86 Ranger 4X4 Transmision Crossmember

[bcschief]

What is everyone using for a replacement transmission crossmember, 86 has the large rubber bushings on the ends. will the later style crossmember work in a early ranger by redrilling the frame?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

It's been a very long time since i did this, but yes, the later style will work.

 

[SenorNoob]

If you can find the right crossmember, shouldn't even have to drill anything. I have one sitting outside now that I need to change.

I wish I could tell you what it came from, but I found it loose nears a large collection of Rangers in the yard.

 

[scotts90ranger]

There were like 5 different crossmembers, and it seems most Lima powered Rangers came with the crossmembers with the bushings on the side since my '90 and '97 both have that and most V6's I've seen have the L crossmembers that mount on the bottom of the drivers side frame rail and outside of passenger side rail if memory serves... but there were two different of that style. But yeah, like said you should be able to grab one from a junkyard and swap it on...

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Like at least four different crossmembers.

My '85 had the top one originally. Bottom one is out of a first gen Explorer.



My '86 parts truck (2.9 automatic 4wd)



All have different transmission heights too.



I had to do a little modification because my factory trans mount had different spacing than the Explorer mount. Explorer crossmember bolted into my '85 frame.



Later trucks are way different, they have a drop out center section.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Yeah, the torsion bar is kinda nice with that drop out section, other than a 4R70W is wider than the gap, makes it more interesting...

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I built extended radius arms for my 88 and integrated a drop out trans mount into the design. Originally it had the one with the bushings outside the frame. My choptop has a hacked up mess (original crossmember got cut and the remainder made up with C channel), but it works. Lots of ways to approach this

 

[SenorNoob]

If those are 4 of 5. Then here is 5.