I was just doodling around jegs and I came across this exhaust system-

http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=191813&prmenbr=361

and this trans crossmember!

http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=180020&prmenbr=361

Please tell me that I am wrong- just go ahead and tell me. I just want to know if that crossmember fits!

Check it out-
Luke

I wonder what kind of mufflers it comes with? That crossmember does not look like it would fit but maybe it just the picture.

yes the member does fit that is not the right pic and the pipes do not have mufflers but it all is a great setup!

So, who has a pic of the correct crossmember...I'm curious now!

I would love to see a pic of the correct cross member too. 8-)

I knew it- I am a genius. You all can thank me later. haha. Who has this crossmember?

-Luke

OK Einstein, thanks, but where's the pic? :lol: Seriously though, this could be a big deal to a lot of ECC members if it's not something generic. Has anybody ordered one of these from Jegs? The price is a lot cheaper than the G-force crossmember. I just wonder if it's similar in quality and design, and bolts in?

Luke,
Before your head gets too big, Elky 81 350 posted this Feb. ninth. With little fanfare. Jon

7d8ss- yeah I'm just kidding. This time we should try to get some fanfare so we can find out if this infact will work on the meanos. The picture supplied in the online magazine doesnt look like a crossmember at all- kinda like 1.5 square tubing..painted orange. hmm.. I'll see if I can find that pic.

-Luke

That pic has got to be for an earlier model. I am sure their has to be a pic of the correct one somewhere. I think I am doing the mod your own route. 8-)

number one if yall are going to ask if someone knows about this stuff and then you are going to knock what they say then dont ask and second if you would call jegs they would tell you that the x member in the pic is a unaversal and that the on for the g body is not pictured and it is made be compition enginering for the g body to run true duels. for those who are looking for some help this is not aimed at you

???

... it is made be compition enginering for the g body to run true duels.
Sorry, but I don't think it's made by Competition Engineering. I sent them an e-mail inquiring about it. Here it is along with their reply:


We do not offer the part you describe. Try here:
http://www.geocities.com/gforcejohn/

----- Original Message -----
> To: <techhelp@moroso.com>
> Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2004 10:48 AM
>
>
> I have an 87 El Camino. I was told that Competition Engineering
> makes a replacement double hump transmission crossmember to allow
> for running true dual exhausts. Is this true? I have a 200-4r tranny.
> Could you please supply a part number? Thanks in advance for your
> reply.
>

number one if yall are going to ask if someone knows about this stuff and then you are going to knock what they say then dont ask and second if you would call jegs they would tell you that the x member in the pic is a unaversal and that the on for the g body is not pictured and it is made be compition enginering for the g body to run true duels. for those who are looking for some help this is not aimed at you

So did you get one of these from Jeg's? I assume that you did from what your saying. And it works fine, also assumed.

It doesn't look very strong to me but then its just a picture. I have the one from G-Force for my 80 and its set up for the 700R4 I am putting in it. It is absoultly a very stout and probably adds to the overall strength of the chassis. The one I got cost a lot more than that one does.

Ok fellows here are the fact. I just talked to the tech rep at Jegs and this cross member is apparently the same basic designed as the one G-force makes. If you ignore the picture with the ad which is unrelated to the cross member we are interested in. Read the description for the 78-87 G body cross member you will see the big difference is one is round tubing and the one we want is rectangular tubing. They do not have a picture but it is designed to work with the long tube headers so it would have to take at least a 3 inch collector and 2 1/2 inch exhaust it bolts in just like our stock cross member and is capable of competition performance. there is no shipping charge and only 8.95 handling and my order is going in now while you all debate the issue.

Harald K

... my order is going in now...
Ok Harald, when you get it, make sure you post pics of it from every conceivable angle. The inquiring minds here want to know what you get for $129.99 :wink:

yes it fits good and no i dont have one but a buddy of mine bought a elcamino that had one on it when he bought it and it works great

I just order the X-member and the exhaust system along with a set of hooker comp headers.

I'll post pics before and after installation.

Cant wait til you guys get some instalation pics and reviews of this *new* crossmember. We will see if it compares to the G-Force or not. Although I have only heard good things about the G-force crossmembers, I think that maybe they are more for the Hardcore race enthusiast. I really want to know if these jegs crossmembers are quality pieces.

