Howdy. I have had my 59 F100 I6 short bed for a few years with very few problems. I'm going to put in a new clutch kit and while under the truck I realized that the 3 speed with overdrive has a very long tail shaft has no support; just the 4 bolts on the bell housing. Not the original tranny. It sure looks like it could use a little more support. I may be getting a bit worrisome in my old age. There is a flat place on the bottom where a cross member would fit nicely. Total length 28" I welcome any helpful comments or opinions, please no insults. Thanks.

28" overall length, not sure where it came from, it is a side shifter

Upside down image, easier to read hopefully

 

Transmission identification

so if that chat is correct, it’s a T86. I’d start looking for a crossmember mount for it. Then it’ll be matter of figuring out how to make the oem design fit your truck. Good luck.

 

That is a lot of metal hanging out there but I took the same tranny with R10 O/D, and engine out of a parts truck I had that did not have a cross member in it either. How long have you been driving it like this?

 

My T98 has no mount, just bolts to bell housing. It isn't light or short. It hasn't fallen out yet either.

 

Yep, that's factory correct. Since the motors are secured both front and rear, I guess they thought that was sufficient to support the tranny.

 

10 or 12 years. Not a daily driver. I work in a Blacksmith shop; I'll fab one.

 

Before you start "fabbing", remember that there needs to be a rubber mount between that crossmember and the transmission. I woud also suggest that you replace all the existing mounts first so the engine is in the correct position to fit the new crossmember. With all new mounts the engine/transmission should settle without any unusual forces on the tailshaft housing of the transmission.

Lou Manglass

 

Or, even better, if it ain't broke....

 

Thanks Lou. Great tip on changing all mounts; they are lookin pretty old.