Technical 49 Chevy transmission crossmember conversion

I have a 1949 Chevy Coupe that was originally equiped with a six and three speed. I'm converting to a SBC and 350 turbo. I found this adapter from Chev's of the 40's and bought it. There was no discription or illustration provided. When I contacted the vendor, I was told there wern't any instructions and that the installtion is "self evident". So, I'm apealing to the HAMB for insight, thanks.









I felt like the pre-drilled holes would line up with rivets in the crossmember. These rivets would be removed and the adapter bolted in place. Trouble is, none of the adapter holes line up with any rivets in the crossmember.

 

Maybe you need to mock it up with the engine and trans and then see where the holes in the adapter lie and drill them.

 

I would imagine you notch the cross member. I did more of a cave man approach on the same idea. I'll see if I can find a pic

 

Said neanderthal approach on same idea lol

 

And definitely wait on the floor pan till you get it figured out. The more access you have the better

 

I put a 700R4 in mine which is longer so my pics will be of no help. pretty sure you need to cut out the center of the original crossmember for both transmissions, I bet it mounts from below. see if any rivets line up from the bottom.
on the 700R4 the transmission pan gasket area lines up with the top of the frame part where the master cylinder goes. again, my trans is like 8" longer, but this pic will give you an idea of how low it will be.

 

Waltons makes this one.

 

Walton fab is owned by papa gee now. P gee is making those again....I happened to do my x member in the transition period where they weren't being produced

 

This is what I have been using for 35 years or so…I believe it was from Ch***is Engineering ( now owned by Heidts I believe). Also be aware that my transmission pan is very close to the crossmember.

 

Looks like a less caveman version of mine lol

 

I have seen these, but wanted to go with a bolt in style. However that may be out of the question.

The vendor will accept a return, but I will pay for shipping. Since I have no idea how the adapter fits, I thought that was lame of them. So I hope to figure something out.

This is what I wanted to avoid.

 

Best advice is contact Papa Gee at Walton Fabrication (google it for a phone number), he is a great guy and can supply you with everything to do the conversion (bolt in parts that work!) without a bunch of headaches. I'm building a '50 and have been thru all this already.... it's easier with the right parts.

 

The one thing I am seeing is that with the Walton one you can drop the trans with little h***le but that Chevs of the 40's unit calls for pulling engine and trans if you have a transmisison problem. That turns something like replacing a flex plate or front seal into a major project.

 

I've got a 41 with a 350/350 installed before my ownership. The center of the crossmember had been removed and a cobbled together removable one fitted. The trans fitted under the stock trans tunnel which ultimately led to the engine oil pan being way too low despite being a low profile one. The car sits with a lowered stance, but not stupid low. After 2 pan damage incidents I raised the engine and trans. Made a neater removable trans crossmember. I noted that ems make a raised trand tunnel but decided to utilise the stock item, splitting it a la open heart surgery and infilling the created gaps. Worked great. I had to m***age the firewall slightly to clear the distributor. I guess this is a long winded way of saying don't set the engine and trans too low in an attempt to make less work for yourself, unless you're staying close to stock ride height.

Chris

 

Nice photo crop!

Chris

 

Here is mine on a 195o sedan with a 350/700r4 combo, It is removable and the original is bolted to it
for support of the original cross member.

 

You can drill out the rivets on the stock x member and replace with bolts. The one on my 53 is removable

 

I remember the first and only clutch change in those 49s,I was cussing the designers on all the rivets and vowed to never own one.

 

So much for the old saying of “what you don’t know can’t hurt you”.