1 ton crossmember

[bucket]

Ha, wouldya look at this! I never noticed it before! That certainly looks to be a trans crossmember being used to mount the carrier bearing.

You must be registered for see images attach

I also have a frame rivet missing. It almost looks like there was never one there.

You must be registered for see images attach

So, it looks like the '80 and earlier trans crossmember had 3 uses.
1. Support the trans
2. Support the optional np203 skidplate
3. Serve as a carrier bearing mount (all years?)

 

[ajd89]

Ha, wouldya look at this! I never noticed it before! That certainly looks to be a trans crossmember being used to mount the carrier bearing.

You must be registered for see images attach

I also have a frame rivet missing. It almost looks like there was never one there.

You must be registered for see images attach

So, it looks like the '80 and earlier trans crossmember had 3 uses.
1. Support the trans
2. Support the optional np203 skidplate
3. Serve as a carrier bearing mount (all years?)

See thats what mine has! Lol its a 91 frame! So it would stand to reason if they used that to hold the carrier bearing they may have used the flat crossmember on this truck???

 

[bucket]

See thats what mine has! Lol its a 91 frame! So it would stand to reason if they used that to hold the carrier bearing they may have used the flat crossmember on this truck???

I don't think so, not originally anyway. The '91 t-case adapter and mount would not have jived with the flat crossmember. That one with the plate welded in might though.

 

[bucket]

So after seeing the pristine '76 K20 in the eBay thread, I edited the list I had made for the year breaks of the different style crossmembers. The early style like in post #11 was evidently used from '73 through '76.

 

[Boonie]

ill get a picture, but the crossmember on my 74 is different. more of a flat design, but it has extra brackets to the top of the frame also

 

[Boonie]

ok, these pictures suck, pretty dark. but I think you can make out the extra support braces I mentioned

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[bucket]

Very interesting. Looks like it's the same as my '77, but with upright braces. I wonder if mine's got those bolt holes in it for the braces...

 

[Boonie]

one side is riveted solid, but the other is bolted together. I imagine for ease of removal? on a side note, if anyone has an extra second crossmember and skid plate they would like to get rid of, please let me know. been trying to find those for a while now.

 

[bucket]

ok, these pictures suck, pretty dark. but I think you can make out the extra support braces I mentioned

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach

Wouldn't ya know it, I happened across one of these crossmembers today. Came from a '78 K20, but it's hard to say if it was original to the truck. It was a non-original drivetrain.

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[bucket]

Both of my 77's originally came with dual exhaust, maybe the single exhaust trucks got the brace setup.

 

[Boonie]

maybe that's it. I remember dads 75 had duals, and no extra crossmember bracing

 

[bucket]

maybe that's it. I remember dads 75 had duals, and no extra crossmember bracing

I think we are onto something here.