ford cmp gearbox boom
 

Hello
What about this gearbox boom , is it twisted or is that original?
I am asking that because the engine in the truck was not original and was monted higher than the original.

Thank you
Sylvain

Yes, it is twisted. The top face of the crossmember should be flat all the way across, the front face perfectly vertical.

hello tony :
Thank you, If this crossmember is really flat , I will have a few more hours work!! :doh:

regards
Sylvain

As Tony said it should be straight both ways
Good luck with your extra work. It shouldn't be too difficult but not much room to work in there.
Being still riveted in the chassis should hold it firm while you do the heating and hammering.
Cheers,
Terry

Yes ,thank you!
I will try to push on it with a jack , and head it with a acetylène torch.

cheers
Sylvain

Hello
I hammer my crossmember, it is perfectly flat and repainted, but I found this picture on witch the crossmember looks also twisted like my was.

I hope i dont make a mistake! :doh:

What are you thinking about?

Cheers
Sylvain

Ford CMP Transmission crossmember
 

Hello Sylvain,

No Mistake made! If it is flat and square in all directions as Tony and Terry said, it is correct.

See attached photo of my F15-A crossmember viewed from directly above it with transmission attached as a confirmation you didn't make a mistake.

Cheers,

Whaaa!

Many many thanks Jacques !! I will have a good night :note: :thup2:

My chassis is already primed and painted ,it would be terrible to remake this job.!



Cheers from Normandy :drunk:
Sylvain

Wonder if this from trying to pull the engine
 

Hi

Wonder if this is from someone trying to the engine without unbolting the transmission. Probably by some Chevy mechanic who is used to just taking out the drive shaft unbolting the engine mounts and pulling the engine and transmission as a unit.

Cheers Phil

In my truck there was a french flathead but very bad mounted with the french stock water pumps , there are higher than the canadian one , so I thouth that that was the reason why they had to lift the engine hight and twist the crossmember.

That makes some sense. Perhaps another case of "bush engineering" to make do with the available components. May also explain why you have seen the same modification on another truck. Never saw it here but there are not many French Flatheads in Australia! I would think the rubber insulator as part of the rear transmission mount would tear loose from the steel part if it was left attached while trying to remove the engine and transmission as a unit.
Still the rubber is well attached (vulcanized?) and it may still be possible to bend that crossmember via the rear transmission mount. It's all about mechanical advantage.

I cannot count the number of times I have seen modifications to these vehicles in order to keep them going or use them for another purpose.

Perhaps there is a thread there: "Bush engineering of CMP Trucks"
It might become the longest ongoing thread!

Cheers,

Hello
I install my engine this week end , and what a bad surprise, impossible to bolt the gearbox, (the motors mounts an waterpumps are original).

I had to "retwist" the boom as on the begining. Now the engine is on is right place, so the conclusion is that there must be two types of boom, Maybe cab 12 and 13? Or long an short wheel base.....?


I will know for the next truck...... :bang:

Cheers

Twisted boom transmission mount
 

Hello Harle,

So sorry to hear about your twist having to be re-done to the transmission boom. There is enough work to do in a restoration without re-doing things.

I am completely puzzled why it is required, but if it works I guess that answers it. I, and others, just have never seen that before.

Just curious however, it would seem the engine would now sit higher at the front mounts with the boom twisted. If the water pumps are original style could the front engine mounts have been modified and therefore raised the engine from original height?

My previous photo shows a glimpse of the front engine mounts which may be of some help.

Cheers,

Ford CMP Front engine mounts
 

Hello Harle,

Here are a couple of close ups of the front engine mounts which are better than the previous photo.

Cheers,