Engine crossmember

[ThatGuy]

I'm thinking about lowering my Explorer down a few inches. I want to run some super soft springs plus get my COG lower. The only problem I'm seeing is the engine crossmember. Have any of you cut the x-member out? I was thinking of cutting the bottom off and running a piece of 1/2" directly across the bottom of the oil pan.
I will limit my uptravel to approx. 3" and let it have all the droop it wants. Gonna be running air bumps to control the travel. I plan to take out quite a chunk of sheetmetal. I will be installing the 4-link rear in the spring so I want to get all of this done soon. The engine crossmember is the only thing holding me back right now. Just wanted to see what others had done.

 

[RangerSVT]

When I do my SAS soon, I was planning to cut the X-member out and make a custom oil pan-hugging X-member that is removable on the bottom side just in case I need to remove the oil pan for any reason...but I think it's a good idea...
SVT

 

[ThatGuy]

Removable sounds good. Will look into this when I get some free time this week.

 

[The_Dealer]

cut it and weld a flat piece of 1/4" across it. kinda like stock but "high clearance" from the underside

 

[ThatGuy]

That's what I was gonna do but with 1/2" instead. The engine crossmember is the strongest part of the whole truck so I want to keep the integrity, just make it hug the engine a lot closer.

 

[RangerSVT]

My plans are to use 1x2 tubing, this has more strength torsionally and is lighter than 1/4" flatbar, but 1/2" would probably work...
SVT

 

[crawlin91]

my plans are to cut it off weld in some 3/8 underneath the motor mounts and connect the two with a piece of tube. Maybe Ill get fancy and add some speedholes.