34 ford front crossmember repair question

[phatssbigboi]

I have a question on the front crossmember

Would post pics but I can't figure how to post with my I pad

I need to repair or replace my front crossmember as its cracked around the bolt holes and in the center and shows a lot of fatigue

I was thinking if I repaired it I could actually lower the car by raising the height of the crossmember

If my thinking is right I could lower the front about 2 inches

Has anyone done this?

My plan is to cut out the center of the xmember and get some square tubing with a 3/16 wall and trim it to fit and weld it.

 

[Henry/Kokomo]

I'm no expert but will you have enough fan clearance, lower water hose clearance, etc. if you lower the car in this fashion? Be sure to do a lot of measuring and looking before you start. I agree that removing fatigued metal is a good plan, especially if you're building a driver. Good luck.

 

[Mr 42]

Could be tight, i have a 59 AB in an original frame/front crossmember

 

[Bluebell]

Mr 42, Most Americans will be wondering about your distibutor.
It is a British distributor made by Lucas (Prince of Darkness ) These came in British Bren carriers during the war, and in British built Ford Pilots after the war.
I am looking for a couple of NOS rotors if anyone has a source.

 

[PeteVS]

If you do this thing about reworking the front cross member to lower the front of the car, you have to be concerned about where the front spring crosses under the frame rails. I fitted a Model A front crossmember into a '32 for a few reasons, one of which was to get the car lower. I also put in a "low profile" spring and there's very little room for spring travel before it hits the frame rails.

 

[rotorwrench]

You might consider just looking around for a good dropped axle to lower the car then repair the cross member with conventional metal work methods to an original profile.