Another Mopar Off My Bucket List - Barracuda Fastback
Now that my candidacy/project fund plan is in full swing it's time to turn my attention back to that driveshaft hoop.
It was designed to bolt up perfectly to the center two holes of the transmission cross-member. When I modified the cross-member I cut out the section it would have mounted to and changed the shape so much that it no longer fit.
Most of the hoop assembly will still work but the attaching plate was useless. To make it work I was going to have to make a new plate. Using my modified cross-member as a guide I cut a 1/4" plate of steel to match. Then I formed the plate in my 'lil Harbor Freight press so that the new attaching plate would conform to the contour of the cross-member.
When we cut the steel with a plasma cutter we left some extra material around it that I had to grind to fit the exact shape and then I drilled the holes.
Once I was satisfied with the fit it was time to start chopping the old mount off.
I only tacked it together for now. I won't finish the welds until I drop the transmission back in the car and am able to do a test fit. I may have to modify the hoop extension to get the height right.
Now that my candidacy/project fund plan is in full swing it's time to turn my attention back to that driveshaft hoop.
It was designed to bolt up perfectly to the center two holes of the transmission cross-member. When I modified the cross-member I cut out the section it would have mounted to and changed the shape so much that it no longer fit.
Most of the hoop assembly will still work but the attaching plate was useless. To make it work I was going to have to make a new plate. Using my modified cross-member as a guide I cut a 1/4" plate of steel to match. Then I formed the plate in my 'lil Harbor Freight press so that the new attaching plate would conform to the contour of the cross-member.
When we cut the steel with a plasma cutter we left some extra material around it that I had to grind to fit the exact shape and then I drilled the holes.
Once I was satisfied with the fit it was time to start chopping the old mount off.
I only tacked it together for now. I won't finish the welds until I drop the transmission back in the car and am able to do a test fit. I may have to modify the hoop extension to get the height right.
