I'm trying to add a 1/2 bath to the second floor of my 1900 farm house. My DWV pipe passes right through the recessed 1x4 that runs accross all the studs that my second floor joists "sit" on. Can I cut this small section of 1x4 out so I can get my DWV line through? All the floor joists will still be sitting on this 1x4 & still be face nailed to each stud.

Thanks,
Dan

the ledger is there to carry the load of the floor joists. the face nailing is not sufficient alone. you can cut the ledger if you first thru bolt the floor joists to the studs with a couple of galvanized bolts, washers and nuts in each stud on either side of the cut. then cut the ledger making sure to leave enough of the ledger for the joist to sit on.