I believe this part here is the front cross member, but I'm not sure. Here's a picture, I circled the part in black:



It's really rusty, and the bolts holding the skid plate in have broken off. I tried to drill out the broken bolts, but I just messed up the holes (because I'm stupid). I want to replace that part, but I don't know if it's welded to the frame or if a replacement front cross member is even available. I read online from a chilton's manual that you can remove the cross member to get to the oil pan. It doesn't say that in my chilton's manual, though. I also read on some lift kits they make replacement front cross members. Is this the same part? Help!

edit - so i just went out and looked it looks like that not the front cross member. it's also welded on, i'm pretty sure.

 

The crossmember that you circled is welded to the frame, and the only replacements that I know of are fabed from bar stock (or cut off of a junked frame). The crossmember that is refered to in the manual is for the front suspension and can be unbolted. To reattach the front skid plate, use some large (like 6in diameter) hose clamps and go through the top skid plate holes and through that front crossmember. Mine has been attached like that for decades.

 

Hose Clamps why didn't I think of that! I though I was a MacGyver one more to add to the list!

 

crossmember is the one thats connected to your 2 bottom a arms on your suspension.. you can remove that one to get to the oil pan.. the front of your skid plate bolts to that front chassis bar, the bottom of your skidplate bolts to the suspension crossmember. suspension crossmember you can remove by wrenching bolts. the front chassis bar would have to be welded/cut to be replaced. IMO i wouldnt use that chassis if it has major rust issues

 

so what about replacing it? say with a thicker walled tube.

 

Like all else if you have the know how and tools to replace that front part that ties the frame together. It wouldn`t be all that big of a job.

If you had to pay me to do something like that depending just how you wanted it done it could get very expensive.

If you look the piece in question is attached inside the frame if someone wanted that all removed so the new piece fit inside as well that is where the labor gets intensive.

Just curious how bad is yours rusted out ??

 

Mine isn't too bad. it's just surface rust, mostly. The bolts are all in bad shape, though. When I rebuild the suspension for the rear end I replace every single bolt that I took out. I already painted the back end with por15, and I'm going to do the front end this summer. That frame in the picture isn't mine, I was just using it for an example. I'm also going to seal up the inside of the frame with some of that wax stuff, but I don't know much about that. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks for the replies. I'm slowly but surely getting this truck back in good condition.

 

there was a guy who wrote an article. about the Tacoma front cross members being a weak point. it was very detailed showing exactly where to cut, weld, etc i think i posted it once before. i gotta look.

 

here it is

http://www.nwtoys.com/content/123-fr...ification.html

 

you could add a piece of channel there. or what ever else feels right to you

 

there is also this

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=966689