'76 K20 - odd crossmember mounting

[mechanic58]

I recently dragged a '76 K20 out of a pasture field here in Texas that has a 292/TH350/NP203 combo in it. Once I got it up on my lift I noticed that someone dropped the transmission crossmember down about an inch and a half with some spacers - but only on the passenger's side. You can clearly see on the bottom of the frame in this area where the crossmember used to be in contact with it. I can't for the life of me figure out why this was done. I removed the spacers and put it back up like it's supposed to be, but it is causing me to lose sleep. lol  Any ideas?  (This truck originally had a 400 in it, someone put the 292 in it)

Before:



After:

[illinoisk30]

Those spacers are usually on the top side of the bottom frame flange. Some people did this to gain clearance on the CV joint when they installed a suspension lift kit. If your truck has a lift this may have been the reason. It would drop the t-case enough so the CV joint would not hit itself. I have two trucks with 4" lifts and did not have to do this. Are you going to put a V8 back in the truck? A 292 with auto trans doesn't sound like it would be to desirable in a 3/4 ton. Just my opinion. Would like to see some pics of the truck .

[mechanic58]

Those spacers are usually on the top side of the bottom frame flange. Some people did this to gain clearance on the CV joint when they installed a suspension lift kit. If your truck has a lift this may have been the reason. It would drop the t-case enough so the CV joint would not hit itself. I have two trucks with 4" lifts and did not have to do this. Are you going to put a V8 back in the truck? A 292 with auto trans doesn't sound like it would be to desirable in a 3/4 ton. Just my opinion. Would like to see some pics of the truck .

No lift, the truck is all stock with the exception of the engine swap. I have no plans to restore it, it's pretty beat up. I only paid $400 for it. I am planning to just use it as a farm truck/tractor really. Haul stuff 3 miles to the dump, haul brush and firewood around on my property, etc. A true farm truck. It does have 4.10 gears in it also. I have no doubts the 292 will work just fine - it appears to have been overhauled at some point shortly before it was parked in '99. I poured some gas in the carb and hooked a battery up to it and it fired right up and idled. I was shocked. It runs great.

A few pics from the day I got it last week. This is where it sat for 15 years. The tires were rotted slap off of it - so were the gas tanks. lol  The rest of the truck is pretty solid, very little rust. It's a Silverado.

[mechanic58]

Video I took this weekend.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGK5Y2JrBlw

[zieg85]

I had to space down the cross member on my 72 on both sides because of drive shaft angle.  I don't remember from what to what but it had to be done for clearance. 

[mechanic58]

Yep, I realize people do that - but this truck is all stock, never been lifted and the engine is mounted using all factory parts in the stock location, etc. Shouldn't have been any reason to make driveshaft angle corrections. Who knows. I'll just have to try and put it out of my mind so it doesn't eat me alive.  lol

[illinoisk30]

Nice looking truck and well worth the $400. I paid more than that for my '79 GMC K35 and it is way worse condition. Don't worry about your crossmember mounting, you have it the way it should be now.

[mechanic58]

Yeah, I figure that good running 292 is worth $500 by itself.

[Dan75k20]

Thats in better shape than my daily driver lol

[Dan75k20]

The body is in better shape than my pa rust bucket

[Dan75k20]

[mechanic58]

You really have to search to find rusted out stuff here in Texas, especially in these parts.

[Irish_Alley]

my(wifes) 94 c1500 has those spacers. when i replaced the trans i forgot which way they went in so i just stuck them on top. idk why they're there just knew the bolts are too long without them