubing, and should be more rigid than the flat bar type.