First-Gen S10 Corner Carver

[HectorM52]

I love the "beefy" crossmember that you've got your exhaust running through.

HOWEVER, I would suggest making some sort of "removable access notch" or "access panel" or something that will allow you to remove your exhaust pipes without cutting them. At some point SOMETHING is gonna happen where you need to move something or do something and you're gonna have to cut stuff up.



So since you're still in bare metal, you could just go ahead and make this "notch" which essentially just cuts the bottom half of the tube-steel off. Then you box in that cut so the "top half" of the tube steel is still structural enough to be the crossmember. Then you "box" your notch with a hole going through there for two bolts, one on each side of the exhaust pipe. Then you weld two nuts up in the crossmember which will accept those bolts in the notches. So essentially you have a bolt on "loop" or "notch" or "access door" or whatever you wanna call it.

So when that time comes all you have to do is unscrew four bolts and you've got complete access to your exhaust system.

Then you can powdercoat both the x-member and the notches and all is well - no cutting or torching or welding in the future. All is safe.