As mentioned, the way I would go about it is cutting the tube  @ the inner frame rail and welding pates on either end to fit within the rails exactly. I would also fabricate an outer rail plate to sandwich the the rail as it will have been weakened having removed the welded tube and having the open hole in the rail(s). Use GRADE 8 cap screws with shoulders and the proper torque value with possibly pals nuts to keep the frame rigid.

You would just have to figure if the cross-member will drop out or has to be slid rearwards to clear the trans.

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Yep, that's the troublesome bit, right in the centre of the diagram.

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Thanks fellas for digging out these examples. Clearly Lincoln and Mercury didn't share their frames. The Merc still had a ladder frame so that version certainly won't fit! It led to a decent Google about the different frame configurations over the decades. Quite educational.

Had to do a little digging to find it.

I have at least one in my garage.  I'll take a look when I get home later.  I'm very familiar with that bracket considering I have three 57's and a 56 Premiere.  

Hi Kingfisher,

There are a couple of Lincoln transmission crossmembers advertised on eBay - maybe those listings would help you decide if a Lincoln part would work.

Item numbers 312076745859 and 232680860976. I’ve attached a photo of the second one from eBay.

Mike

MplsMike
'56 Parklane
Minneapolis, MN

I haven't done this yet but it is still very much on the list. I don't suppose you (or anyone) have a photo of the Lincoln setup?

That can happen.  There are two different orientations of the "teeth"   and one can run things backwards.  I think it has to do with what side of the trans the cable goes in.  Most use the left side, but some, like my top loader 4 sped, go in on the right.





54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

I ran into the same issue with my 56 Victoria with Fordomatic. All I needed to do was to replace the speedometer gear and ended up pulling the engine and trans together. I learned the hard way that the incorrect speedometer gear will make the odometer run in reverse.