patching floor after cutting hole for Tremec

[ledphoot]

hey guys,

my first attempt to cut / patch the floor didn't provide enough clearance. So I bout the template / patch panel from silver state... anybody "massage" this patchnpanel in to place? Any tips? gonna try and wrap this up so the cuda can motivate under its own power come saturday...

thanks everybody..

hope you are all well and your families are safe during these strange times. 

[Brads70]

Which one did you get? Curious as I was looking at these for my Javelin project.
https://shiftsst.com/store/tunnelhumps.html

[IRON MAN]

I installed a TKO 600 in my 56 Chevy coupe. It had many different transmissions through the decades. Pulled a Muncie 4 spd out and replaced it with the TKO 600. The tunnel had a large irregular hole for the different shifters it had through the years. Made my on patch panel and mig welded it in place. Then cut a hole for the TKO to clear the floor. Installed an Eckler's patch panel on top using nut rivets. This way if the TKO needed anything the panel would allow access.

[ledphoot]

My Cuda is a factory 4-speed car so it already had the manual transmission tunnel hump in place. The "kit" from SST has 1" of aluminum spacers to raise the taleshaft for proper drivetrain angle. When you install that the top right of the transmission makes contact with the right side of the transmission tunnel. They have a template that you use to cut that side of the tunnel and provide clearance. Then there is a ~10x12" piece of tin that you need to bend in to shape and weld / seal / paint. trying to figure out how to get that metal shaped. I tried once and failed miserably. LoL don't ever ask me to do body and paint, that's all I can say.

[ledphoot]

This was my first attempt, it needs to arch up a little more to creat about a 1/4" more clearance. It lightly touched the transmission at one corner on the top right.

[Cudakiller70]

Can you remove patch and post pic showing opening. If I was just trying to patch it I'd take a crescent wrench and flare up (go easy not flaring too much at a time and test fit patch) existing metal around opening just enough to get clearance between metal and trans. Sometimes you need to put a slice in corners to get a better gradual transition. But then those slices need welding/patching. How nice of a floor transition are looking for?

[Daveh]

I did the same, the corner of my TKO 600 was touching so I cut some out and welded in a new piece.  Just be sure you have enough clearance sometime when you weld in it can tend to shrink on you. 

[ledphoot]

I will be back out to my shop on saturday and take some pics. i like the crescent wrench idea. i was also thinking of putting the transmission back in with some hard 1/4"-3/8" rubber on top top help for and ensure clearance for the patch.

[ledphoot]

I found a picture of the initial hole I cut by eye.. I have since used the SST Template and opened the hole up a about 1.5" towards the firwewall and down the right side of the tunnel.

[jimynick]

If you have a good sized ball peen hammer and can find a sandbag you can use the ball end to pound in a globular bubble which may do the trick. It doesn't happen immediately and also requires some dressing to make it pretty. A body dolly can be your friend here, or toughing it out, use 2 hammers. Patience and paying attention to what you're doing may save the day for you. Good luck. 

[Cudakiller70]

I can't tell from picture, guessing where yellow line is, trans is above floor pan? If so you'll probably need to put a slit somewhere In that corner where the yellow line is located then pull up floor pan. The slit will open up and need a small patch.

[Cudakiller70]

Also you can flare up the floor pan and flare down the patch. You might be able do it this way without cutting a slit. Just take your time. Sometimes I use cardboard to make a patch template. By scoring lines on the cardboard it will help it form the shape better for a template.

[ledphoot]

still didn't get this wrapped up this weekend. wife only gave me a day and i am not going to rush it.. working metal and welding totally aren't my strong suit..

[jimynick]

still didn't get this wrapped up this weekend. wife only gave me a day and i am not going to rush it.. working metal and welding totally aren't my strong suit..

No worries. Rome wasn't built in a day, either. Keep at it and you'll get there! 

[ledphoot]

I think I got the clearance I need. I can run a thick spark plug wire through and all around the transmission now. I used a telephone pole to form the basic shape of the tin, tacked it in place and, remove the spacers from other the transmission and put them on top of the spots that needed clearance and then used a screw jack to lift the transmission in to the tin, bending the clearance from below.

What fun. LoL