Saginaw gearbox mounting issues

[truggier]

Trying to mount a Saginaw gearbox combined with a Proffitt's SOA / shackle reversal, kinda like Camcruiser13 did in this thread:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/111354-shackle-reversal-write-up.html

However, I'm having some clearance issues. The front hangars are interfering with dropping the gearbox too far, and the top mounting bolts for the gearbox are passing through the top of the frame as it sits now. I figure I could either

a) Move the front hangar outboard further, but it's already further outboard than inboard - how far can I safely move this out? Also, for the top gearbox bolt nearest the engine, I'm not sure I can pass this through the frame even if I drop the gearbox alot - and when I drop gearbox alot, the gearbox bracket is coming really close to the leaf spring.

b) Divot the top of the frame rails and weld in tubes for the top mounting bolts to pass through (and beef up the drivers side outboard frame rail with another plate, which I was going to do anyway). However this isn't very pretty (I'll have two 'bumps' on top of the frame rail on that side, and also will give me issues if I try to use the stock bumper mounting brackets and tow hooks...

Anything I'm overlooking? Suggestions? Knocks upside the head?

 

[Junkygoat]

no prob

if you put it high where the two top bolts are hitting the top of the frame then notch frame where the bolts will pass use round metal and cut them to frame width. bolt them in place. tac the round metal in place. remove power steering and throw the finish bead. drill through the frame for other bolt locations and install power steering.
On the expensive end toss the shackle mounts go to btbprod.com and buy their kit and that kit will give you plenty of room. hope this helps simple fab.

 

[truggier]

A few more pics...you can see in the first one that if the gearbox is dropped much lower, it will hit the spring clamp.

 

[truggier]

if you put it high where the two top bolts are hitting the top of the frame then notch frame where the bolts will pass use round metal and cut them to frame width. bolt them in place. tac the round metal in place. remove power steering and throw the finish bead. drill through the frame for other bolt locations and install power steering.
On the expensive end toss the shackle mounts go to btbprod.com and buy their kit and that kit will give you plenty of room. hope this helps simple fab.

Thanks. Yes, I guess I am leaning towards the first option you discussed (I mentioned the same idea in my initial post). I'll figure out a way to do the bumper / tow hooks later.

That kit from btbprod.com is cool but I think it would have the exact same problem - my gearbox would hit the front hangar unless I moved it (way) over, and the bracket they have gets too close to my leaf spring clamp.