Patent ID: 8353381

Claim:
A transmission cross-member fitting an A-body General Motors vehicle for supporting a transmission of the vehicle, the cross-member extending and connected to opposed rails of a frame of the A-body General Motors vehicle, the cross-member comprising: a center portion for coupling the transmission to the cross-member; a first outer portion extending essentially laterally in one direction from the center portion toward a rail of the frame of the A-body General Motors vehicle; a second outer portion extending essentially laterally from the center portion in a direction essentially opposite the direction of the first outer portion and toward an opposed rail of the frame of the A-body General Motors vehicle; a first flange extending laterally outward from the first outer portion of the cross member, the first flange having a first end and a second end substantially laterally in line with each other, the first flange being pivotably connected to the first outer portion of the cross member at the first end about a horizontal axis extending along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the second end of the first flange being connected to the rail of the frame of the A-body General Motors vehicle by a fastener oriented in a substantially vertical direction of the vehicle; a second flange connected to the second outer portion of the cross member, the second flange connecting the second outer portion to the opposed rail of the frame of the A-body General Motors vehicle; wherein the first and second flanges are removably attached directly to the rails of the frame of the A-body General Motors vehicle.