Another Mopar Off My Bucket List - Barracuda Fastback
Today I dropped the transmission and drilled out those last two holes for the cross-member. That plastic block has really come in handy but it's so much lighter than the transmission that it makes it difficult to balance the assembly. (I guess I needed to go in and out with the tail down anyway)
The re-installation was fairly easy. Other than the usual fight to align the motor mount bolts everything else lined right up. I still want to eliminate the old torsion bar mounts.
I tried to take more photos to show the reason for the odd shape of the cross-member and how it clears the transmission.
VIEW FROM BENEATH:
PASSENGER SIDE:
DRIVERS SIDE:
Other designs that I've seen move the bottom cross-member back behind the top half. While it does work to support the transmission I've questioned whether or not those are as strong as a design that forms a complete single unit that circles the transmission. Maybe it makes little difference but I keep reminding myself about the HP goal and don't want a weak point that allows twist.
When I had both cross-members on the shop floor I tried comparing how much flex I could create in each. The one we fabbed seems a lot more rigid. I'm sure that boxing it has a lot to do with that.
Before I weld in the upper cross-member I think I'll scope it out one more time. There may be enough room to add more reinforcement without limiting access to necessary areas.
Today I dropped the transmission and drilled out those last two holes for the cross-member. That plastic block has really come in handy but it's so much lighter than the transmission that it makes it difficult to balance the assembly. (I guess I needed to go in and out with the tail down anyway)
The re-installation was fairly easy. Other than the usual fight to align the motor mount bolts everything else lined right up. I still want to eliminate the old torsion bar mounts.
I tried to take more photos to show the reason for the odd shape of the cross-member and how it clears the transmission.
VIEW FROM BENEATH:
PASSENGER SIDE:
DRIVERS SIDE:
Other designs that I've seen move the bottom cross-member back behind the top half. While it does work to support the transmission I've questioned whether or not those are as strong as a design that forms a complete single unit that circles the transmission. Maybe it makes little difference but I keep reminding myself about the HP goal and don't want a weak point that allows twist.
When I had both cross-members on the shop floor I tried comparing how much flex I could create in each. The one we fabbed seems a lot more rigid. I'm sure that boxing it has a lot to do with that.
Before I weld in the upper cross-member I think I'll scope it out one more time. There may be enough room to add more reinforcement without limiting access to necessary areas.