Engine Crossmember Replacement

Hello!

I'm new around the forum, and I just picked up my first square body. It's an '86 C10 short bed (2WD) that needs some love to get back on the road.

My factory engine crossmember is rotting on the back and I'm not sure I can weld a plate in there. It might be too far gone, but I'm looking to just get things working and running/ driving, factory-style with the little 305 for a starting point, then change things slowly moving forward. I don't want to dump a whole bunch of money into it before I can even drive it. That's how projects die... That being said, I'm having some trouble finding a replacement and I have a few questions:

- In terms of hunting for used crossmembers to clean up, is there a known parts interchange? For example, will the earlier generation crossmember fit? Those seem to be readily available. Would any of the C10 suburbans fit, etc? Just want to cast a wider net for what I'm looking for.

- I've seen a bunch of coilover and 4x4 "high clearance" crossmembers on the market, but nothing strictly stock. Understandably so, most people want to upgrade, not make a lateral move.


If anybody can point me in the right direction (not "Spend $3k+ on coilovers"), I'd appreciate it.

Thanks!

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Tejas SteelWorks, Inc.​

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$150.00 C10

I believe he's looking for the front. Sometimes called a cradle or girder. I've had no luck finding one.

Eek !
My bad ..

I may still have one that came out of a K5. I can get out to the shed and look sometime this weekend if weather is ok. I don’t know if there is a difference on those between the 2wd vs 4wd.

AFAIK, there should not be any major differences from 73-87, even going back to the beginning of coil sprung IFS GM trucks (1963, the IFS before that used torsion bars) they will fit with just drilling a few holes.

So any 73-87(91) unit should work. I am not 100% if there are variations from 1/2 to 1 tons or not, control arms and such are different, but the girder is probably the same.

Zelph said:

I may still have one that came out of a K5. I can get out to the shed and look sometime this weekend if weather is ok. I don’t know if there is a difference on those between the 2wd vs 4wd.

Click to expand...

2wd and 4wd are different, the 2wd has the pockets for the coil springs and mounting points for the control arms.

Being in the NE rust free parts are scarce I’d assume.
Out here guys part out squares and when all the “good” parts are gone, complete rust free frames and cabs and heavy stuff like that goes to the scrappers.
May want to search out guys down south or out west and see if someone would cut one out. It’s a bit to ship and a local source would obviously be better. But just a suggestion if you strike out on that.

Post some pics so that we can see how bad the damage is. All 2wd engine cradles are the same from 73-87. 4wd and 2wd engine cradles do not interchange.
Scrapyards would be the best source for finding one.

The good thing is, the whole cradle is held in with rivets, so it's not terribly hard to replace. Just use some quality grade 8 or 10.9 hardware for reassembly. Like others have said, all 73-87 cradles/control arms/etc are the same on half ton trucks. 3/4 and 1 ton trucks got different control arms but I'm about 98% sure the cradle is the same.

If you can find one with an LS attached to it, even better

Depending on what part of the north east you are located, where the truck came from and how much road salt was used, frame parts may be in the same condition as what you have. Do you have welding equipment and know how to use it? If you need to replace the "cradle", why not take it out, inspect, repair then put it back in.

There's one on fleabay. It's pretty crusty too, and $430. But free shipping.

Bloodhound1981 said:

There's one on fleabay. It's pretty crusty too, and $430. But free shipping.

73-77 CHEVROLET GMC C10 C15 FRONT ENGINE CROSSMEMBER [ONLY] BARE 2WD K-MEMBER | eBay

RESEARCH YOURSELF TO BE CERTAIN PART WILL FIT YOUR TRUCK BEFORE BUYING. WILL NOT FIT S-10 OR S-15 TRUCKS.ONLY FITS FULL SIZE TRUCKS.

www.ebay.com

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Man I sold a whole front frame section (complete suspension minus steering box) from the 85 I parted out a few years ago for like $150. Way less crusty too.

I guess inflation or supply and demand.

All I have to say about this is if I remove a structural part of a car,unibody or body on frame. If I remove something I a have any feeling can allow things to shift,I weld in angle iron braces before I start removing things.I cut my welds after everything is reinstalled.