Which cross member provides the most clearance?

[pontiacgp]

oh and to answer your question I am a very cross member here so I'll give you plenty of clearance...😛

 

[Longroof79]

A cheap flux core welder should be more than sufficient to weld up the X-member. I could understand being that your car is used on a daily basis it might be difficult to get around. Unless you devote a weekend day. With the right tools you should be able to knock it off in a day.
You would also need the means to cut, or notch your existing X-member. A cutoff wheel/ die grinder or angle grinder would do the trick.

 

[melloelky]

my body mounts are fresh outta the box poly and the g force is tight to the floor boards.it's stout and heavy with a big hump on the passenger side but the jeg's has rumored to be ill fitting,the iceman is the thinnest around but if clearance is your concern it's the way to go.g body parts.com carry's them,looks like they've re-branded them as their own.I'm not sure which is cheaper,them or iceman but it's worth a look.check it out.

 

[tc1959]

This is how I solved that on my El Camino.

 

[Texas82GP]

I like the G Force. It's what I have. It's heavy and overbuilt but I like overbuilt.

When I bought my car, it had a modified stock crossmember. They didn't do a great job and it had more flex than I'd be willing to live with.

My car has the original body mounts and the G Force crossmember slid right in.

I'm all for you learning how to weld but not on this project. Buy a bolt in solution and move on is my advice.

 

[motorheadmike]

The one you build.

Even if it takes a month. FML.

 

[Ribbedroof]

This is how I solved that on my El Camino.View attachment 84353 View attachment 84354 View attachment 84355

That's how it was done on the donor sedan I picked up a few months ago

 

[bob64]

You seem like your a handy guy, so learning to weld should be simple! You can always use a welder and a cheap one from Habour Freight are good to learn on.

You shouldn't have any problem, marking and pulling the crossmember out, cutting and welding it up in a couple hours. If your an artist you can form it the same curve as the passenger side or just block it.

My thoughts on it are simple, your saving money not buying a crossmember and you end up with something(welder) you can use in the future, win, win!!

 

[MrSony]

Adding to what TexasGP said, welding is a very good skill to have in the hotrodding world, but I don't have the time, resources, or space to have my car takin up space in the driveway immobile, even a few feet back and forth, for x amount of time for me to learn how to weld. And I don't think something that holds the transmission in is a good thing to practice welding on. Plus, stock xmembers are ugly as sin. It's more money up front, but I do think I'm gonna go with the go force after looking at pictures (thanks ham1974, and re-looking through TexasGP's build thread) as it provides the largest clearance "window", I guess you could call it, for the exhaust. The iceman one is just straight across from the frame mounting point but the g gforce, while moreso than the jegs, has the U shaped bits that extend upwards from the mounting point a good what, 2" or so? Don't have one handy to measure. I do want to learn how to weld, but this isn't really the best time or place. Maybe when I have my own place, with actual service to the garage, not a 12g extension cord from the outlet on the side of the house (my parents rent, so dickin with the wiring), and a place to put the car. And another car to drive in the mean time. The stock x member fits in there fine with room to spare, so a GForce should fit nicely. thank you all for your input and pictures. hopefully this thread will be of use to those in the future.