My brother-in-law is doing a frame off on a 65 Cutlass. The 455 in mounted in the frame with the bellhousing and Saginaw trans. The crossmember is under the trans mount and it does not match any of the 4 bolt holes in the frame. It is behind them toward the rear end. I know now I should have taken a picture.


He and his mechanic believe they will have to drill new holes and shorten the driveshaft.


I was under the impression that the stock auto tranny and a Muncie (or Saginaw) were all short tail trannies and that the middle holes on the frame were where the crossmember was bolted and a shorter driveshaft was not neeeded. Am I wrong?


John

 

sorry still at work john, otherwise i would measure my crossmember, muncie m20, cant comment if they matched auto or not

 

After speaking with my brother-in-law we now think the crossmember is turned around. We'll check tomorrow to see.

 

They are all the same. In addition to the crossmember orientation, verify that the motor mounts on the 455 are bolted to the rear two of three bolt holes in the side of the block. If the wrong holes were used, the engine and trans will be too far rearward.

 

Joe & Stan thanks for your help. I'll pass your information on to my brother-in-law and his mechanic.