Crossmember transmission support bushings

[derek]

I wonder if anyone has found any more recent solution for these. We’ve found ours to be completely shot and need to swap them out if we can find a suitable set of them.

I don’t hate the idea of getting some from polybushings.com as mentioned earlier in this thread but I have no idea on the dimensions of these things.

[Rockhauler]

I made a set from some rubber bushing I found some where, that was about 20 years ago so no idea where I got the bushing from.

But think one could make some from cab mount bushings or similar. Seen these on a quick search on eBay that might have some potential.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/305371463779?fits=Make%3AFord&_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110018%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.COMPLISTINGS%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D267076%2C266916%26meid%3D17aca228ee3e46f59eb7f9fc840ea775%26pid%3D101196%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D276191066247%26itm%3D305371463779%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2332490%26algv%3DCompVIDesktopATF2V4WithDefaultIMAFeature&_trksid=p2332490.c101196.m2219&itmprp=cksum%3A30537146377917aca228ee3e46f59eb7f9fc840ea775%7Cenc%3AAQAJAAABILUK373GZYwoSkhvUXwZwr2SLMQzpCH9tKsUlXR5IUOV%252Bm7SAr6RG3b6Z%252BxE1GpFDWlFwU1Sw2ILj861iLRCTQ%252F05pQDyc6iaxPNAJKC8PrVpX0O25wpN68oIokxh50EFfJxqTHGU%252BeUU8r9snil8hrzejBI0xfszaUOeqeWlrjI0NOOX2mAGFtuC5x80J2ccsJ1NrKoTWtyvQ7FxB4plYpdF57RtNyvC1lePqbac%252FntELRjidEwl%252BJYv9rtYM3eeR3%252FMrQhK7NG9%252BSGITes03%252F0K%252Fq9foDFnW4rRe94E2HyFvBMziHu%252FIM6N5JZaJejX1okM1hApWWqJzd9picIwIZjmKlih%252B7A2Zxeu3OKEIwg7xwsRjRDGmSkDwuIXshJyw%253D%253D%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2332490&itmmeta=01J0SHB537FE1Y04S7TBJYHJKE

[dirtymac]

How difficult are these to change out without a lift?  We were planning to have our tire/suspension shop do this for us if we can find the parts.  I'm not sure they would do it if we can't find the actual parts.

We did find on another forum an old link where someone used a set from the 60's model trucks but they welded washers to the cross member because of a size difference on the bushings.

[Rockhauler]

I do all the work on my own trucks, have no lift odd time when needed I'll block the truck up with timbers. If I remove the tires I'll crib the blocking so its less likely the truck could come down and crush me.

For the cross member I had to remove mine as it was badly rusted where the bushings go through it. Like you mentioned my repair involved enlarging the holes to solid steel and then welding in large washers.  

[dirtymac]

I spent a little more time under the truck this evening looking at the setup and the condition of these mounts.  I also found the diagrams and instructions for removing/installing the cross member in the service manual.  I have two issues to tackle.  First, getting this all apart and back together.  Second, finding the parts to do it with.

The manual has decent instructions for removing everything.  I do need some advise on how to properly lift the transmission and to support it and the transfer case.  The manual mentions a transmission jack, which I don't have.

The parts are more complicated.  The manual doesn't really describe the parts in detail.  From the diagrams, it looks like there are 4 similar diameter bushings (2 upper, 2 lower) and the uppers are slightly thicker.  There is the bolt and the nut and the bottom washer.  It looks like there might also be a sleeve but I can't tell for sure.  It would help if I could find dimensions on any of these parts.  I believe the bolts are 10mm or something similar.

Our crossmember appears to be in good shape.  No rust of issue but plenty of oil and mud.  The bolt holes don't appear to be worn out but I won't know for sure until I get the old parts off.  The lower bushings are shot and not actually doing anything right now.  The upper bushings are basically gone.  There are some bits crammed in between the plates.

I found this generic set of bushings on Amazon.  Their configuration and sizing looks close to what I suspect I might need.  They might be too tall though.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09MT8PJXN?ref=cm_sw_r_cso_sms_apin_dp_7RAS0PEPW5SWM3NGSP2D&ref_=cm_sw_r_cso_sms_apin_dp_7RAS0PEPW5SWM3NGSP2D&social_share=cm_sw_r_cso_sms_apin_dp_7RAS0PEPW5SWM3NGSP2D&starsLeft=1&newPreview=1&skipTwisterOG=2

[ArdWrknTrk]

I think that too tall is not a problem. You can take them down with a belt sander or a grinder and a 24 grit disc.

