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Removable Trans Tunnel ?????

Posted By: WILD BILL

Removable Trans Tunnel ????? - 11/17/09 12:43 AM

I've been contemplating making my tunnel removable. Is it really as simple as cutting the old one out or does the floor need to be reinforced some how? What would be the best material to use and how would I go about forming it without a palnel roller?

FWIW the car has a stock floor/firewall as well as subframe conectors and a cage.

Is this something I can do in my gagage or would it be better to farm it out to my chassis guy?
Posted By: Leon441

Re: Removable Trans Tunnel ????? - 11/17/09 01:17 AM

The stock floor pan has plenty of stregth to support a removable transmission tunnel. The torsion bar/transmission crossmember shapes the floor for the tailshaft portion of the tranny. You could easily cut the tunnel and form a peice of .032 alluminum for the tunnel. Drill and dzus fasten the alluminum to the floor. You will need to leave a 2" lip next to the firewall as this will be the most difficult area to seal. You will difineately need some bead rolls of some kind to give the panel some rigidity.

If you are simply trying to obtain a way to better access the bell housing bolts. It would be better to mark and drill the floor and get some plugs for the holes. Electrical box 1" plugs work nice. Just an option.

Leon
Posted By: VernMotor

Re: Removable Trans Tunnel ????? - 11/17/09 01:39 AM

You can look though all these pics and maybe help you

http://s241.photobucket.com/albums/ff92/vernmotor/Dart/
Posted By: Hunted Duck

Re: Removable Trans Tunnel ????? - 11/17/09 02:07 AM

Ya you can do it yourself. I've seen some of the other things you've built. This should be know problem. I got 3 fasterners on each side holding it together.

Attached picture 5609502-DSC00803.JPG
Posted By: blownzoom440

Re: Removable Trans Tunnel ????? - 11/17/09 02:29 AM

then the
Posted By: WILD BILL

Re: Removable Trans Tunnel ????? - 11/17/09 02:30 AM

I acctually have a lot of room to access the bell housing bolts on this car. But I would like a little more room and have easier acces to adjusting the shifter cable and installing the blanket. Not to mention that if I did want to try installing a sheild again it would be needed.

Jeff, I appreciate the vote of confidence. Just not sure I can get it done with out buying more equipment that I can't afford or justify.


Jamie, did you form it by hand or do you have a panel and bead roller at your disposal?
Posted By: Hunted Duck

Re: Removable Trans Tunnel ????? - 11/17/09 02:52 AM

All you need is a sawsall and and a pop rivet gun. I formed my sheet steel over a 55 gallon drum.
Posted By: WILD BILL

Re: Removable Trans Tunnel ????? - 11/17/09 03:03 AM

Quote:

I formed my sheet steel over a 55 gallon drum.





Don't have one of those either
Posted By: Hunted Duck

Re: Removable Trans Tunnel ????? - 11/17/09 03:10 AM

Quote:

Quote:

I formed my sheet steel over a 55 gallon drum.





Don't have one of those either

Dang Bill...lol. Gotta have something around the garage????
Posted By: WILD BILL

Re: Removable Trans Tunnel ????? - 11/17/09 03:37 AM

I might be able to use an old steel wheel. I'ld have to find something for the other end.

What about rolling the beads.

And where might I be able to get the material? can't get something that big at the hardware store.
Posted By: Hunted Duck

Re: Removable Trans Tunnel ????? - 11/17/09 03:47 AM

I didn't bead roll mine. I would say a machine shop has the sheet steel you need. Just use your knee for the other end
Posted By: dvw

Re: Removable Trans Tunnel ????? - 11/17/09 04:05 AM

I didn't make mine removable as the trans still has to come out the bottom. I did enlarge it to fit the shield and remove trans and components easily. I bent it over a 8" peice of pcv from Home Depot.
Heres the cut.
Doug

Attached picture 5609746-5214948-car025.jpg
Posted By: dvw

Re: Removable Trans Tunnel ????? - 11/17/09 04:09 AM

I slid the piece in the hole. Tack welded the edge and welded it from the top. Then I went to the bottom and trimmed off the excess sticking thru. I welded underneath and metal finished the edge. Heres the finished product. Plenty of room.
Doug

Attached picture 5609751-5214954-car037.jpg
Posted By: VernMotor

Re: Removable Trans Tunnel ????? - 11/18/09 02:21 AM

Quote:

I acctually have a lot of room to access the bell housing bolts on this car. But I would like a little more room and have easier acces to adjusting the shifter cable and installing the blanket. Not to mention that if I did want to try installing a sheild again it would be needed.

