Anyone have any photos of 1971 429CJ toploader crosmember, conflicting photos on internet
The 4 speed crossmember is the same as the one used for the 3 speed manual (and the C-4 auto in 302-2V Mustangs). Nothing special about it regardless of what may be posted online. Ford service part # is D1ZZ-6A023-B. The crossmember was revised in ‘73 for new crash standards and had a third hole and a reinforcement plate added to the bottom. This was to be used in conjunction with a revised transmission mount hardware setup that captured the tail of the transmission, preventing the powertrain from being ejected in a severe crash.
Searched WCCC website 1971 cougar “none in stock”, only has the 3 mounting “ears” automatic FMX or C6, even googled 1971 cougar 302 and could not find image, only show results for 1967-1970 cougar, makes me think 1971 D1ZZ-“B” version is rare, so i’ll look for 1971 mustang 302
The 302 was not available on any 1971 to 1973 Cougar, only on Mustangs.
What has me confused is the image WCCC has on their website for 1971 429CJ manual transmission has 3 slotted holes while the 1971 mustang 302 on EBAY has 2 slotted holes, but both have same part # D1ZZ-6A023-B?
Number of slotted holes is irrelevant for your purposes. There were two crossmembers for V8s in 1971, the four leg -B used on C4, 3 speed and 4 speed applications. The -A was the three leg for the FMX and C6 automatics.
71 Cougar 429 applications
71-72 351 applications
I am seeing more than two crossmembers.
Here is image of Ford MPC March 1974 edition 1971 crossmember part #’s for 351 engine. It has the 2/B and 4/B C/M trans with the “B” crossmember, in layman terms C/M is FMX. After more research concluded the “B” part # is correct for all V8 1971 manual trans and 1974 edition MPC part #’s showing “B” for 2/B and 4/B with C/M automatic trans are errors, and should be “A” as indicated in hemikiller image, would like to know MPC edition date hemikiller cited.
My copy is the 65-72 Mercury catalog dated Nov ‘75, so they corrected that error at some point, but the FMX wasn’t used behind the 4V engine these years. That error still exists in the 65-72 Ford catalog dated May 75. The 351-2V received both FMX and C6 transmissions, which I’ve yet to determine how that decision was made. My 71 H-code XR-7 hardtop was a C-6 car, as was a ‘73 XR-7 vert I had twenty some years ago.
There’s a similar error in the 65-72 Ford catalog with regards to the crossmember for the 72 302-2V Mustangs. The FMX and the C4 were both used that year only due to insufficient C4 production capacity from the new-for-72 Torino production. It was about a 60/40 split in favor of the FMX. The MPC simply shows “A/T” and the -A crossmember.
I think your 1975 copy of the MPC leaves a lot to be desired. Mercury and Ford used different crossmembers if the car received a big block or small block C6 for one thing. I don’t know if they used a FMX behind the big block in 1971 I think they were done with the MX transmission at that point.