sectioning the front crossmember

i need to section the crossmemeber under the engine to get my d50 to lay all the way. could i just take the section out then weld the original bottom peice back on there or should i just get some 3/16 plate or 1/4"? and should i plate the face and back of the crossmember for more strenght? i dont wana have to pull the motor.

I would suggest plating the crossmember, but you don't need anything thicker than 1/8".

ok so just weld a peice of 1/8" plate to the bottom but should i do the face and back for more strenth since its gona be 3/4" thinner? or theres not that much stress on that crossmember? you dont use nothing thicker then 1/8" when you plate stuff on frames?

Deciding where and how thick to plate and gusset is your job as a fabricator to figure out. If you would feel more comfortable bracing it everywhere than do it, but keep in mind that improperly braced/gusseted parts can actually become weaker than before bracing. That is why I only use 1/8" plate (or thinner) for my bracing. In the rare occasion that I need something thicker, I will double up the 1/8" plate and stagger the sizes to eliminate stress risers. It's hard to explain, but that is why I've said so many times that anyone who thinks they can or wants to fabricate NEEDS to read Carroll Smith's "Engineer to Win"

Max is this the book that you recommend?
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Engineer-to-Win/Carroll-Smith/e/9780879381868/?itm=2

Thanks for all your help, sure do appreciate it.

Dfifty mine only had an 1/8 plate on the bottom on that cross member and then it was sectioned to clear the lowering of the motor. Hope that helps.

That is the book. As a whole it is far more advanced than most of you will need, but there are two chapters that are so helpfull that I feel that anyone that plans to or does fabricate should not pick up a tool tomorrow until reading them. One is on stress risers and the other is proper bolt use, both something that I see ignored on even the nicest trucks. I would say that I learned more about fabricating from that book than from anything else ever. It's that good. BUY IT!!!

The publishing company needs u Max put down those tools and make a commercial for real its a great book with a wealth of knowledge

Haha! I know, it sure feels that way sometimes. Soon it'll be...

"I'm Max Fish and in the past I've been using Viagra, but now there is something new... Ginko-Viagra. Not only does it help in bed, but it also helps with remembering what the fuck you are doing..."