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Originally Posted by AG
MikeR64,
You didn't cut the tunnel at all? And if you didn't, was the trans mount too low? I have a '65 and have bought a TKO600, but have not installed it yet.
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AG - I am using the TKO 500. I guess the TKO 600 is the same size on top, but am not positive. The only cutting I did was to elongate the shifter hole about one inch in order to get the shift tower to clear while tilting the trans up into the bellhousing. I just pulled this section up with channel locks, then tacked it back when finished. The instructions stated that if the car was originally a four-speed car, then the hump may not need to be cut. I did just for grins do some minor ball-peen work on the area just to the rear of the shifter porch in about a 2x3 area to expand it maybe 1/2 inch, but I'm not sure that was really needed. They tell you to trial fit the trans which I did on an empty bellhousing with no pilot bearing to make things easier. At that point, you are able to tell what will clear and what won't. The part I worked with the hammer was a little close - they tell you you'll need 1/4" at minimum - so I erred on the side of caution.
I was able to move the crossmember back the prescribed 1 1/2 inches, but since the convertible uses a shelf to mount the crossmember instead of having it sit on the bottom of the frame rail I was unable to use the rubber end cups and original clamping type mount. There is only room on the mounting shelf for the original position with no fore-aft movement available. (You gotta see the convertible setup to get a grip on the concept.) Instead, I mounted the crossmember to the transmission, jacked things up in place and clamped the crossmember to the shelf with welder's vicegrips. I drilled two holes per side directly through the mount ends and frame shelf. The trans crossmember is at the original height minus the 1/8" cushion of the rubber end sleeve. The emergency brake cable even had enough adjustment in it so I didn't have to drill another hole and move it forward.