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Will the frustration ever end? Doubler crossmember issues

Desert Rat

Desert Rat

Fetch the comfy chair
Joined
Oct 19, 2002
Posts
16,246
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Location
Tri-Valley, NorCal
well, I was giddy with excitement since Jesse Claus made a delivery. Got my new front HAD driveshaft delivered and I was anxious to install it. I have a built 700r4 and a D60 front swapped into my 76 Blazer with a doubler setup, NP203/NP205 stock clocking. I knew my front crossmember was going to be in the way of the front driveshaft. After begging repeatedly for any company to produce a doubler crossmember like 4x4Iron used to, I gave up. Then I was able to buy a fabbed up one from Kid Jethro seen below:

Jethro_Crossmember_1.jpg


I test fit the crossmember and found that it hit the corner of the tranny pan. So, I had to notch it. To be sure I didn't lose any structural integrity, I welded in a piece across the top strap to be safe. I cleaned it up and painted it all ready to go when the driveshaft came in. The driveshaft arrives and I do the install. Now, I'm happier than a pup with two peters because this front driveshaft is the shiznit. 42 degree CV extra long slip, 1410 yoke on the front, etc. I get the driveshaft installed and it looks like this:

HAD_front_1.jpg


HAD_front_3.jpg


I go to install the custom crossmember and low and behold, it no fit. The BFMF 42 degree CV is to large for the opening in the custom crossmember. So, I try and throw back on the stock crossmember thinking it might be close. Not a go either. The CV damn near rests on the crossmember and with any droop, it will hit.

So, I'm back to square one on a doubler crossmember. I'm tearing my hair out on this. I wish ORD or anybody would cowboy up and make one. I may have to do it myself but my welding skills are just average at best. If it isn't one thing.......it's another on this project.........
 
Well, I can't weld like Jethro -- that man makes the welder sing like Satriani makes the guitar sing -- but if you'd have ASKED ... and had all the pieces there :haha:

Anyway, ping me sometime if you like, I can do that for ya.

-- A
 
Your issues explain why it is hard to build a bolt on crossmember that will work with every setup, just to many different combinations to make it practical.
 
sweet shaft man! how much did that 42*cv set you back? how much lift are you running? hows your exhuast going to work?

im looking to run almost the exact same set you you've got pictured 700r4/doubler with long tubes. if you are able to find someone who will make you a crossmember that will work let me know, im insterested in one as well!
 
Desert Rat said:
So, I'm back to square one on a doubler crossmember. I'm tearing my hair out on this. .........
Click to expand...

Purdy d-shaft.... :waytogo:

Consider the possibility of running w/ just the rear crossmember.... :ignore:

Marv
 
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Dremu, what are you going to build for me? I have the Jethro crossmember but it isn't going to work. I'm thinking that I am going to have to make my own custom crossmember. I am running TC 6" springs up front and about 8" of lift in the back with 4" TC springs and an ORD shackle reversal. For Muddybuddy, I have the Doug's Header (Doug Thorley) and they originally hit the rear spring shackle (ORD heavy duty greasables). I had to bend the headers over a bit (See here: http://http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=164736 ) The exhaust pipes will fit up and over the NP205 with some bending. The front shaft was pricey since I had to swap in the 1410 yoke on the D60 as well as the NP205 yoke from HAD,and it has the 42 degree greasable CV. It was under a grand though.
 
Maybe im just not looking hard enough, but in those pics, it seems like the cv has a suffecient amount of room.
 
Desert Rat said:
Dremu, what are you going to build for me? I have the Jethro crossmember but it isn't going to work. I'm thinking that I am going to have to make my own custom crossmember. I am running TC 6" springs up front and about 8" of lift in the back with 4" TC springs and an ORD shackle reversal. For Muddybuddy, I have the Doug's Header (Doug Thorley) and they originally hit the rear spring shackle (ORD heavy duty greasables). I had to bend the headers over a bit (See here: http://http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=164736 ) The exhaust pipes will fit up and over the NP205 with some bending. The front shaft was pricey since I had to swap in the 1410 yoke on the D60 as well as the NP205 yoke from HAD,and it has the 42 degree greasable CV. It was under a grand though.
Click to expand...

