I'm liking Hawk's new crossmember because it seems to provide ample room for exhaust pipes. My one concern is how rigid the crossmember is or isn't. It seems to be built from plate steel instead of boxed tubing, which makes me worry that the back of my transmission is going to be bobbing up and down like a $20 *****, especially if I decide to weld a torque arm mount to it.

Anybody running it with some serious horsepower? What are your thoughts on it?

 

I'm using the new Hawk's crossmember and I like it. It's plenty strong though it may not seem that way. Idk about the torque arm, i'm using subframe connectors with a torque arm mount attached to it so I can't really give you any advice on that. It does have alot of clearance for exhaust which is why I went with it, here is a pic:

 

Thanks for the info. Are those Hawks headers too? In your pic they look like they sit up higher than the lowest point of the transmission. Is that the case, or is it just a funky camera angle that makes it look that way?

 

Yeah I just ordered this crossmember, looks promising.

 

Yeah they are the Hawk's headers, and it just looks funky because of the angle that the camera is at

 

Hawks' 1-3/4"-2.5" headers, Skulte crossmember:



I'll probably be doing the Hawks' crossmember for the LS1/4L60E swap.

 

The hawks crossmember looks almost identical to the one I built for my camaro and I have no issues at all with flex and I am pretty sure I'm hitting it hard. Only difference is I don't have a bender so I just cut and weld in angled pieces, but the exact same design, after wasting 6 hours building it I probably would have been better off just buying theirs

 

What torque arms are people using with this crossmember?

 

Torque arm? We don't need no stinkin' torque arm!

Okay, for the LS1/4L60E, I'll probably use an adjustable. Would like to get the mount off of the transmission, but I'm not going to fret over it if I don't.

 

I'll be using this crossmember, albeit a slightly modified version since I'm running a th350. I've got the Jegster tunnel mounted torque arm.

 

I was looking into ordering this too for my t56 swap and just wanted good ground clearance, but I have Alston SFC's and it doesn't look like it will work.

Anyone get this to work yet with Alston SFC's?

 

For the record, I'm not saying that anymore.

I did a trial fit of the Hawks 4L60E crossmember last night. For once, something that seems to fit without hassles - I'm really needing that right now.

 

Only 4 of the 7 or 9 pieces have adequate lighting on them. Because of that, I like the Hawks version better so far.

 

Lighting or no, I'm much happier with the Hawks version. But, it wasn't available when I started collecting parts for the LS1/T56. And, this Skulte was for the LT1 T56, and (I'm assuming for that reason) didn't fit very well.

 

Has anyone mounted a torque arm to the tail-housing of of a T56? Or is it best to use a tunnel plate style? Any other options? I like it, but need a place to mount a torque arm....

 

Hawks T56 X-member here, only running about 420rwhp but it has given me no troubles yet, and with the poly trans mount I recently installed I have no shifter bounce. For the price, it is definitely worth it imo.

 

Are you getting rid of your Skulte x-member then? Cause I'm interested!

 

I have thought about getting Hawk's T56 version. I'm not actively working on that car right now, though.

We can talk.

 

I just installed my hawks crossmember and have only one complaint, the driver side frame rail has brake and fuel lines running down it and the crossmember doesnt allow room for it. I slipped the crossmember behind the lines but now they look like they would be close to the exhaust ( I dont have headers yet so not an immediate problem). I see one guy up there just shoved the lines up but mine are perfectly straight and dont want to mess them up. It looks like the skulte x-member gives room to leave the lines untouched, can you speak on that five7.

 

I, at one time, used the Skulte crossmember and it went right in, no issues with lines or anything (although I think I did have to egg out some of the holes). I have since modified a Hawks double-hump crossmember to include the Spohn torque arm mount and that's what I have on there now. Works great and allows the exhaust to tuck up in there a bit, and I've seen no issues with strength (although I'm only at 420rwhp).

 

I have pics of mine in my 5.3 to ls2 thread in this section.

 

I tweaked the fuel line to clear the Hawks crossmember and stay away from the exhaust as much as possible. But, I also wrapped it in heat reflecting tape just to be sure.

With the Skulte, that car got all new fuel line, so I was able to route it as I pleased. I still wrapped it in heat tape.

 

Anybody with pics of the Hawks' 4L60e piece?

 

Sarge,
do you think you can post pics of this mod? Im running the spohn t-56 crossmember right now and i have terrible clearance. I was thinking of doing the same thing you did, getting the Hawks crossmember and welding up the spohn torque arm mount off of the spohn crossmember.

 

I was in such a hurry for that project that I didn't take many pictures. I'll be pulling the engine soon, so I'll try to get a pic then.

 

I'll see if my dad or brother can get some pics (I'm in Afghanistan right now).

 

Thanks Sarge I appreciate it. Get home safely. oo rah

 

Thanks. It's funny that not even Hawks' has pictures of it... I'm running the Spohn piece now, and wondered if the Hawks' piece will give better clearance for headers.

 

heres a pic of mine with a fabricated mount on it. the exhaust runs right under the brace and i have ALOT more ground clearance vs. my spohn crossmember.

 

Nice! Thanks.

 

Where did you get the pieces to fab up your mount for the Spohn piece to go on your hawks trans crossmember?

 

Just fit up my LS1 in my '86 using SW 1-3/4 headers and had been considering building my own x-member. This looks like exactly what I had in mind... does Hawks also happen to sell a y-pipe designed to fit this x-member? Any other alternatives or am I stuck making one?

 

I don't think Hawks has a y-pipe separate to clear the x-member. The Hawks crossmember is a nice piece though, and has plenty of clearance for me to run dual 3" into a 4" merge.

 

x2

I have my TA currently mounted on my t56 but would love to find a way to have it floor mounted.

 

I decided to run a Jegster torque arm. It floor mounts above the driveshaft. I am really happy with it and it is adjustable. I am running Hawks exhaust crossmember and long tubes but opted to make my own 3 inch y pipe. There are pics on my swap thread below.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/ltx-...28-swap-3.html

 

I'll have to check out that jegster torque arm. Does the tranny have to be out in order for it to be installed?

 

Installs in a few hours, just Yank the driveshaft.

 

This is where im at so far

 

I love that Y pipe! I hope mine comes out that nice.

Looks good. Nice "V" band collectors! That is what I am thinking of doing.

 

Anyone get this Hawks crossmember and mount it to a 700R4? I need to get a crossmember with clearance for long tubes.

 

What sfc are people running with this x member?