Crossmember help

[rockin86ranger]

I’m laid up but want to get my ranger going when I get better. The problem is I lowered it too much and the driveshaft hits the crossmember at the back of the cab. The truck is an 86 regular cab short bed, it’s static for now but bags in the future. My question is as far as notching it what size pipe should I order to notch that crossmember. My plan is to get some big thick wall tubing and cut it in half to make the notch. I’ve got some 6” and some 8” in my cart online I also need to know how long of a piece do I need to fill the crossmember completely front to back.

long story short should I get the 6” or 8”diameter pipe and how long does it need to be to notch the crossmember at the back of the cab to keep the driveshaft from hitting.

 

[franklin2]

I am guessing you want to use the pipe and weld it in front to rear for the driveshaft to sit inside? Is that necessary? Do you have room to cut the crossmember out completely in the center, and then just bridge the gap on top of the cross-member with regular flat steel or square tubing/angle of some sort? Pipe is so hard to work with.

I guess you are using the same theme as they use to notch the frame for the axle? The cross-member is not thick and tall like the frame is it?