[CamSweet]

Hi Guys,

I'm getting ready to start the TCI MII front crossmember install in my 36. The kit comes with a set of 3/16" boxing plates that "roughly" fit the contour of the frame horns. Has anybody installed a set of these? Did you weld them onto the outter edge of the exosting frame? Trim them down and fit them inside of the existing frame? I make up my mind, then change it. Any advice, suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Cam

[Henry Highrise]

I always put mine inside and flush with the edge of the frame rail. Some people put them on the outside. Which way will your crossmember fit the best? Thats what you need to consider.

[CamSweet]

Thanks. I'm going to have to narrow up the crossmember a little anyhow. A buddy that's in the businees claims he likes to leave a little fillet to fill with weld, when he welds frame members together at right angles.

Because the frame is double thikness right there and the two edges don't line up along the whole edge, I'm thinking about grinding back the "proud" edge a bit so that it's flush with the other edge, fit the plate inside but "proud" itself by a bit. Whatcha think?

[powerrodsmike]

If at all possible, I like fitting them to the inside, then welding the gap. It is easier to fit the plates to the uneven edges of the frame and then finish grind a nice square corner..

You don't lose any weld that way either.

Later, mikey

[NEW INTERIORS]

I like to bring the plate inboard a little to be able to make a fill it weld.Then when you clean it up,You will have a lot of weld left.Just my way of doing it.

[streetrodderbn]

I usually trim the edge of the framerail so the total boxed area is uniform top and bottom as the instructions dictate, then I weld the boxing plates slightly inside the rail,, so you get good penetration, and have a nice surface to grind a corner on. What do the t.c.i. directions tell you to do?! I normally prefer heidt's cross members, and you can go to their website and download a picture install, but I cant assure you that the cross members are identical in measurement! I have installed a dozen cross members, and can't remember having to trim one if you prepped the framerail as the directions indicate, and have the distance from inner boxed framerail to framerail as recommended by the manufacturer

[AntnyL]

Last summer, I welded a TCI MII onto my 55.5 Chevy truck frame. I beveled-grinded the frame and the boxing plates 45 degrees at their mating edges. I clamped the boxing plates against the the frame channels and welded them up. I didn't grind the welds at all (it's a driver, not a show piece). I did this, rather than recess them into the channels because A) the gap between the crossmember and the boxing plates would have been too large had I recessed the plates, and B) I felt it gave me the best weld strength. The TCI instructions appeared to have been written by a 3rd grader with no clue. That's the only complaint I have about TCI; their instructions are just plain BAD.

I recommend that you measure the crossmember width, and take this into account when deciding how to proceed with the boxing plates.

Hope this helps.

[CamSweet]

Instructions? This stuff is supposed to come with instrustions?? I hear you about TCI's instructions. Thanks for the advice guys. I dressed the edges top and bottom of both rails back to the point where the two layers had the same edge and trimmed the boxing plates down so they just fit inside the top and bottom of the rails. That leaves a nice little edge to get some good weld penetration and a litle grind and end up with a nice smooth radiused edge. That's my story and I'm sticking to it....

Thanks,

Cam

[staleg]

I did it like this:

[57larry]

I made my own boxing plates for my last 40 ford and welded them to the outside of the frame

[LiftFlat]

On my Heidts, the fit was just right for them on the outside of the rails...one the crossember was put in I had the correct measurements, moving them insode would have left me 3/8th too tight (both 3/16th plates).

I wound up tigging them in to keep a nice look/weld without grinding...on the rest of the frame I inset the boxing plates abuot a 1/4inch and migged them in.