TECH/Progress Report - Rear Crossmember for 32 Frame

[NealinCA]

Here is my contribution to Tech Week.

Not real heavy tech, but on short notice this is what I had going this week.

Back in July, I posted a want ad in the HAMB classifieds looking for a 35-40 rear crossmember. Within a couple of hours, Grimlok offered to give me a 39 rear crossmember. Now he is in KC, MO and I am in CA. Within an hour, Terry (38Chevy454) offers to pick up the crossmember and bring it back form the HAMB drags. It works out and within a month or so I have a very nice 39 rear crossmember in my hands, all thanks to the HAMB.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v394/NealinCA/Crossmember_Start.jpg

Now I was planning to use this in the rear of my 32 p/u project along with a 36 spring. I knew I would need to flatten it some, but I did not know how much.

To determine ride height, I mocked up the bed with a 7.50-16 to get the tire/wheel-well relationship right.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v394/NealinCA/32ride_height_mockup.jpg

This is when I found out that to get the car to sit the way I wanted it to, I would need a near flat crossmember.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v394/NealinCA/rearcrossmemberinframeB4.jpg

I considered fabricating a tube crossmember, but I wanted to use the Ford crossmember, so the chassis would have an early look. I also felt obligated to use it since Grimlok was generous enough to give the crossmember to me, and then Terry hauled it back to CA.

I started measuring and laid out my cut lines.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v394/NealinCA/piecuts.jpg

I made the cuts, heated the top and bent the first side down flat.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v394/NealinCA/firstcut-1.jpg

I did the same with the other side and then clamped the crossmember to a piece of square tube and welded it up.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v394/NealinCA/clamped.jpg

The other issue I had to deal with was the fact that the 39 crossmember sloped from front to rear on each end, as the frame tapers down towards the rear.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v394/NealinCA/angledend.jpg

My rear frame extends out flat directly under the floor of the p/u bed. I cut the front flange off each side of the crossmember, hammered the top down flat and then welded the flange back on.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v394/NealinCA/Crossmember_Welding.jpg

I then cleaned up the welds, trimmed the crossmember to length and slid it in the frame for a test fit.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v394/NealinCA/crossmemberinframerear.jpg

I still need to weld it in, but I almost have a rolling chassis.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v394/NealinCA/32chassisrear.jpg

Much thanks to Ryan and the HAMB. I am amazed by the flow of knowledge, parts, and motivation. I wouldn't be this far along on my own.

Neal...inCA

[Bruce Lancaster]

Good stuff! Now, what's the center crossmember there--F1?
The part with the dip in the middle...
Bruce

[C9]

Good one Neal.

A whole lotta work on just one component.
And something a lot of guys - including me - look at and don't realize how much work did go into it.

I'll make you a small bet.
Somewhere along the line after the RPU is up and running, someone will look under the back and then ask where you got the great looking crossmember.
Thinking all the time it's a stock item.

The sad part about hot rodding are that things with the most thought and the most work seldom get recognized....

[NealinCA]

[ QUOTE ]
Good stuff! Now, what's the center crossmember there--F1?
The part with the dip in the middle...
Bruce

[/ QUOTE ]

That is a cut down 37 truck crossmember. I didn't have a K-member, didn't want to pay $400 for one, and then I saw this (http://www.vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/FH_images/FH_chassis-pics/Flathead_Frame_1937truck.jpg) on Mac Van Pelt's site. It had the socket for the ball pressed and has about the same "dip" as a 32. I just used the bottom half and formed a new upper half and welded it all together.

It fits in the Mike Bishop "95% early Ford" plan.

Neal

[Bruce Lancaster]

Very good adapting. Some roughly 1934 BB's had a crossmember that looked just like that but in a bolt-in format--there was a short stub riveted into the frame on each side with the crossmember bolted between. Perfect for those whiners who complain about not being able to remove the trans in a '32, even though it's easier to pull the engine anyway..

[NealinCA]

[ QUOTE ]

A whole lotta work on just one component...

The sad part about hot rodding are that things with the most thought and the most work seldom get recognized....

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah I know, but that is the fun part for me. Take some old junk, cut it up and make it look like the factory made it that way http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Neal

[Kevin Lee]

NICE - Funny to think what that piece of metal has gone through and the distance it has traveled - only to look like it's been right between those rails all along. Seeing that is so much cooler than being able to say "Yeah, I made 20 bucks selling that cross member on ebay." Glad you made it work.

[TV]

Nealin, I really like your style of work,I think I told you that about the grill shell.That frame looks great.--TV PS its comming back soon. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[roadstar]

Wow, that looks great. I have a origanal 32 frame that I'm going to built into a 40's era hot rod and I was told the 35 to 40 rear x-mamber was actually flatter than the stock 32. But not as flat as you made yours. I really like what you did. Is that the frame for a RPU you are doing?

[Johnny Sparkle]

How do you have the spring set up to make it spring-behind?

[NealinCA]

Thanks for the compliments. I sometimes begin to wonder why I do the things I do http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The rearend is a 36, so I am using the 36 radius rods and spring behind the axle setup.

And yes, this is for my cut-off pseudo rpu, which should look something like this...

http://photo.starblvd.net/~NealinCA/2-4-4.jpg

Neal

[NealinCA]

Another BTTT from TECH week.

I started cutting and boxing in the "C's" for rear axle clearance. I hope to finish that up this weekend. Maybe I can get motor mounts in by the end of the year. I will post some more pics when I get the engine and trans in.

Oh and I forgot to mention that I have less than $500 in the chassis at this point. I hope to have it driving for under $4000. I am at $2200 total now. I have most of the hard parts, it's just all of the gaskets, seals, hoses, etc that add up fast. We'll see if it happens.

Neal

[Detonator]

Great Tech Post Neal, thanks. Your posts are always an inspiration to get off the computer and out into the shop. From the grille shell to the rear X-member, your r/p-u is going to be some ride. I hope I can get down to see it in person some time.

[NealinCA]

[ QUOTE ]
I hope I can get down to see it in person some time.

[/ QUOTE ]

Dave - Keep May 29th, 2004 on your calendar. 3rd annual Neal's Hot Rod Party, Saturday afternoon during Paso at my place.

Hope you can make it down this year.

Neal

[38Chevy454]

Neal. looks good and well thought out. Good to see the result of hauling that thing back!

You can out me down for a reservation next May! Last year was real nice and look forward to it coming up.