Transfer case crossmember question

[powerwagontim]

I was leafing through the TM today and my eyes fell on the instructions for installing the removable transfer case crossmember. It specified putting the bolts in from the top, nuts down. I glanced over at mine, and I had put the nuts up. Anyone have any idea why this would matter? Only thing I could come up with is crud might sit on the nuts and make them hard to remove later, but it seems there are other nuts-up situations!
Thanks for your input,
Tim

[Cal_Gary]

Hi Tim,
Simply put, if the nuts are on the bottom and come off, gravity holds the bolts (and crossmember) in place as long as you're not doing Gravedigger-style jumps. Obviously, under high torque, the assembly would "rock" one end of the crossmenber upward which is why PMCS is performed to ensure the nuts and lockwashers are in place.
Gary

[M37UK]

I was leafing through the TM today and my eyes fell on the instructions for installing the removable transfer case crossmember. It specified putting the bolts in from the top, nuts down. I glanced over at mine, and I had put the nuts up. Anyone have any idea why this would matter? Only thing I could come up with is crud might sit on the nuts and make them hard to remove later, but it seems there are other nuts-up situations!
Thanks for your input,
Tim

Which TM is that you are looking at Tim as I couldnt find any info on this when I was searching my manuals.

Cheers

[m37jarhead]

It's a common practice to install bolts with the heads pointing down, in, and/or towards the back.
Bolts on the rear, like the bumperettes, would point "in" towards the center of the vehicle.
There are acceptions of course but generally speaking you can't go wrong with the above advice.
Also, the bolt, when fully torqued, should protrude at least two threads out of the nut.
Just common sense there.

[Master Yota]

My crossmemer attaches to the bottom of the frame brackets. If the bolts where missing the CM would fall out. If all the nuts fell off, and the bolts where still there, the CM would still fall out. In the grand scheme of things it probably dosen't really matter if the bolts are up or down. But, if the truck is used offroad alot, put the nuts up. Goobered threads are a PIA. The bolt head will take lots of abuse and still do their job. Munched threads make things difficult to take apart should the need arise.

[Cal_Gary]

Hmm, just got back on line and I gave this some more thought after my initial response. I haven't been underneath mine in a while but I recall my crossmember being on top of the mounts. Yota is correct in stating if the crossmember is under the brackets it will make no difference-it will all fall regardless of the bolt direction. Now my curiousity is at work-I'll have to get the creeper and take a look.
More to follow,
Gary

[Lifer]

There are two reasons I can think of for installing the crossmember with the nuts on the bottom:
(1) If you lose the nut, at least you still have the bolt. The other way around, and you lose both.

(2) BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY THE MANUAL SAYS TO DO IT, YOU JACK WAGON!!

[powerwagontim]

Geeze, here I was pretty well convinced to leave them "nuts up" but not wanting to be accused of being a "Jack Wagon" is reason enough to switch them!
Consider it done Lifer
Tim

[Master Yota]

Yes, but a bolt without a nut is all but useless... Unless there is room for a random bolt and nut bin under the seat. My preference is to use Stover nuts on everything that I don't plan to take apart, and then Nylock nuts on the things I might need to take apart in the future. Put it together once, and leave it that way! I never do what I'm told when my way is usually better - JACK-WAGON'S of the world....UNITE!!!


(I love that commercial! )

[Cal_Gary]

Well I met the "Jackwagoner" aka Gunney R. Lee Ermey in Portland in 2008-an arrogant sob he was, to me and many others who attended the National that year. Too big for his own image, I suppose which may be why he wasn't invited back in 2009 or 10....
Gary

[Lifer]

Geeze, here I was pretty well convinced to leave them "nuts up" but not wanting to be accused of being a "Jack Wagon" is reason enough to switch them!
Consider it done Lifer
Tim

I wasn't "accusing" you (or anyone else). That was supposed to be an example of the "military" answer to the question. Didn't you see the at the end??

[hbb]

I met R lee Ermey at the Big Sandy Machine gun Shoot in northern Arizona 2 years ago and the man spent time with anyone and everyone there, Sooo I'm a think-en somebody must have been a mamby pamby hence they got the Jack Wagon treatment.

Not that I would no or anything like that!

hb