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Gorilla Cross Member from RATCO!

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TR6BILL

Luke Skywalker
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I finally got my new cross member in from Tony at RATCO. This sucker is built! I know that I will not have an issue with my tube-shock conversion now! When all welded up, this thing will be much, much stronger than OE. Makes me want to jerk my body off and convert to a full RATCO frame! Pictures at 11:00.
 
Didn't I suggest that in another thread? Didn't I???

And what did I get for my intuition??

Heckled once again!

That's the last time that I make any suggestions like changing a frame or some other simple project.
 
Brosky said:
...

That's the last time that I make any suggestions like changing a frame or some other simple project.
Click to expand...

Four of five of us together have pulled bodies off of TR's at RATCO's in two to three hours. Piece of cake. IIRC, we did one in less then two hours. :thumbsup:

Of course, putting the whole car back together starting with a bare frame...that's another story. :laugh:

Edit: BTW, Tony will be glad to hear how things worked out for you. I'll tell him about it on saturday as he asked me to keep him informed on how things are going.
 
The body off is just the start. How long to change the frame over.
You know...Now that this is off might as well do...on and on.
 
MAWDI = Might as well do it

When someone is broke, we can now say that he was hit with a case of Mawdi. Or when his knuckles are all cut up and bleeding or the POR15 won't come off of his hands. Yep, another case of Mawdi.
 
Art, we're still waiting to hear about that high idle on Tony's car. Al's is now diagnosed, so Tony is next.

Oops..........another thread hijacking in progress!
 
Brosky said:
Art, we're still waiting to hear about that high idle on Tony's car. Al's is now diagnosed, so Tony is next.

Oops..........another thread hijacking in progress!
Click to expand...

I mentioned in another thread that we got tied up with a couple of other cars last week so we didn't have the time to check out Tony's car. We'll try again this saturday.
 
TR6Bill
Glad to hear the piece looks as good in person.Saw pictures of it on another forum and it looked amazing.We have the body off and the rear end taken apart.Front diff supports were also cracked so this will allow chance to fix & re-inforce all the pieces at once.Going to do the whole MAWDI since access is so good( and hopefully never will be again!!!!) Going to drop the tube shock conversion in favor of tubes in the springs and look at uprated springs and sway bars while its all apart.Have to make final decisions on parts pretty soon as Tony is holding my shipment until we figure everything out.Probably will send out TAs for conversion and reconditioning to him and get some RG parts in for the rebuild.
Keep us posted to your progress.
Elysium
 
elysium said:
TR6Bill
Glad to hear the piece looks as good in person.Saw pictures of it on another forum and it looked amazing.We have the body off and the rear end taken apart.Front diff supports were also cracked so this will allow chance to fix & re-inforce all the pieces at once.Going to do the whole MAWDI since access is so good( and hopefully never will be again!!!!) Going to drop the tube shock conversion in favor of tubes in the springs and look at uprated springs and sway bars while its all apart.Have to make final decisions on parts pretty soon as Tony is holding my shipment until we figure everything out.Probably will send out TAs for conversion and reconditioning to him and get some RG parts in for the rebuild.
Keep us posted to your progress.
Elysium
Click to expand...


Elysium,
Tony forgot to send one set of frame reinforcement C-clamps. He was so apologetic that I almost felt as if he wanted to personally deliver them to me the next day! Nice guy.
I do have one set clamped on and ready to weld up but will wait till next week when the other set comes in. Welder doesn't want to make 2 trips. I installed my TRF front reinforcement plates where the front diff mounts attaches. My welds are strong but are so ugly that I must hide them when my welder shows up....I know he will laugh! The RATCO rear cross member surely is sturdy.

I have no problems putting my tube shocks back on after this reinforcement. That said, I do have a design up my sleeve to add a brace to the shock tower and extend it backward to the frame. RATCO sent some bump stop replacement brackets with nuts welded into them. If I can weld a bar from the tower back down to the rear of the frame, I think I can use these brackets as a rear anchor for my design. Will wait till my welder is gone before I crank up my MIG, not in the mood for more laughter.
 
So Bill, let me get this straight.
This reinforcement part can be put on a good frame just for prevention?
Did you ever post a photo of it?
 
Yes, your stock cross member (rear differential brace and shock mount) can be cut out and the RATCO unit can be welded in in its place. That is exactly what I am doing. My cross member broke from the tube shock conversion. It is a PITA but has to be done. I removed the entire rear suspension (not the TAs), including the differential and half shafts. I also removed my rear brake lines (needed to change the flex hoses anyway) and the emergency brake line (simple to do) The gas tank also came out because I am not too fond of welding that close to a gas line. Oh, and the rear 1/2 of the exhaust system. Got plenty of work room now. I will get some pics near the end of the ordeal, er, project.
 
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