Jeff, I appreciate the vote of confidence. Just not sure I can get it done with out buying more equipment that I can't afford or justify.


Jamie, did you form it by hand or do you have a panel and bead roller at your disposal?



Sorry Bill I just seen this..I have a bead roller and Shrinker & Stretcher tools..Do you know what a buck is? I made one for the tunnel shape..I have a welder..Lots of hand air tools..One thing us old men have is lots of tools LOL
Posted By: WILD BILL

Re: Removable Trans Tunnel ????? - 11/18/09 02:25 AM

I've got a pretty well equiped shop out back but I don't have anything for doing sheet metal work.


Quote:

Do you know what a buck is?




No I don't
Posted By: VernMotor

Re: Removable Trans Tunnel ????? - 11/18/09 02:37 AM

It is a wood mold you make. to fit your metal around to shape.
Posted By: WILD BILL

Re: Removable Trans Tunnel ????? - 11/18/09 02:42 AM

Wood?




All I can make out of wood is charcoal and saw dust
Posted By: Anonymous

Post deleted by Defbob - 11/18/09 03:04 AM

Posted By: sg66mopar

Re: Removable Trans Tunnel ????? - 11/18/09 03:33 AM

Looks to me like that scoop on your car is about the right shape. Go for it.
Posted By: WILD BILL

Re: Removable Trans Tunnel ????? - 11/18/09 03:47 AM

Is that how you did yours?



Posted By: 72chrgrally

Re: Removable Trans Tunnel ????? - 11/18/09 03:56 AM

Hey Bill why do you want to make your tunnel removable? I raised and pushed my engine back in the engine bay and I had to raise the tunnel. I just cut it out and repositioned the top of the tunnel, re-welded and made some filler pieces.
Steve
Posted By: sg66mopar

Re: Removable Trans Tunnel ????? - 11/18/09 04:02 AM

Yeah, I think mines a little rounder on top than yours. Worked great. Put a little duct tape on the scoop so you don't scratch it up too much. Seriously, anything with around a 10" radius will work. Cut a chunk of plywood into a 10" circle, split it into two half circles, stand the two up on edge abot a foot apart and nail a couple short 2x4s in between.
Posted By: WILD BILL

Re: Removable Trans Tunnel ????? - 11/18/09 04:07 AM

Quote:

Hey Bill why do you want to make your tunnel removable? I raised and pushed my engine back in the engine bay and I had to raise the tunnel. I just cut it out and repositioned the top of the tunnel, re-welded and made some filler pieces.
Steve




Have you seen how often I tend to pull it




Quote:

Yeah, I think mines a little rounder on top than yours. Worked great. Put a little duct tape on the scoop so you don't scratch it up too much. Seriously, anything with around a 10" radius will work. Cut a chunk of plywood into a 10" circle, split it into two half circles, stand the two up on edge abot a foot apart and nail a couple short 2x4s in between.





It looks like we have the same scoop

Thanks for the run down on how to make a mold.
Posted By: Anonymous

Re: Removable Trans Tunnel ????? - 11/18/09 04:49 AM

Build the form out of wood.
Posted By: chryco

Re: Removable Trans Tunnel ????? - 11/18/09 01:01 PM

I found I didn`t have to remove the whole tunnel . I made a panel for the right side and the Glide' with ATI shield cleared OK.
Chryco

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Posted By: 72chrgrally

Re: Removable Trans Tunnel ????? - 11/18/09 02:47 PM

Quote:

Have you seen how often I tend to pull it



You should use a zipper to hold it in then.
Posted By: WILD BILL

Re: Removable Trans Tunnel ????? - 11/18/09 04:18 PM

Posted By: smokinwoody

Re: Removable Trans Tunnel ????? - 11/18/09 07:03 PM





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