Like I said- I cont wait!
-Luke

Yes I will post some pictures when it arrives. But if you look back when G-Force first put out their cross member it was only 159.00 until the word got out. JEGs is a much larger company with much more manufacturing capability through sub contractors. But they still have to consider liability. plus if it does not fit you send it back for a full refund at their expense. Lets face it is not rocket science to make one of these things so why should it not be priced reasonably. If it serves our purpose then it is worth every penny. Harald K

Well put- I mean If half the guys are just hacking there crossmembers in half, why couldnt a large company just produce a *pre* hacked one haha. Industry has come a long way when you can find a "custom" crossmember for an 84 El Camino within 4 clicks of the mouse!

i am very glad this topic got brough back into the light. Hope the word doesnt get too far and jegs raises this price!

-Luke

So Harald is the giuney pig. I might just wait & buy one of these instead If you give us a good word. 8-)

I just had a fantastic idea, why don't all you guys send me say $10.00 bucks each to cover the price of the cross member and I will do one of those magazine article type reports with the pictures and full installation instructions. Please no personal checks. Let me know so I can send you my mailing address. God sometimes I just amaze myself.

...why don't all you guys send me say $10.00 bucks each to cover the price of the cross member...
That's a great idea! Here's mine.
http://elcaminocentral.com/users/elcamino/pics/ten.jpg
Just print this page and take it to the bank.

Damn what a time for my printer to be out of that color ink. Perhaps you could send me the original to scan in. Thanks Harald K

Damn what a time for my printer to be out of that color ink. Perhaps you could send me the original to scan in. Thanks Harald K

I'm looking forward to your pics of the installation of this crossmember. If it works out, I also will purchase the one from Jegs. I was going to go with the G-force but it is expensive.

I do smell a group buy in the works. Now it's up to you Harald. No pressure or anything! 8)

Ok we'll know shortly. Ordered the cross member and it should be here soon. I did ask them if it would fit either trans 250,350, and the 700R4 and they indicated that it does fit all. I'll give you and up date when I get it with pictures. Harald K

YOU DA MAN!

We need to know, if this part is any good it will be one of the most important mods for all of us not only to allow installation of the dual exhaust but also to change out transmissions without having to cut and weld cross members. Everthing I have gotten from Jegs in the past has been first class so lets hope this will be too. They did clearly state that this is a bolt in member so thats a plus. Harald K

I did ask them if it would fit either trans 250,350, and the 700R4 and they indicated that it does fit all.
Hmmmm...

I'm suspicious now. They said it'll fit all of those trannys? The 200 and the 350 use the same crossmember but the mount for the 700r4 is about one inch further back. Maybe the hole is slotted?

I guess it doesn't fit the 2004r. :-(

While I did not ask about the 200-4R it should actually fit since the cross member is not an issue with the 200-4R installation it only moves back to the next set of frame holes. 84 and newer cars are already set up for it I believe it was an option and then standard on the 84 and later cars (G-body) so all the frames were drilled and set up from the plant. As for the 350 , 700R4 your probably correct the mount hole is probably slotted. I had to trim off about an inch and slot my original cross member when I changed to the 700R4. If I have to do that again with this one no big deal. I ran the head pipes to the passenger side and both back from there into a Y and then 2-1/2 inch into a flow master with one in two out. It sounds good runs good but I really want to run duals all the way back. Harald K

Received my hedman headers Monday. I plan on stipping the black paint they came with and applying a high heat coating.

The jegs x-member will be delivered today(tues)I'll post pics A.S.A.P.
I won't be installing it until the weekend hopefully.

The Jegs G-body dual exhaust will be here Friday.

Blackelk, Be sure to take pics of everything. Between you & Harald we should get some good feedback on these products. Thanks in advance guys. 8-)

Waiting for pics to drool over! Speed it up and get home from work!

-Luke

Just got home from work and here are the X-MEMBER pics and headers.

Friday I'll have the dual exhaust pics.

The x-member looks totally different from the jegs pic.

It looks pretty good

I'm not sure how to add the pics to the post so if some one wants i'll e-mail them to you and you can post them.

e-mail me at ninesixgixx@yahoo.com

Just sent you this email:

"Agh email them to me! Thanks for going out into the unknown and ordering the crossmember. I (and Elcaminocentral.com) thankyou!

-Luke
(NJLuke)"

I sincerely thank HaroldK and Blackelk for being our Test dummies and think we should give them a hand for being so laxidasical(spelling?) with their bank accounts for us!

