I recently ordered a T56 crossmember from Hawks (double hump style) to replace my spohn crossmember. I can't get this thing to fit for the life of me. The spohn piece I have fits fine as I put it back in the car. Has anyone else had any problems with their Hawks crossmember not fitting? I talked to their tech support and they told me to make sure I had the right holes. So I went back out there just incase I did miss something, and sure enough, it will not fit. Has anyone else had this problem? It's almost like the crossmember is tweaked. If I sent it back and got a new one, do you think it would fit? Luck of the draw? Let me know.

Thanks,

 

Mine fit perfectly fine.. Gou sure you have it on right? Lol

 

Yes. I tried it twice. The angles seem to be off.

 

I had to modify mine slightly to fit. The angles were fine, but the bolt holes needed to be slightly elongated with a round file to reach true "bolt on" status.

After I got it to fit, I combined my old Spohn and Hawks pieces into one double-hump TQ arm mount crossmember. So far, so good, but only on th street. I know I'll be giving it a good inspection after my first day at the dragstrip.

 

Mine was a bit off as well. I just ended up threading in 1 bolt halfway so I could still move it then did one on the otherside. Then did the other 2 and slowly tightend all of them in going around on all of them and it went in. Ive had it off since then and now it sits perfect so I dont need to do the same thing.

 

I'm wondering if I could do this and have the trans stay in the same location. I could start one bolt on the pass side but unsure if I can even get the other side to line up half-way right. I might have to cut it up and re-weld it. Not sure though. I also thought about hitting the tunnel with a hammer. The drivers side mounting angle seems to tall and it interferes with the subframe.

 

MIne seemed the same way but I got it in. Had to move the brake lines aswell as they where in the way. Just put a jack under the tranny to holld it straight so you dont use the crossmember to lift the tranny or you will strip the tranny crossmember bolt holes. Friend of mine did that.

 

Mine didn't look even close to fitting at first, but after moving the brake line and just barely starting a bolt on both sides it pulled into place.

I do remember thinking there was no way it could possibly fit, but I was looking at the wrong holes at first.

 

Sorry to hijack, but I like how you made this setup work. I have both a Spohn Torque Arm and crossmember and also a Hawks Crossmember. Do you have any more info on how you made this? It looks like you cut the Spohn piece and just welded them together but I am sure there is more to it than that. Mine has the driveshaft loop option, did yours have this as well? If so would it not fit?

 

When you first fitted the piece in the car did it seem like the angles were completely off? I didn't try starting a bolt on each side yet.

 

yeah. visually i thought it was completely wrong. ten minutes later it was installed.

 

Mine fit like a glove.

 

RickyZ28 - No driveshaft loop, and since I don't really know how its made I can't guess on compatibility.

As for mating the two, it really was that simple.
- Bolt up Hawk's crossmember with trans in place.
- Cut out the Spohn center section, I used a chop saw.
- Use the trans mount bolt to hold cut Spohn piece in place
- Tack weld or mark the pieces where you'd like them to be
- Remove and weld on workbench, add bracing as you see fit.

I am slightly concerned about durability given the 2 frame bolt holes and cantilever TQ arm mount, so its something I'm going to keep a close eye on. I used to cut 1.6 60' times with the standard Spohn setup/383SBC/T56 with no ill effects, so I hope that remains true. The Hawk's piece obviously isn't as durable, but the clearance for the y-pipe is fantastic by comparison.

//thread hijack