[DavidG]

Jim,

The weakness of the two versions of the original '33 front cross members (the first and rarely encountered version carried over the 12" spacing of the front motor mounts and the second garden variety version with 17" motor mount spacing) was evidently beyond just the area above the front spring as the '34 version is much wider at the ends where the cross member is attached to the frame side rails. In addition, the riveted-on gussets in front that the radiator mounts on were widened.

It appears that Ford did not provide either of the '33 versions for service once the '34 version was put into production.


The photos below show the three cross members and the two different front gussets discussed above.


These cross member changes explain the progressive shortening of the V8 engine splash pans (once for '33s and then when the '34 cross member was adopted) as well.