Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Spread the frame or not to spread it....

[JGheen]

Ok, so this has come up a lot in my quest for all the info for transmission removal for my new clutch install and I want to get ya'lls opinion and experience on whether or not I am gonna have to do this to remove my crossmember.



So, how many of you with 3500 4x4 duallies have had to spread the frame to remove and install of the crossmember? It seems some have to and some don't. From the people telling me, it seems to be more the 2500s rather tha the 3500s. I have looked over my crossmember time and time again, and it appears it will just slip out when I unbolt it, but I want to hear some of your experiences. I have a bottle jack and plenty of 4x4 pieces of wood in case I need to, but let me know what's up.



Thanks guys, Joe

 

[Bob4x4]

It should not need to be spread... ... ... ..... if done correctly



Bob

 

[SRadke]

I've done 5 of them on 12 valves now, 1 was a dually. Coincidently the dually was the only one that required me to spread the frame. I think something was tweeked because it just didn't fit in there like it should have. Like Bob said, it should not need to be spread. Just remember the cross member sits on a pair of tapers on the inside of the frame rails. Lift it up slightly, back about 8" then down. Good luck.



-Scott

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Unless I wanted to beat the hell outta my crossmember (I didn't!), I had to spread the frame slightly - no big deal, nor is there any reason to panic about doing it, as long as you don't get carried away... An appropriate length of 4x4 and a decent bottle jack will do just fine...

 

[JGheen]

It should not need to be spread... ... ... ..... if done correctly



Bob

Please, fill me in on this "correct" way of doing it, Master Bob.



Joe

 

[JPittinger]

Mine's a 2500 auto, but I didn't have to spread'em. It won't come out straight down, but slide it forward past the mounting points and it will.

JJ

 

[Forrest Nearing]

yup, up and forward... mine was no problem.



Forrest

 

[SRadke]

Not sure what the diffrence is but I'm pretty sure you have to go back with a NV4500/4X4 combo. Forward would be a little tight.



-Scott

 

[DTroy]

I did spread mine to take it out. (only because I read on here that I should)

Then out of curiosity I tried to install it without a jack. It went in with persuasion from my mallet. I installed it from the back. I just put it in three days ago.

As the boys said, if you decide to spread it. . don't get carried away. It won't take much. There is a large taper, so don't go straight down with it until

you slide it back enough.

 

[JGK]

Not sure what the diffrence is but I'm pretty sure you have to go back with a NV4500/4X4 combo. Forward would be a little tight.



-Scott

Mine is a NV4500/4X4 2500 and we went forward to drop it out. No frame spreading needed. Did require a little whacking with a rubber dead-blow mallet here and there, but nothing severe.



-Jay

 

[JoshPeters]

My dually... with an Auto needed to be spread EVERY time it needed to come out. Even when I had put it in less than 24 hours before.



It's easy to spread... . For me it made more sense than missing with a hammer and denting or wrecking something else.



Josh

 

[Got Smoke?]

3 clutches in a previous 97 2500



1 (and the last!) in the current 97 2500



all 4 were done by driving the crossmember up and back with a BFH!



Don't worry about whacking the hell outta the thing, its metal it can take it! :-laf



You'll love the SBC Joe, check out my reply on PS.com :-laf

 

[WMonroe]

Mine came out with the help of a rubber mallet. Didn't spread the rails.

Will

 

[JoshPeters]

So far all the rubber mallet guys are 2500's. Anyone been able to do this with a 3500? I couldn't. I tried with a 5lbs HAMMER! No wussie rubber mallet for that crossmember... . it wouldnt' budge. And it had been out the day before!



Josh

 

[Turbo Thom]

What's the big deal anyway. Get the spread tool and get it out. A let quicker.



. . Preston. .

 

[JGheen]

What's the big deal anyway. Get the spread tool and get it out. A let quicker.



. . Preston. .

No big deal, just trying to make the removal easy and stressless, since this is my first time tearing into a Dodge transmission removal. Just want to get all the tips of the trade before I head in for the kill. :-laf

I might have to try that spreading trick if the 'ol sledge hammer doesn't work.

 

[JGheen]

Had to spread it....

Well guys, spent the half of Saturday ripping out the drivetrain out of my truck for my SBC clutch install and I ended up having to spread the frame a little to remove my crossmember. When the crossmember was unbolted it was still sitting in between the frame pretty tight. I gave it a few whacks with the 'ol sledge hammer and it moved, but I decided to go ahead and stick the bottle jack and some 4x4 pieces of wood in between the frame and crank it out a little and it almost fell out after that. Took a few more whacks but it came right out, forward and then down. Probably gonna be a b!tch to get back in there, but spreading the frame a little should make things much easier.

So I guess I answered my own question, on some models it falls right out and some you have to spread the frame a little. So on my early '98 12v 3500 I had to spread the frame... . for those of you who have the same truck.



Thanks for the replys guys!



Joe

 

[Cousin Billy]

Easier to spread it

For whatever my two cents is worth, it seems a lot easier to spread it. I put in twenty-six clutches in Rams last year and only did one with a bfh cause I could'nt find my little bottle jack. It takes about two minutes to spread the frame with no fuss involved. A little bottle jack is $13 at Wal-Mart, so cost isn't really the issue here.



I'm just a parts changer but that's my opinion,

Cousin Billy

 

[Turbo Thom]

Bottle jack? Why not a porta-power? All the parts are there.



. . Preston. .

 

[CurtisvilleCummins]

Take the two nuts off that hold the rubber mount to the crossmember, jack the transmission up to the floor boards, take the rubber mount out and the baracket that holds the exhaust, pound it straight up and move it back 6inches it will drop right into your hand. and then put it in the same way.