wasfast
Well-known member
Alternatively, 867-5309 could work for the part number too







Andy I really like your theme. I come and watch all the time.
I'll steal a little of Andy's thunder, don't tell him, I'm sure he would hate a thief. As y'all have seen Andy has been working on building a pattern off of the cross member I built to cast it from aluminum. This will be going in my '57 Chevy I'm doing a lot of work on including a 6 speed manual trans swap and frame stiffening that required a one off design. Here was the original cross member, don't judge it too harshly please:
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I brought him a hundred pounds or so of aluminum to replenish some of his stock. Here is the stock he chose to use, mostly old duramax parts so I'm at least keeping the material all GM:
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From lighting until everything was melting and poured only took 21 minutes. I didn't get a photo of the pattern but here is the master at work pouring:
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Fresh out of the sand:
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Machining off the sprue:
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New vs. old after a little cleanup:
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And including his stamp of approval:
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I've done some more work on it and started drilling holes to get it all installed, so far so good. Thanks a ton for the help in creating another one off part that will only be seen by a select few, and roadkill.
JB
That is awesome work, on Andy's part as well as you. Cant wait to see the finished product installed!
JB: while your part probably would have worked ANDY (and his assistant-you) did a great job on that new part. not many might see or know its on your 57 rebuild, but you will and I bet that will keep Andy and all of us smiling.
ANDY: looks like it worked out well. is the line in the pour where two pours meet or just a look the aluminum has when you pour that much into the sand?
WELL DONE SIR!!
hope you enjoy your day while i'm resting and reading and learning and ORGANIZING (in my head) today.
cheers
Hopefully Andy doesn't mind too much if I answer your question drives. That line above his name is where two pieces of foam were glued together. Here is the foam mold before the sprue was installed and painted with drywall compound:
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Another angle:
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You can see where the different pieces of foam were glued together and eventually they left tell tales in the finished part:
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Also just to update everyone I have all of the holes drilled and tapped as necessary. I installed it this morning before work:
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Once again I'd like to say thank you to Andy.
JB
Wow! What's the weight differance?
That’s just plain cool. Great job Andy. Another part where a future owner or buddy will be searching the web for a JBM brand cross member.
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Top job![]()


Very nice! It's really cool what you're able to cast.
I'm lucky that my local scrapyard will sell material that they take in. I think last time I bought it was $.30 lb for I beam and square tube.
I meant to weigh it D.M., but don't have a scale that will accurately weigh something that small. I'd guess a pound or two as a complete guess.
I should stamp P/N "BR-549" on it just to mess with people down the road. Of course by then they could 3D scan it then 3D print it with their phone. Actually not too far off from that now.
JB

Alternatively, 867-5309 could work for the part number too![]()
THIS
THREAD
JUST
GETS
BETTER
AND
BETTER.....!!!!
Awesome work guys, I was sitting here in my chair chuckling away while reading this update on the crossmember.
Stellar work.
And having been there, I feel privileged that I understand a bit more about the processes and just how much work goes into it.
Like seeing your first child being born, this has to feel amazing.
Thank you both for sharing, Andy and JB.
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Andy: while you are probably working on something else or maybe rounding up more aluminum i apologize if it sounded like your new part you made from JB wasn't perfect. as JB mentioned the line i saw as 2 pours was actually where the mold was glued together.
I also have been to JB's thread and saw that he made a couple tweaks and the cross member you made is now on his car.
VERY WELL DONE GUYS!!
hope you are enjoying you day and doing whatever you love to do and hope all is as good as can be with your bride and your critters.
cheers
Very nice work. Have a Merry Christmas all. Bobby
The cross-member looks great Andy. [emoji106]
Thanks for the update JB.
In case I don't get back here...
Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New year to you and your family Andy.
Sent from my SM-G950F using The Garage Journal mobile app
The cross member turned out Great!!!!! Thank you for posting how you created the pattern! And thank you and Jb on showing it being done.. I find your work intriguing. Oh how I'd love to visit and learn from you..
Merry Christmas Andy..
Ripped it on home and got home by 4:30 for her to watch Jeopardy.Andy,
Sounds like a great Christmas trip. Just what your friends needed.
Have a great Christmas weekend with family and friends.
Dwight
Andy, wishing you and yours have a merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year![]()