Thanks again-
Luke

I just love cuddly little guinea pigs...don't you? :lol:

Blackelk, Sent you a email. Thanks, Tommy

I was able to put the X-MEMBER pics in my member cars gallery (5th generation) on page 10.(I just cant figure out :? how to add the pics to the post)

To the guys I e-mailed the pics to if you can please post the pics if possible for everyone to see

Thanks
Chris

:D :D :D Got the crossmember today and it looks to be worth every penny very well made even looks stronger than the one from G-force. I sent the pictures to Robert and ask him to post them since the format is rather large but I wanted to show the detail. I think who ever orders this part will be very happy with what they get. Harald K

From the pics it does look good. Take some pics of the exhaust when you get it.

Outstanding...looks great, I'm sure it will work! You guys did good! You have found a way to save our fellow members almost $100 bucks. That's what ECC is all about, sharing info so we can all improve our Elkys. My order goes in tommorrow! :D

Waiting for the "magazine style install article" !! Can't wait to see this exhaust too- that would be great if it works out with no hitches.

-Luke

Harald's pictures of the xmember: here. (http://elcaminocentral.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=19729#19729)

The jegs g-body exhaust was deliverd today I'l see it when iget home from work

I'll try and post pics hopefully i'll figure it out. :?

The exhaust system looks really good it apparently exits straight out from under the bumper .

It comes with all the clamps and hangers and mufflers as you can see in the pic.

Well here we go again I hope I get this right.

I'll try and post the pics

O.K. I figured it out but the pics are huge not sure how to make them smaller.

I cant make them smaller so here are links to the pics of the x-member and the exhaust. :D
http://elcaminocentral.com/users/blackelk/Captured%202003-1-1%2000002.jpg
http://elcaminocentral.com/users/blackelk/Captured%202003-1-1%2000003.jpg
http://elcaminocentral.com/users/blackelk/Captured%202003-1-1%2000004.jpg
http://elcaminocentral.com/users/blackelk/Captured%202003-1-1%2000005.jpg
http://elcaminocentral.com/users/blackelk/Captured%202003-1-1%2000006.jpg
http://elcaminocentral.com/users/blackelk/HEADERS.jpg
http://elcaminocentral.com/users/blackelk/X-MEMBER%2000003.jpg
http://elcaminocentral.com/users/blackelk/Captured%202003-1-1%2000008.jpg
http://elcaminocentral.com/users/blackelk/Captured%202003-1-1%2000009.jpg
http://elcaminocentral.com/users/blackelk/Captured%202003-1-1%2000010.jpg

Wow, nice! It didn't come with the mufflers too for that price did it?

Wow- nice pics!

It looks like a good kit! Make sure you take tons of pics when you put her in! Especially the headers and what (if any) you had to modify to get them in. Also- How she sounds!

Good job!
-Luke

Thanks for the detailed pics. If(should I say when) I do mine I will have to go shorty headers My mufflers were changed a year or two ago so I will just need pipes.

It came with everything pipes,mufflers,hangers and clamps.

The headers were separate they're hooker headers.

Jegs G-body dual exhaust P/N 055530556 169.99 +5.99 oversize shipping charge 175.98

Jegs G-body X-member P/N 055041050 129.99 delivered

Hooker comp headers P/N 05202451 149.99 delivered

TOTAL 455.96

Not bad considering some headers alone cost that much.

Looking at the pipe layout- is there a way to make side exit ehaust out of this? The are hangers in the end of the mufflers- so I think it's possible right? Thanks again

-Luke

When are you gonna install all this? (weekend project?)

Unfortunately this weekend is the wifes birthday so I can't install the exhaust until next weekend if it was up to her it would be done now since all that stuff is in the kitchen.



But i'll make sure and take plenty of pics during and after the install.

Blackelk, I am curious. Don't you have emmisions testing in NY? How are you getting around having headers & true duals? And yes, Take care of your wife first! :)

25 yr or older no emissions test.

Besides someone always knows somebody. ;)

Not that I know anyone. :roll:

I hope my 78 will be smog exempt after this year!

Hey- I was just sitting here thinking. Does the jegs crossmember come with new hardware? When I emailed G-force- there's came with new hardware. I just feel like I could have done better when I jiggling the crusty old bolts back into place on my brand new crossmember.

Just a thought
Luke

No it does not come with new hard ware. It should not be hard to find new bolts and nuts at the auto supply store.

