fj60 front crossmember

[blackandbluefj]

ok as the title says the front crossmember is the topic. 1987 fj60 building a winch front bumper and want to cut the front crossmember out and put the winch plate in between the frame rails nice and low so that it will take the place of the crossmember. Is this good or bad or should i just chop the front boxtube and just leave the back plate in. oh yeah winch plate will be 3/8" plate.

thanks all

Bryon

 

[blackandbluefj]

nobody has any thought on this. or am i in the wrong spot. I guess this isnt hard core. thanks for all your looking though


Bryon

 

[Kavik]

I would try the 60 section.

But, can you post a picture of the winch plate you are using?

I believe the crossmember you want to remove includes the radiator lower mounts. This may present some difficulties...

 

[Christian]

IMO I would not do it! I thought about it but have desided to use the x-member as mounting point fort he two bolts in the back of the winch. Of course strengthening the x- member with welded-in tubes...

 

[gsdog2]

I thought a lot about this; using, say a winch plate designed for an fj40; bolting or welding some L brackets to it; then bolting that to the frame mounts. Would have to push the stock bumper out a bit and maybe reinforce between the frame rails, but its cheaper than buying a winch bumper for $800. If anyone has thoughts on this it would be great on why it could or couldn't be done. Maybe ill draw up the idea and post it.....

 

[blackandbluefj]

well i now have a 350 in there and a new radiator so no mount the only thing is the goofy power steering cooling loop the have which i can relocate. as for the winch plate just good old 3/8 steel plate for the beginnnings of a front bumper. and i want the winch to mount down between the frame rails not on top of them. Im just thinking that the 3/8 plate is way stronger than the little crossmember. I just want some other opinions before i screw something up.

 

[D'Animal]

Look at Kling-On's build on his 60. He did something similar to what you are talking about. His winch is tucked way back in there.