Transmission hump

58 Yeoman · August 05, 2004, 11:37:26 AM

I cut the trans hump out of the Pontiac, as the original flat one didn't clear the th400. Does anyone know off hand a donor car that would have a center hump that could be cut out that would fit? Or, am I relegated to buying an aftermarket one? TIA.

WZ JUNK · August 05, 2004, 04:06:08 PM

Quote from: "58 Yeoman"I cut the trans hump out of the Pontiac, as the original flat one didn't clear the th400. Does anyone know off hand a donor car that would have a center hump that could be cut out that would fit? Or, am I relegated to buying an aftermarket one? TIA.

I make them out of fiberglass. Make the part in the car so that it conforms to the shape you need. I mock up the shape with cardboard, lay down a layer of plastic ( I use contact adhesive to hold the plastic in place). Lay up the part and after it sets up, I remove it, thow away the plastic and cardboard mold and then trim the edges of the new part. I like to use nut zerts in the floor so that I can make the tunnel removeable. This is not necessary but it is helpful at times. This was a quick description of how I make a tunnel. If you have any questions, just ask.

I am currently doing a similiar project where I am casting air ducts that move air from a trunk mount Vintage Air unit to outlets on the dash.

sirstude · August 05, 2004, 05:36:08 PM

Phil,

was your Pontiac an automatic? I have a T400 in my Olds and the factory trans cover clears the bell. I have everything above the bottom of the frame so I don't think I am lower than you probably are.

Doug

58 Yeoman · August 05, 2004, 09:30:44 PM

Doug, no it was a 6/stick. I've got the Nova sub with a Caddy 425/400. The original sit right on top of the main body of the trans. I want to have enough room to pull the trans without moving the engine, if the need arises.

John, I'd never thought of using fiberglass. I went out to take a couple pix, and I may have solved my own problem. I set a 3/4" heater hose on top of the trans, then set the cut out tunnel on top of it, and moved it ahead about an inch. I may just weld in some filler panels in this position. Will have to do some more thinking on it.

Pic one is self explanatory; two is the panel sitting on top of the trans; and three is pushed forward sitting on a 3/4" hose. I think this might be the way I go.

GPster · August 06, 2004, 07:57:54 AM

Looks a hell-of-a-lot like the floor in my '53 Chevy. When I cut it up the only thing that was any good was the dome right in front of the drivers seat. I just happened to save it ( it was smaller than a wheelbarrow) in case I ever ennded distributor clearance in a firewall. You want it? I left about 1" around the edges where it was flat for a flange to bolt it flat. GPster

sirstude · August 06, 2004, 09:19:07 AM

Phil,

Your engine sits a couple of inches higher than mine does. I can take out the upper trans bolts through the transmission opening. The reason I asked about the original is I wondered if the cover was different than the auto cover, but yours looks like mine. My tranny mount is a piece of 2x3/8 strap bolted to the bottom of the frame with a little twist to make it sit square to the tranny.

Doug

58 Yeoman · August 06, 2004, 04:47:21 PM

GPster, thanks for the offer, but I think that I'll be able to attach some metal to this piece pretty easily. Doug, I've got mine a bit higher so the exhaust manifold would clear the steering box. My crossmember is two pieces of angle welded, and mounted about half way up the frame. I've got a rear steer Nova sub.

sirstude · August 06, 2004, 04:55:54 PM

Mine is a front steer "metric" GM front end. A set of S&S 55 Chevy Big Block headers fit right between thr frame rails in the old exhaust cutout on the one side. Had to cut the other one.

Doug