No it does not come with new hard ware.
Get new stainless steel hardware. It'll only cost a few bucks more and you'll be glad you did when you have to drop the tranny again.

I figure I can stop down at Discount Auto and pick these up? Or would this be a hardware store ventour?
-Luke

The best selection for stainless steel hardware is a marine supply store.

Or a military base bench stock! 8)

One of the best places to buy good hard ware is "Tractor Supply" but I think they are only in the south west US. What every you get at least go with grade 8 strength. Harald K

I ordered this one for my 700R4 from "Rick" at Maliburacing.com for $100, plus $22 shipping.

http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/rhfisher57/detail?.dir=/5daf&.dnm=eb0c.jpg

That looks as strong as the G-force! Now maybe I'll hold off on ordering the one from Jegs...whats this guys Ricks' website, I couldn't find him on maliburacing.com?

I would like more info too.

look for iceman posts. hope you find it. good luck.

I emailed him and asked him to contact me, I also invited him to check out ECC and possibly set something up to allow our members to purchase his crossmember, through ECC. The cost is $100, if you need the extension that's an additional $20, shipping is based on zipcode but should be around $22, he lives in Missouri. It looks very similiar to the G-force, at about half the price! Please, lets not overwelm this gentleman with e-mails, lets give him the opportunity to contact us. If I hear from him I will immediately post something here. ElkySS let us know how the crossmember works out!

Thanks, Mike. I have got plenty of time. :)

Will let you know. I also asked him to post on ECC if he had the capacity to keep up with more orders. In his PM to me he said this was keeping him quite busy.

This is the thread on maliburacing.com for the crossmembers:
http://www.andersonlimited.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7029

Apparently he just recently started making and selling these.

I have been contacted by Rick, I had some questions for him, I am waiting for him to get back with me. It looks good, but he is starting to become overwelmed with requests due to the interests it's also generating at maliburacing.com. He has had to enlist the help of his wife to handle the correspondence. Should have good news though in the next day or two for any other members who may be interested! :)

Or a military base bench stock! 8)

Hell Yeah, all kinds of goodies in the bench stock. Bench Stock Monitor at Grissom ARB. Hope nobody has heard of waste, fraud, and abuse. 8-)

Chris

OK, I have been contacted by Rick, he has given me the go ahead to list this info on ECC. Rick can be contacted at Rick and Heidi Fisher <Fisher@mo-net.com> I purchased his crossmember thru Ebay. If anyone is interested I have his phone # and home address. PM me and I will be more than happy to put you in touch with him if you want one of these crossmembers. I don't think you can beat this price and get this kind of quality. There is also interest being generated in his crossmember over at www.maliburacing.com (in Forums) he is currently keeping up with the demand. His forums at maliburacing.com are posted under "Iceman" in the "classifieds" section.

Mike , I just shot him a e-mail.

Patiently waiting for mine to be delivered...well not that patiently. I've got to try and intercept the delivery man before he gets to the front door and my wife finds out...or then I'll have to listen to the "Well whad cha buy now?" routine. Try explaining why you need a crossmember to your not so automotive enthusiastic blonde wife. "Well doesn't the car already have one"?..."Yes hun it does, but not the right one, I need this one to run dual exhaust with headers"..."Dual exhaust with what? What's that? Is that gonna cost more money too?" :lol:

My crossmember, from Rick/Iceman, arrived yesterday. On my birthday, hee-hee. Beautiful piece.

Guys, this crossmember was first brought to my attention on Feb 28th. 8O It's fabricated by a guy that goes by Iceman (Rick) over at www.maliburacing.com As a lot of you know, there has been quite a few posts on aftermarket (both G-Force and more recently Jegs) and modifying stock crossmembers for use with true dual exhaust in 5th Gen Elkys. On Mar 3rd, I bought one of Ricks crossmembers off Ebay...his wife handles the items on Ebay and goes by the name "pitqueen" I have emailed Rick a few times about his crossmember. On Mar 6th, Rick fabricated my particular crossmember along with a few others, for guys that are members of maliburacing.com. I received my crossmember today Mar 11th. I opened the shipping box when I got home from work around 5:30pm. It's now 8:45 pm, and I'm still grinning ear to ear! :-D I couldn't be happier. Rick makes a QUALITY crossmember that is as good if not better than "G-you-know-who". I couldn't recommend Ricks piece any higher! You have to paint it yourself, which is no big thing, but man this thing is nice! It could easily handle the torque of a Big Block. If any of you guys plan on installing dual exhaust, I stongly encourage you to contact Rick about getting one. He makes them for just about all the different GM transmissions that came in your 5th Gen and may be custom installing in your Elky or any A/B body GM. It's definately worth the price. OH by the way it's not called a crossmember...it's called a G-body transmission support beam, that's because "G-you-know-who" I guess has been making a bit of a stink, guess they don't like the competition! :lol:

