cutting the trans tunnel for a replaceable panel?

[DSG2003Mach1]

anyone have experience with cutting a panel out of the trans tunnel in such a way it can be put back/taken out again going forward and look halfway decent?

I've got the magnum trans and with my Moroso road race pan and Steeda K you can NOT tilt the trans enough to get to the front shifter bolts/get the shifter out. I am by no means a fabricator type and I'm a little hesitant to cut up such a nice car. It would need to be around 6" long and the width of the shifter but not sure how to make a straight/clean cut and then what would the options be to reattach it?


Having to drop the trans to do anything with the shifter just seems ridiculous and I'm getting too old for this shit. Shifter from tremec has the little seal going bad again so that's going in the scrap pile.

 

[Blkkbgt]

I don’t see why making a panel isn't possible but I suggest finding a car in a junk yard to make your panel from.

This will speed up the process.

Cut a section from the junkyard car larger than the hole you intend to cut.

This will allow you to overlap the hole and make it a cleaner install. I would drill both pieces for screws and use rivnuts or nut plates. You could fill the gap created with some foam or neoprene.

However not to insult your intelligence or wrenching experience, have you tried loosening the motor mound nuts? Not the three bolts just the two nuts?

I did this recently and it gave me a little more angle. Maybe it would be enough?

 

[DSG2003Mach1]

I don’t see why making a panel isn't possible but I suggest finding a car in a junk yard to make your panel from.

This will speed up the process.

Cut a section from the junkyard car larger than the hole you intend to cut.

This will allow you to overlap the hole and make it a cleaner install. I would drill both pieces for screws and use rivnuts or nut plates. You could fill the gap created with some foam or neoprene.

However not to insult your intelligence or wrenching experience, have you tried loosening the motor mound nuts? Not the three bolts just the two nuts?

I did this recently and it gave me a little more angle. Maybe it would be enough?

Good idea on the junkyard panel and riv nuts.


I didn’t mess with the motor mounts because the front of the oil pan hits the k member, there’s not much clearance at all front to back. We had it up on a lift looking at all that before we went ahead and pulled the trans

 

[Blkkbgt]

Good idea on the junkyard panel and riv nuts.


I didn’t mess with the motor mounts because the front of the oil pan hits the k member, there’s not much clearance at all front to back. We had it up on a lift looking at all that before we went ahead and pulled the trans

That's makes sense. I didn't understand how the pan played into it.

I honestly think you could make a nice cover in a day maybe less taking your time. Depending on how you want to paint it you can also pick up some E coat touch up.

 

[DSG2003Mach1]

That's makes sense. I didn't understand how the pan played into it.

I honestly think you could make a nice cover in a day maybe less taking your time. Depending on how you want to paint it you can also pick up some E coat touch up.

Trying to cut it out at the junk yard might be the trick, not sure my chordless dremel and cut off wheel won’t take all day. Even if I rough cut something out I could clean it up at work with the plasma

 

[96dreamer]

Sawzall cuts through the floor pan like butter. I cut the trans mounts off a new edge to put in my 96, took maybe 5 minutes