Cross Member Modification for Engine Lowering

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38:06

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Vintage NASCAR Monte Carlo Build: Dodge R5P7 Engine Install with Doug Richert! (Part 1)

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What happens here

Following Doug Richert's advice, the presenter decides to lower the engine. This requires removing the engine from the chassis. He then uses a cutoff wheel (initially a small one, then a larger one) to remove the existing cross member that was supporting the oil pan. He explains the fabrication of a new cross member using 1-inch by 1-inch square tubing with 1/8-inch walls, capped at the ends. This new cross member is designed to sit lower, allowing the engine to drop by 0.75 inches while maintaining clearance for the oil pan. He explains the importance of drilling a relief hole in the tubing before welding to prevent gas buildup.

Goal: Lower the engine by modifying the front cross member to achieve optimal height and enable correct engine mount fabrication.

Tools and materials

Calipers N/A — Precise measurement for fabrication
Cutoff Wheel — Cutting out the original cross member
Engine Hoist N/A — Removing and re-installing the engine
Grinder DeWalt — Grinding down rough edges and old mounts
Hammer N/A — Removing stubborn parts
TIG Welder Fronius Magic Wave — Welding the new cross member
Welding Gloves Tillman 24CL — Hand protection during welding
Welding Helmet — Eye and face protection during welding
Welding Jacket N/A — Arm and body protection from UV and sparks
1" x 1" Square Tubing — Fabricating the new cross member

What they say

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location you like my 10-in pointer hey it works right that's all you need to do so do you still think that crossmember should get cut out or leave it there and just leave the motor High I mean I'll never sit here and say leave a motor high you know that it's a Time an expense how much time do you have uh enough time to make it better if it needs to be that much better better I'm not super concerned with missing the first couple races if it getes me a better right end result well the other thing about to is if you lowered that thing down an inch or something look how much better your motor mount deal will be too kind of will bring it into play so that thing that cross member got cut out do you put a different one somewhere else or you just leave those two pickup points untied in the middle no no no you'll have to put one down you it has to be tied together all the lateral load that you have pushes in on that point if it's not tied together it just it will flex and break okay that's what I was wondering is where would you put if cut you just put another one and make it lower right basically you could cut it off here make one that went down over and up and it'll do the same thing okay it'll still tie it together everything is up because of Arrow you see even the radiator is is up here's my my take on this if you're not under a time crunch and you want the best race car you can have get the motor down I'm all for it yeah so and then you deal with each piece after that right yeah so the first thing we do is pull the motor out cut the crossmember get the motor sitting down in there and then you can pretty much take this number where it's sitting now go back up in the air prop the motor up cut that crossmember out lower at X right you got a point lower an inch and a half or whatever the number is right and then take the motor and put it where it belongs and then you put the crossmember back up to it okay you know with a little bit of clearance on the bottom of the pan make two ears go up and you weld it back in that's starting point number one that makes sense right that gives you header clearance all that stuff too on your steering everything goes down and you're just going to gain clearance well we got the crossmember cut out and we're going to lower it telling you as much as I can but I don't

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