I had a fender bender :oops:about two weeks ago and it took another week to find the parts which has put the x-member and exhaust job on hold.I had to replace the left fender,header panel, bumper radiator support and hood.Luckily I came across a malibu at the local salvage yard and got the whole front clip plus the drivers door for $350 :) , not a bad price I think. I got the parts on and primed so hopefully i can do x-member and exhaust this weekend because I'm even getting tired of see this stuff in my kitchen.

By the way, if its snowing and you know there are steel road repair plates at the intersection, it's a good idea to slow down :oops: :cry: (I hit a hydrant post not another car)

Well I installed the jegs x-member and exhaust system on saturday. First let me say that I have never installed headers with the engine still in the car before and I have to say it wasn't that bad, it helped alot that i had a pit to work in so that was good. I'll try and keep this as brief as I can so lets get started.(sorry no pics during install just of finished job. post those soon)

The x-member went in pretty easy it lined up with the bolt holes pretty good and it looked good in place w/o the exhaust installed(more on that later). I used the same bolts I mention this because someone suggested replacing them but I just cleaned them with the wire wheel and spayed them with some rust-o-leum black a little loctite and they were good to go. I have a 700r4 that I'm going to install I hope it fits.

Then I ripped out the stock exhaust which came out with out breaking any exhaust bolts in the the block. The hooker headers went in but I had to remove the motor mount bolts to lift the engine and still had to push and pull for a little while for the drivers side to go in which it did from the top. The passenger side wasn't as bad as expected. My wife showed up and gave me hand (gotta give her props) she left after we installed them from the bottom only had to remove the oil dipstick (going to replace w/ lokar flex dipstick) I gotta say what a pain it was to line up the holes for the bolts I used a little loctite and a lock washer lets see if they hold.

Then I moved on to the jegs G-body 2 1/2"exhaust system. I have to say that the fit and finish isn't that great. First the pipe from the header to the muffler doesn't sit right down the center of the humps in the x-member but it does clear easily and you can fit a 3" pipe in there if you like, for some people this might be a problem personally I dont care because it clears and its under the car who's gonna see it. The muffler to the tailpipe which was supposed to exit under the bumper was a little short, what I mean is the bend in the pipe that goes over the rear end put the muffler about 4" away from the tailpipe piece so I have to use an extension from the muffler but once that's done it should be okay. The hangers have holes that line up with the clamps, but they dont so I had to slot the top hole to make them fit but that was no big deal (Thank god for air tools).

So if anyone is asking would I reccomend the jegs x-member I would have to say if you want it to line up like the G-force one then no, if you don't care then yes, but I understand theres a guy welding up x-members for like $100 so maybe you should go with that since it's cheaper than the jegs unit.

The headers the only complaint i have is that one of the spark plugs on the passenger side second from the back of the engine lines up directly with one of the pipes I cant even get the socket on it to tighten it up just hand tight. Any suggestions?

The exhaust system I would also have to say no, but for $175 I guess it wasn't that bad.

It sounds pretty good I'm most likely gonna change the mufflers because the sound is very aggressive I prefer a more mellow sound.

Sorry I dont have pics I forgot to bring the camera with me, but once my buddy called and said that I had the pit for the day if I wanted I just ran out to get it done.I will take some of the finished job soon.

Guess it wasn't that brief now that I look at it.

Just to let you guys know, Iceman has been selling his crossmembers about as fast as he makes them. He's sold twenty so far this month alone through Ebay and currently has one listed for anyone whose interested. It's item# 2469581258. I suggest that any members looking to install dual exhaust to at least check out the feedback on Ebay about his crossmember if you don't believe me about how good this crossmember really is! Did I say good...I meant great. His crossmember is much better than Jegs, and as good if not better than the G-Force...and a whole lot cheaper too! Check em out if you haven't already. This really is a great deal guys! :)