Well I found what was wrong. The steady rest bracket on the "replacement" crossmember is a different profile with the sides sitting up almost 1/2" whereas the original is flat.
The first photo is the Goodell bracket, the second is the original.






Rick - West Australia
Do Y Blocks Downunder run upside down? Gravity Sucks!!

Loosen the motor mounts put a board under the pan and slightly lift the engine. That may give you the room you need to get the steady rest in. I know its not needed but it would probably make you feel better if it fit. Chuck

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

Remember when you did mine Rick the rest was tight too, the old mount was already squashed probably making it easier . I have put a new rubber in there but not without modifying it, that's with new engine mounts too. God I had a hell of a time putting a new front crank seal in pfft! 



"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"

The engine mounts are in the correct way with the opening facing to the back. I think the problem is as much the engine mounts as anything else. They are brand new and are probably causing the engine to sit 3/8" too far forward.

Rick - West Australia
Do Y Blocks Downunder run upside down? Gravity Sucks!!

The engine mounts are in the correct way with the opening facing to the back. I think the problem is as much the engine mounts as anything else. They are brand new and are probably causing the engine to sit 3/8" too far forward.

Rick - West Australia
Do Y Blocks Downunder run upside down? Gravity Sucks!!

The engine mounts are in the correct way with the opening facing to the back. I think the problem is as much the engine mounts as anything else. They are brand new and are probably causing the engine to sit 3/8" too far forward.

Rick - West Australia
Do Y Blocks Downunder run upside down? Gravity Sucks!!

It is possible that the motor mounts are backwards. That will move the engine forward an inch or so. At this time I don't recall the correct way but it should be obvious looking at one. The bottom stud is offset. Chuck

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

The crossmember, which was from Goodell Fabrications can only fit in one place height wise. The correct positioning is to use the markers that the factory use. I am positive the issue is not due to misalignment of the crossmember. This engine has been recon'd and new engine mounts fitted to engine. I am more concerned that the mounts may not have the engine sitting where it sat before. I don't have the gearbox fitted as I am installing this from underneath the car. The car has been repainted and I did not want to risk damage/scratches to the firewall. I probably won't know what is going on til I get the gearbox in as well.
I have fitted a similar crossmember to another car using its original mounts without removing the engine - no problem whatsoever.
The problem seems to stem from the engine being too far forward- maybe I'll try the original engine mounts and see where it all sits. I am only talking about 1/4 - 3/8" of misalignment. The front edge of the steady rest is also hard up to and rubbing on the radiator support bracket and may actually be pushing this down as I noticed one of the spring mounted bolts is hanging loose. It seems the engine may be pulling this down.
A get around for it seems to be grinding off part of the vertical edge of the engine stay mounting plate which is part of the crossmember as the engine stay is sitting on this, but if the engine was 1/4" back this would probably not be an issue.
Without the engine stay fitted there will be no problem as apart from this everything seems to be fine with a good clearance from the firewall for accelerator linkage, though I am using a Lokar setup.
Thanks for the replies.

Rick - West Australia
Do Y Blocks Downunder run upside down? Gravity Sucks!!

I also run the steady rest in my 54.


54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

Is this the item being discussed? I still have mine.

~DJ~ AKA "Bleach"
1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan 30K original miles