X Member in a 1932 Chassis Question

If you had a pair of new aftermarket 1932 Ford frame rails and a 1940 Ford X member to install how would you do it? I've seen the rails boxed and the trimed X member welded to the boxing plates, OR you could install the X member in the channel as it was on the 1940 rails, then box in the '32 rails. Is one way stronger, more rigid? Photos are always great with opinions. Thanks. Bob

 

I don't think it needs boxing if you have a '40 X member. You could just box the front section if you are going to use cross steering. I ran a test. I put a stock frame up on stands with them under the back kick up and under the center of the front crossmember. I loaded it off center and the front frame horn deflected about 2 inches. I tested another frame that had a ch***is Engr. Type crossmember but no boxing. It only dropped about 1/16 to 1/8. I really could not measure any drop that I could repeat. I then boxed the forward and rear sections. It might have helped but I could not measure any difference.

 

I dont like X members welded to the boxing plates.. Much prefer to have the x fitted into the ch***is rails, then box around them if you need to. In the situation you mentioned, Im with Andy, just box infront of and behind where the X meets the rails. dont worry about between the front and rear legs of the X, it wont add much strength at all from my tests, which are much the same as Andy described, and its really ****ing tricky to fit it in and weld it , If, like me, you TIG the boxing plates and step them in about 1/4 inch.