I'll build you your freaking custom crossmember you've been grousing about for months. I got skillz, yo. :D

-- A
 
dude, if your welding skillz suck (don't worry, mine do to) just fab up a crossmember that will work and tack everything in place... then take it to a friend who is a guru or to a welding shop and have them do it. If there is no fit-up, cleaning or anything to do... it shouldn't cost much or take very long... and you'd have an adapter that was perfect for your application.

j
 
Yo...Dremu is the king of BootyFab yo!!!

Seriously though...there is a reason ord doesn't make a doubler xmember. There are way to many variations to fit everybodys custom creation. But...thats what built not bought is all about...you have local ck5 members like aaron....that have a welder and skills...and is willing to lay on his back and figure it out and then do some cuttin and welding and have a solution to your problem. I'd say problem solved.


DW
 
Aaron is far too willing to lay on his back..........:haha: I'll figure out something I guess. I like the idea of cutting everything up, mocking it up, tacking it, and then having a weld guru do it. The only issue I have is getting the rubber mounts just right. I think the stock design was done that way for a reason. They have the rubber go through the larger hole in the crossmember with a metal sleeve for the bolt to go through it for a reason. Better flex and vibration isolation. I'm thinking though that some of the body mounts do the same thing and maybe I can use them. Maybe I am just being too anal........ The network at work keeps blocking the popup for the contact info for Pacific Fabrication. Where exactly are they? For Citizen Rider, that CV is very close to the front stock crossmember if I bolt it up. Then the angle of the shaft will hit it.
 
I used to live in Morgan's Gulch. Up off of Llagas Rd. I'd be willing to drive just about anywhere for somebody with some excellent fab skills that wouldn't result in financial sodomy. Now I am up more your way. Unfortunately, Fabworx is over across the bay. I wish somebody had a good fab shop around Dublin or the Tri-Valley.
 
Is your 205 tapped on the passenger side for a mounting bracket? My 203 setup was ,and the 205 I got happened to have the bolt holes on the side for a mounting bracket that connects to the framerail. Just an idea... at least so you can drive it until you figure out what to do about the crossmember. :dunno:
 
azblazer said:
Yo...Dremu is the king of BootyFab yo!!!

Seriously though...there is a reason ord doesn't make a doubler xmember. There are way to many variations to fit everybodys custom creation. But...thats what built not bought is all about...you have local ck5 members like aaron....that have a welder and skills...and is willing to lay on his back and figure it out and then do some cuttin and welding and have a solution to your problem. I'd say problem solved.


DW
Click to expand...

Thank you Doug. I think :haha:

Btw, Doug, meet Doug. Doug, you'll find that Doug doesn't trust my welding skills yet, and likes to spend money, whether he admits it or not, and I keep not taking money from him.

But we DID get that Blazer started, out of his driveway and off to HiPi before he went postal :haha:

-- A
 
And I get to answer thousands of questions from HP a month as a result. Ah well, he is enjoying it anyways. I don't like wasting money, but I'm anal about having a high quality product on a rig that is going to be taking me in the middle of east BF egypt a lot. Call me silly, but I don't do the Rubicon where you damn near have a a train of fully equipped rigs happen along every 10 minutes. I go where others don't and like it that way. Besides smurf boy, I think you've made out quite well thank you.....:rolleyes: :D
 
BizeeB65 said:
Is your 205 tapped on the passenger side for a mounting bracket? My 203 setup was ,and the 205 I got happened to have the bolt holes on the side for a mounting bracket that connects to the framerail. Just an idea... at least so you can drive it until you figure out what to do about the crossmember. :dunno:
Click to expand...

My old 205 was, but the one I had shipped from ORD doesn't have the holes tapped for the side mount. Besides, it now sits up much higher and I would have to fab up something else to go down to the frame anyways. I'm thinking I will just have to grow a pair and weld my own, maybe with smurf boy's help..........:D He is pretty good at wiring for a red headed step-child I will have to admit....
 
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