Bigger question is the durometer of the rubber, Will.  🤔

My truck doesn't have anything like this, just a normal transmission mount.

Are you doing this on solid ground or up in the air?
Usually the shop would use a prop with a threaded collar to hold up the tail shaft/output yoke.

[dirtymac]

We would be doing it in the drive way so concrete.  Which one is the tail shaft?  The connect between thr transmission and the transfer case is covered by a plate.  I can't really tell how the transfer case is mounted.  Honestly, it looks like it's just sitting on the plate, but I'm sure it is bolted onto something else somewhere.

[ArdWrknTrk]

I don't know if you have a divorced or married transfer case.

With unit cases there's a 'collar' that bolts to the 4x4 transmission and another flange at the other end that bolts to the input of the transfer case.

[dirtymac]

That's a good question. I think its married, but how happily I cannot say.  It's the Borg-Warner 1345.  It looks like it connects directly to the transmission but I'll get some pictures to help verify.

[ArdWrknTrk]

There's a sleeve with a flange on each end.
It's plenty strong enough to support the transmission from the output flange at the driveshaft.

[dirtymac]

I got side tracked on the additional pictures but I'll get them soon enough :)

In the mean time, would you happen to know if the Borg-Warner 1345 and the NP208 would use the same rear transmission support bushings?

[ArdWrknTrk]

I honestly don't know Will.

I don't see any documentation in the Transfer case section  but it may be in the chassis section.

At the very least you have the BW service manual and some pretty nice exploded illustrations.

[Gary Lewis]

I think they are supposed to be in Documentation/Suspension & Steering/Crossmembers.  But I remember looking recently and finding that the mounts, 6E039, aren't shown.

And I remember posting that all 4x4 transmissions took the same upper and lower, but I can't find that right now.  I'm installing spark plugs, but when I get done I can see if I can find it if y'all haven't.  

[dirtymac]

I haven't found anything definitive but I have read that it's difficult to find.  I found an illustration of the  rear transmission mounts but it was in the manual transmission section.  I think I posted that image already.  The info doesn't state which transmissions it is for.  This has been one of the more difficult things to figure out so far :)

[Gary Lewis]

I think it is fair to say that all 4wd Bullnose trucks used the same upper and lower "insulators", aka "bushings".  (I realize that these are all E1's and the 1980 trucks had to have had E0 insulators, but apparently they were replaced by the E1's show to fit the 1980 trucks.)  So, in order for people to search and find this post, all Bullnose 4wd trucks take E1TZ 6E039-A upper insulators, bushing, or mounts, and E1TZ 6E039-B lowers.

Now I need to put this on the webpage...

[Gary Lewis]

Ok, I'm confused.  Someone help me understand how these two illustrations fit with the above info.  How can all 4wd vehicles use the same upper and lower insulators and yet 1985/86 4wd vehicles use the 2nd one - and I know that's the one Big Blue has.  

[dirtymac]

Good question!  Those two options are very different from each other.

[ArdWrknTrk]

My '87 doesn't even have the bottom bracket (for a skid plate, I assume)

[dirtymac]

I finally got some pictures.  I found more holes in the floorboard than we were aware of.  On a brighter side, I think I found the bushings for sale.  I'll post that info higher up the thread.

The first two are just the basic setup under the truck and the skid plate below the transfer case and transmission junction.  In the first image, you can see how the two bushings don't look aligned vertically.



These are close-up images of the bracket and the bushings.  The first one is from the transfer case side of the junction.  Someone has put grease in the space where the upper bushings go.  The upper bushings are basically gone.  There are some pieces still sandwiched in there but they're no longer a solid piece.  One lower bushing is intact but they other is splitting apart.  Both spin freely. Oh, and the part numbers on one of the lower don't exactly match up with what the book says or at least I don't think they do.  I may clean it more later to see if I can read more of the number.




The rest of these are pictures of the junction.  So is this considered a divorced transfer case?  I think the answer is no but I have no idea.

[dirtymac]

I was over at BroncoGraveYard looking at brake lines and some how ran across a set of "Transmission/Transfer Case Mounts, Round Mounts 80-86".  They looked pretty similar to the pictures I've seen of the parts I think we need.  The dimensions listed sound like they would work.

Their description mentions the 4WD vehicles but they only have the part listed for the NP208 transfer case.  I emailed them to find out what they might know.  Turns out, they said these should fit any of the 4WD models so I ordered a set.  If they work out, I'll post more info and suggest they list them with the other transfer cases.

https://shop.broncograveyard.com/Transmission_Transfer-Case-Mounts-Round-Mounts-80-86/productinfo/31606B/