What the UPS guy brought me

MileHighDart said
USCar tool Transmission cross member for installing an A500 in my Dart.

Looks like a good piece, very sturdy and well made.

I am surprised that its not fully welded, the large U shaped piece that goes across the center is only welded on what would be the rearward facing surface, but isn't welded at all on top or bottom side. Still feels plenty strong, but sometime before final install, I'll probably run a bead on those seams.

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Agree about the allowong for possible Flex, mentioned further on up, not Welding up on ALL seams, but at the risk of coming across as a big head further ( as some have taken me ) but having experience growing up on the shop floor in my Dads w/shop-Factory production, General Manufacturing Engineers I was also haunting etc & the being taught ticketed Welding by a Boilermaker later, there's a strong chance, with their high per-hour pay rates, the Fab'ers were also keeping the per bracket weld time to a minimum: as they say time is money ...perhaps do as some mentioned - contact the manufacturer & ask if welds left off to allow for possible avoiding/allowing for flex stress points: but seeing more than a few Australian 'Hadfield' Brand conversions & swap crossmembers etc ( google them) , cross members are usually built for strength/rigidity, so if concerned probably wouldn't hurt to pop a spotweld in the top middle of that square stock & U & maybe 1 ea at ends of plate somewhere to triangulate it up (weld wise) a little & like on hotrod frames fill those exposed gaps with some Bondo/filler to stop dirt collecting ( leave the areas around the welds clear, for stress crack inspection later, if going into a serious transbraked launched, 5,000 stall type E.T. drag car).
Just my 2 cents. ( from what I've learnt both ends of the equation)
Best of fitting up wish's.
Trev.