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Well, I almost got my cross-member finished today. Actually I thought that I did get it finished. I used some pieces of 1/2" plate to create a base for a new plate to strengthen the surgery site. I then used some 3/16" plate to create a new surface for the bottom of the cross-member. It basically protects the pinion in the same way that the original did, but stronger.

Unfortuately the fact that I am welding 20+ miles from the truck came back to bite me. Since I wasn't checking the fit as I went, I failed to notice that the cross-member had bent at the point of the cut. The only solution was to cut the new plate. I will weld on a patch on Monday.

Before anyone asks, there are no pictures.

With the drop section, that part of the cross-member is now at the same level as the bottom of the pumpkin, so I didn't lose any ground clearance.