Deeper pan clearance

[DPC Racing]

Grumpy
Got a car in the shop [69 firebird conv] with trans pan leaking 350 trans and deep pan someone changed it over to auto from stick years ago.The trouble is the cross member has been cut about 1/4 in to clear the pan so there is no way to reach the back trans bolts without pulling crossmember.Do you think the cross member wrong,the pans wrong have you ever had to cut a crossmember to clear a deep pan?
Thanks DPC
Great Site :?:

 

[grumpyvette]

sounds like the transmission cross members from the previous manual trans, and its been modified
pictures would help???

http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb.dll?parta~partsort
TRANSMISSION CROSSMEMBER
1967-1969
With TH-400

http://restorationpartssource.com/store ... 58812.html

read thru this link
http://www.camaros.org/trans.shtml#THM350

Transmission Crossmembers
SB (top) versus BB (bottom) Crossmember Opening Comparison SB versus BB Crossmember Opening Comparison
Camaro BB vs Firebird Slot Location Comparison Camaro BB vs Firebird Slot Location Comparison
All 1967-69 six-cylinder and small block engines use the same transmission crossmember. The crossmember opening is oval and the transmission mounting holes are centered (side to side) on the crossmember.

The BB manual transmission crossmember looks similar to the SB version, but the BB crossmember opening is squared-off with a beveled corner whereas the SB opening is oval (see picture). The transmission mounting slots for the BB manual trans crossmember are also in a different location than the SB version. The slots are offset about 1/2 inch towards the passenger side and about 3/4 inch forward.

The crossmember used by the 67-68 Firebird looks very similar to the BB crossmember. It has a squared-off opening with a beveled corner like the the BB crossmember, but the trans mounting slots are centered side-to-side (see sketch).

The 69 Firebird used a one-piece crossmember. It was basically just the upper part of a 67-68 Firebird crossmember (i.e. it is missing the bottom part with the opening).

The TH400 crossmember is different from the other crossmembers in that it is formed from tubing. The Camaro TH400 crossmember has the mounting plate welded about 1/2 inch off-center. The Firebird TH400 crossmember is also made from tubing and looks very similar, but the mounting plate is centered.

Transmission Crossmembers Offset
----------------------------------------
67-69 L6 and SB none
67-69 BB manual trans 1/2"
67-69 BB TH400 1/2"
67-69 Firebird none
67-69 Firebird TH400 none

 

[DPC Racing]

Grumpy
Thanks alot that is just the right info I am looking for,the crossmember has really been cut up to fit.
looking at the sites it looks like a manual trans crossmember [like you said] and it might not even be out of a 69.Time to talk to owner and see how far he wants to go with this.It seems like I am always trying to fix somebody else screw ups.
Thanks again
DPC

 

[DPC Racing]

heres the pics resized sorry bout that , 69 firebird trans and crossfire any suggetions or thoughts please dan

 

[grumpyvette]

whats your goal?
it seems to me that you may want to strongly suggest fabricating a new transmission support cross member or ordering one
http://restorationpartssource.com/store ... 58812.html

don,t forget the transmission mount

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/PIO-A2378/?rtype=10
after carefully measuring the old one, either way for about $80-$100 in parts and shipping things get improved, as to the trans cross member and access under the car.
after you remove it to fix the transmission leak,that fabrication is one option that would not be all that difficult ,and time consuming and that at a minimum, removing the current cross support and fixing the transmission fluid leak, than cutting a bit more transmission oil pan clearance and cleaning and painting the current cross member is at least a second less obvious option.

 

[DPC Racing]

Thanks grumpy,I think when he brings the car back I am going to redo the old cross member for clearance and clean up everything.and yes it does need a new mount.
Thanks again
Dan