I have a 2001 4x4 5-speed with Hurst short throw, and noticed yesterday that the reinforced plate that the two bolts go through to secure the tranny has seperated from the crossbar member itself. Looks like it's torqued it back and forth until it finally gave away. I have a new crossbar member on order, ($88 @ cost) but wondered if I could simply swap this under the truck or if it required any special process / tools. I wouldn't think I'd have to support the tranny or anything would I? Just drop it and slap the new one in place? Thanks!!!

 

Mine has been loose for years. It is held in by pop rivets if I recall correctly.
If it is the small rectangular plate with the slots that is in this picture then I would recommend cancelling your order and asking for your money back.

JMC

 

That's it man...the crossbar member itself is pop-riveted in or just that plate? Do you mean I should cancel it because it's a PITA to replace or because it's not needed? Everytime I shift now, and get back into the accelerator, I get a damned annoying popping sound because of this. Thanks for the reply man!!!

Is this common or is it due to added torque from the performance mods?

BTW, mine's not NEARLY that rusty...in fact, the nuts / bolts are still silver / grey.

 

Just the plate, it is riveted to the cross member. You might want to check all the cross member bolts, 3 on each side, to be sure that they are tight.

Tremclad to the rescue!!

JMC

 

Hahaha...didn't mean to knock your lack of rust prevention. Looks like you've eliminated any future possibility of that any how.

I'll check all the other bolts...probably when I do the swap. It looks straight forward enough, I just haven't had the time to walk through it in my head yet while looking at it. Hope the new one lasts a little longer.

 

Actually, just to clearify, it wasn't my rivets that let loose...the metal surrounding the riveted on plate actually broke all the way around. If it were just the rivets, I think I'd just drill em out and drop some stainless hardware in there.

 

That is some serious stress. I would also look at the engine and tranny mounts. If you have a poly tranny mount it will not flex as much as a rubber engine mount. So the engine mounts allow the engine/tranny to flex but the polly tranny mount doesn't allow. Something has to give.

JMC

 

Any idea if I have to support the tranny during this swap?

 

Use a jack, and maybe a few blocks of wood.

 

Yes, The weight of the tranny will casue it to pivot down and the new crossmember will not slide in unless the tranny us up out of the way. As suggested use a block of wood on top of a jack.

JMC

 

Thanks guys. I have noticed my stick (as well as the short 4x4 one) moving frontward / backward quite a bit lately with acceleration / deceleration.

 

Check the Engine mounts too. If they are loose or the rubber is deteriorating it will allow the engine to rock and that makes the tranny rock too. Passenger side mount was shot and the driver side had only 1 bolt holding it in. The second bolt was missing and the 3rd was loose. The tranny crossmember should not crack like it did. Something is loose and that is what casued it to crack.

JMC

 

nevermind

 

From the bottom, the pass. side motor mounts have nuts on them that appear to be tight. (still need to check though) The driver's side, however, doesn't have nuts on the protruding bolts, but it appears as though they thread right into the mount itself. (it's reinforced there where they thread) There is also a bolt that runs horizionally from back to front on each side that appears to run through the rubber, and they appear tight. They "thread" into the opposite side rubber piece??? Is there an insert in there of some sort? Nothing appears to be moving, wearing, or rubbing anything. (all surfaces have a uniform appearance) Cross member bolts are soaking in PB Blaster.

Note: When I wick the throttle from idle at the TB itself (under the hood) the enigine doesn't seem to move excessively.

 

Note: When I wick the throttle from idle at the TB itself (under the hood) the enigine doesn't seem to move excessively.[/QUOTE]


Try this with 2 people and put the truck in gear, fwd normall but try rev also. If its bad the engine will lift up.