1952-59 Ford Rusty front crossmember on 54...what are my options?

My front crossmember under the radiator has some rust damage. Being as control arms mount off of it I would like to address it. Anyone run into this, what did you do to fix it, I can get a good one off a junkyard car but it is a 55....are they the same? If they are I will go that route just wondering what options are out there. Thanks

 

well mine on my 55 is in need of replacement . and i can get one off ebay for 300$ free shipping what a deal . lol. im thinking im gona cut mine out one day and try to make my own out of rectangular tubeing . as long as i have mine to go by i think i can duplicate it . might run it by a machine,welding, fabrication shop and ask them if they think they can make it . i think they would say yes .

 

I had it replaced on my '56 too. The original was so bad there wasn't enough left for a template. Not being a welder, I had it done and the guy who did it said the one I got (off ebay) said it was top notch. Yes, about $280 or so. I've heard there are some on the market that are poor repops. I was lucky and got a good one.

Ron

 

They are reproduced. Goodell Fabrications 300.00. 918-636-7071. No experience with one, but are supposed to be very good.

 

My 56 was rusted on the bottom but not near the control arms.I had a friend weld it (he owed me a favor).If I had to replace it I would have rebuilt the whole frond end while it was apart.

 

i also had a rusted out crossmember on my 54 right where the a arms bolt up nothing nice. i found a crossmember that i welded in from a guy on the 54 ford club of america paid a 100 bucks for it just google 1954 ford and youll find the site might find someone there with a extra one. but chances are youll have to buy one on ebay and the going rate is $300 ! before i welded in the replacment i drilled some drain holes in the crossmember something ford over looked !from what i hear very common problem...tim

 

Yes it is a very common problem. If yours is still in good shape, drill drain hole as LostHope suggests. Save you some problems down the road. If you can find a good one in a Boneyard you, you might want to grab it. Otherwise the going price is ~$300.00.

 

If you've got a chop saw and someone who is a good welder you could make your own. I redid mine after a shop did a ****py job on it about 13 yrs ago. A buddy of mine has a 54' his was perfect so I took all measurements and angles with the ch***is perfectly level. I bought some square tubing cut it all up and welded it together at the specs I got and welded it in, cost me $40 bucks and about a days labor. Now everything fits perfectly as it should.

 

Great work! maybe you should make a template of it and fab up some for sale.

 

That would be a nice alternative source of income. I may try it.

 

nice work . thats what i was planing . you used square tube , not rectangular? did you sleve the through bolt holes? i think thats important to .

 

Yea I used square tubing, but I had to cut it length wise to get the correct width as I couldn't get the tubing in the exact size of the original. and I did sleeve the bolt holes to keep them from pulling together.

 

Let me know if your gonna make these things i have the same issue on my 54'.

 

Why don't you make some and we will buy them off of you, at this point I can not fins one in a junkyard any better than mine and the $300 is an option but I really don't want to......If you are willing to make one up I am willing to buy, money maker here for you, check the prices on Ebay, people need these things. Let us know, Thanks

 

Let me figure everything out. I will take more pics of it on my car so ya'll can see exactly how it looks. And we can go from there.

 

Sorry all I haven't forgotten I've just been very busy. I will try to get the pics of my setup tomorrow. And figure out everything for the crossmember.

 

Sorry been very busy. I forgot to take current pics of the front end, but I got a couple from a few months ago before we built the gussets and cleaned it up from sitting. I've been figuring cost of materials and labor and I was thinking about $150 + Shipping , materials included. If anyone is interested you can pm me. I will be posting more recent photos early this week.

 

Sorry its been so long to post photos. Here they are. Just needs a little more cleaning and paint. If anybody wants more info on getting one just pm me.

 

Looks better than the stockers! I think your new business venture is lookin' good.

 

I like it better than the stock one. Are you going to be making these? I am going to need one for mine as well.

 

Yes, I can make these for anyone who wants one, pm me if anyone is interested I can give the details.