I need to get it repowdercoated and do a teeny bit of grinding still but here it is mounted. I gained ATLEAST 2 inches of ground clearance doing this and the f'er is 3x as strong now.

 

I always thought of doing something like that, but in the end never got around to it.

 

I sold mine to get the lower version from skullte. the spohn is just way to low no ground clearance

 

I hadn't thought of Andris...I know he only offers T56 xmembers though right now...I'm running a TKO600. I picked up about 2 inches of ground clearance now with my Mufflex setup.

 

yeah I think you are right on that, I had to mod his to fit right but alot better then the spohn one.

 

whenever i get about to buying LT's im going to do something like this to my UMI crossmember

 

I'm very close to getting my welder (had to save alot for the Miller I want). Once I get it I'm going to design and release a boxed steel version for T56's & T5's that gains the most ground clearance of anything I've seen.

 

I thought about doing this when i put my long tube headers on with my dual exhaust but i was scared to hack the x member up, It already makes enought bang and clunk noises without my cuting it to shape. besides i like getting hung up on the reflectors on the painted lines.lol Honestly my long tube headers are a lot lower to the ground and give bigger porblems then the x member. but nice job never the less.

 

I don't understand how you think it is 3X stronger now? You cut it up and didn't weld anything in to suppoet it? So now it is just flat stock on the sides right?

I think I will just have my chassis guy build a CM one with a drive shaft loop. As I have the BMR x-treme torque arm.

 

2fast, you can't see it that well in the photo but can notice it a bit from the head on shot. I DID weld an entire new substructure on top of it. Basically the top of the xmember is now the bottom. I'll post pics of the unit itself so its clearer. I should have been more realistic in saying that it's as strong or 2x as strong as before....3x was probably a bit of a stretch.

 

I started to think about modifying mine... Then realized I could sell it, buy some metal, and make a double hump. Spohn will sell you the torque arm mount separate and raw in finish.

It looks pretty good tho... need to try to get some better pics. Or some pics when its back out again.

J.

 

Here's another shot. Notice all the substructure I put on top. That's all 5/16" THK steel. The yellow line is my next planned cut. The structure is boxed so should be a bit stronger then C-channel

 

5/16!! you could have gotten away with much thinner than that, but it will definitely be strong!

I was pondering the idea of actually modding the trans tunnel along side of the trans member and running the exhaust over the cross member as opposed to under it? I haven't looked too deeply into it yet, so it may not be as possible as i think it is.

 

Hehe..yeah, I looked at what Tractor Supply Co had in stock and for 8 bux for a 1.25" wide x 36" long 5/16 piece was 8 bux...couldn't beat that!

 

AH...that pic clears it up. The raw steel was blending in with the trans case haha. Couldnt tell what you were doing. That looks like it will work for sure.

You are like me...I tend to OVERbuild things. I dont think I would have gone up to 5/16.... but you'll certainly never break it.

I think I used 1"x3"x1/8"wall tubing for my actual cross piece, and 3/16" thick angle iron for the side pieces.

Good work! I kinda wish Steve would step up and start making those crossmembers alittle differently. It wasnt that his wasnt good...I didnt have ground clearance issues, I had exaust issues. I would have gladly paid more for a design that allowed for y-pipe clearance.

J.

 

that looks awesome! someday hope to have the time and skills to be able to fabricate like that! good job.

 

86TA. I was like WTF when I saw my Spohn Xmember. There is no was to put nice big exhaust under that. I did not mod the trans tunnel but modified the frame.

See attached links.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/su...-wont-fit.html (what SFC's wont fit longtubes?)

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/ex...html?highlight (My exhaust picture)=

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/fa...html?highlight (1982 Z28 Silver State project)=

Just some ideas for you.

If you have any questions. PM Me.

Brett