channeled cross member (61 chev)

So,as opposed to Z'ing the frame..
I started this little project last week-end.
I'm dropping the frame into the front cross member (61 chevy panel.)
then taking 2 inches off the bottom of the frame where it sits in the cross member, giving me about a 5 inch drop.
Can you see anything wrong with this??
It just seems too simple to be so simple..... ya know?
I cant think of a reason why not though.. so i thought i'd hit you up..
oh and i also sectioned the center of the cross member 2 inches as to not push the motor up into the fire wall any further than i had to.
thanks for looking-- and, thanks for your time. Shawn
See ya at SEMA!

Chris did a tech article years ago in truck about raising the H member. They sectioned the frame above it and then plated the frame for reinforcement. The truck below had it. You should be able to lay body by just moving that up. That truck didnt because it was setup for small wheels.



As long as you plated everything with thick enough metal you should be good to go.

One of the issues with doing it this way instead of doing a z is that the pitman arm to steering linkage relationship is now affected because you maved the crossmember up but the steering box position remained the same. It would be advisable for you to mave your steering box up the same amount as the crossmember was to maintain your factory steering geometry. By doing a standard z your steering box would be moving up with the crossmember keeping everything as it was. which is probably one of the most popular reasons for doing it this way.

When moving the steering box up make sure that your new mount is strong enough to handle the force that a power steering box places on it. Boxing that area of the channel frame would help toughen things up to make it last. The ideler arm will also have to be moved up the same amount as the steering box to keep everything in line. You will also have to add some universals and a support bearing to your steering to get the coloum lined up with the box when you are done.

As a side note your fab work looks really clean so far in the pic, keep it up and you will have yourself a very sharp ride in the end, and its a panel to boot

Edited: 10/27/2008 3:45:46 AM by dragggn

Thanks for info guys!

Maz Duh- I was wondring what trouble i was going to get in to with the steering.. i knew there would be some issues, and i had thought about the steering box, did'nt look far enough ahead to see the other stuff though. as for the steering column, I was assumeing that it would only be a matter of a little nip and tuck to get it to line up, but i guess i see where you are probobly correct an that count too.

thanks for the kind words reguaring my fab skills.... (hope that little dude doesnt look too gay!) hahaaaa.Makes me wish i had cleaned it up better for the pic!

starting to sound like i didnt save my self much if any work going this route, but i like the look of it better though. I never much liked the look of a fish plated bulky look'n Z

thanks again!any one else have any thoughts please feel free to chime in!

Oh and not only is it a panel, it was a 1-ton panel (they were like the long bed of the panel world) so when this thig is on the ground it seems to go for on days! i normally dont like a long bed, but yea i'm diggin this thing! ;)

I agree with the way you are doing it looking more attractive than a plated over z as well. As long as you move your steering up to match it should be okay though. I'm not sure if there is a rack and pinion setup available that you could adapt to work without screwing up your geometry really bad. Maybe someone out there has a suggestion on that one.

I believe you will need two universals, a support bearing and some shaft to get the steering hooked back up which is no biggie. A good opertunity to tighten up the 40 year old linkage really in the end. Should be a really clean setup in the end.

I've always kinda liked the old panels myself too. My uncle had a 67 when I was a kid and I always thought it was the shiz. I wish I had the front sheet metal off of it now, I like the slant nose 67-68 hood. It looks so sleek on that front end. I'll be keeping an eye on your progress, keep up the good work.