Andy that feed is making me hungry
Its lunch time here..![]()
Gunzzz!!!
Looks like you have it all under control.
Merry Christmas Andy!
Bret
Merry Christmas and a happy new year to you and your family!
Sent from my LG-H918 using The Garage Journal mobile app
Merry Christmas, Andy! Looking forward to another informative New Year. i have learned a lot this past year from you and your posts.
Andy tried to send a PM ?? Could you list or PM me (if it's still possible) the name and address of the tire store in Supulpa. I have a friend who has researched every old Ford Dealership in the U.S. He will check it out. Bobby

Andy: while I'm sure the trip to Houston regarding the circumstances can't have been FUN so to speak i'm happy to hear you made it and that your friends and wife (and you) were able to see each other cause sounds like the days are numbered that the 4 of you will be able to do that. also sounds like your friends are GOOD PEOPLE like you certainly are.
Also like so many of us here at GJ it's been a pleasure following along with ANDY'S ADVENTURES cause probably not a better ride to be found.
here's to a MERRY CHRISTMAS and another good year in 2019 with you and your CABOOSE, 60 tractors, Studadakota and of course your melting metals just to name a few things.
Andy
Just stopping by to wish you and your family a Very Merry Christmas and looking forward to a new year with plenty of adventure on the farm.
Also would like to thank you for the many visits to the party garage this past year!
Don
Andy,
Best wishes to you and yours for the Christmas and in the new year!
Cheers!
Andy, I wish you and Sharon (and the rest of the tribe) a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. You're a better brother than I deserve.
Nice AK!
We shot trap on Thanksgiving and will get the ARs out tomorrow
Thank you for all your wisdom throughout the year. May you and the Mrs. have a merry Christmas and a super New Year.
When people used to ask how I was doing at work, I'd respond "I've been better, but I've been worse. Knowing how life goes, I may not have had my worst day yet, but there's a chance I've had my best day. Oh no, I hope not!!"
May 2019 be the best year yet!

Merry Christmas!!!
Merry Christmas Andy, hope you have a great day and all the best for 2019
I like this. I usually say, "At least I'm not out to sea, I'm not in jail, and I'm not in the hospital. I've been in all three, and and they are all worse than being here."
Merry Christmas, and thanks for keeping this thread going. I learn a lot here. Some of it is even useful.![]()
Happy Christmas Andy. I pray it's filled with love and joy.
Andy: I think the Oklahoma wind is blowing up some smells of homemade pumpkin pie. YUM!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!



Andy I trust you have had a great Christmas day.
Congratulations on finally getting the pour done well..![]()
Andy,
Great the holidays are going well.
A brass punch is a good way to repurpose a cut off
Dwight
Andy
I hope you & the family enjoyed a great Christmas Day, and are preparing for a couple of relaxing recovery days.
Here’s to a great & prosperous 2019.
Lyndon
Down here watching the start of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.
Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app
Oh, she {the turkey} could go to dinner...on a platter!
Talking turkey.
Looks like a good result around with the baking and casting.
If my dad was there, the turkey would become a passenger.
Hey Andy, I'm glad you're Christmas has gone well!!
I have a suggestion on the mold halves I think you called it the flask? For your long dive pump cap to help with alignment could you add 2 longer pieces of angle to the other 2 corners, or add a pipe in bushing.. if you were to look up a plastic injection mold the 2 or 4 leader pins on the outer corners of the mold generally keep the mold halves lined up when opening and closing the mold.. might help when separating the halves having the extra length..?
Good luck.. and thank you for sharing your experiences..
Mike
I wish you happiness, health and love in 2019.