im having builders block at the moment with a crossmember i need to fab! im dropping a chevy 350, sm465, and np 205 in a yj. i know the stock crossmember/skid plate is out of the question, and have a few tube idea's, but was wondering if anyone out there has ever made one with good success? i would like it to mount into the stock holes if poosible?

i wouldn't say the stock crossmember is out of the question. i hacked one up, made a mount for it, and ran it that way for about 4 years. when it was too mangled and bent to put back on one day, i found another stock one, cut it as needed and ran that for another year or so.

the other way i've done it (about 3 different times now), is to take a piece of 3" x 1.5" C channel and mount it so the 3" flat side is flush with the bottom of the frame rail, then just use countersunk bolts to bolt to the tranny mount. finish it up with a big flat piece of aluminum or plastic to act as a skid. you can make the same thing with any combination tube, rectangle tubing, angle, flat plate, etc. look around, do some searching, this has been covered plenty of times, including pictures.

I too am running the stocker with no major issues. It is not super trick and blinged out. But its functional.

thanks for the encuragement with the stock skid plate! I really didnt think it would handle up to well, but i dont see a hole lotta rocks in oregon, its mostly trails and mudd here!:p also my 205 isnt clocked at all, so it hangs down a bit? i didnt know if i had to cut up the skid plate or if it would clear? the channle has been running threw my head for some time too, just seems so simple, but i didnt know if it would hold up? 87JeepWrangler, you said you have done this 3 time now, i was wondering why so many times? was id because it failed, or did you find better stronger ways it would hold up?

i found a pretty simple crossmember if you guys are interested, deff not as simple as the channle but for what its worth!

http://www.ford-trucks.com/article/idx/0/055/article/Building_A_New_transmission_Cross_Member_For_A_195 3__1956_F100.html

I would really consider clocking your 205. I just installed the same setup into my CJ and without the clocking plate it hangs down way too far (for me anyways). I got a plate off of E-bay for like $180 and it was well worth it. I used the channel method for my crossmember, no issuses at all.

thanks for the encuragement with the stock skid plate! I really didnt think it would handle up to well, but i dont see a hole lotta rocks in oregon, its mostly trails and mudd here!:p also my 205 isnt clocked at all, so it hangs down a bit? i didnt know if i had to cut up the skid plate or if it would clear? the channle has been running threw my head for some time too, just seems so simple, but i didnt know if it would hold up? 87JeepWrangler, you said you have done this 3 time now, i was wondering why so many times? was id because it failed, or did you find better stronger ways it would hold up?

with the stock skid, i let my 205 stick through just a little. it was a ford 205, which no bolt on aftermarket clocking ring exists for. you could weld a piece of plate under the low part so your tcase won't hit rocks, or just let it hang as i did. those things are beef as hell, i used to drag my 205 across rocks all the time and would barely put scratches in it.

as for why i made so many crossmembers, the first time was in my buddies rig, which was a chevy sm465 np205. ran it for a while. then he bought a clocking ring and we moved his engine a few inches, therefore needing to build a 2nd crossmember. then i machined an adapter for my ford 205, ditched the stock skid, and build a 3rd crossmember. im currently putting in a th350 to stak RAC case, which means i'll be doing a 4th very soon.

I'm reviving this thread because I would like to see some pictures of crossmembers with the 205 clocked flat. I am going for the flat belly but it seems like the tranny sits too high. I have my tranny tunnel and floor cut out so it's a bit tough to tell. Also, what is everyone using for mounts/bushings.

i used the stock chebby crossmember on my project..cut it down to fit the frame rails then took 2 pieces of angle to mount it up...
id like to clerance it a bit better but that comes later.

Im using channel to mount mine and leaf spring polly bushings at the frame. with this setup I have an almost flat belly with a clocked transfer case and no body lift or mods. Been almost a year of abuse and everything is still working great.

Hey, coldjeep. I'd like to see some pics of your crossmember. I've got a th350/np205 and need some ideas. Also, i have'nt found a way to clock a "figure 8" pattern 205. Any help would be great.