Tunnel frame modifications????

[Dieter123]

I am prepping to install a 302/TKO 600 with mid shift kit. Reading about tunnel frame cutting mods. Will I have to do any cutting? Does anyone have any pictures of modifications they made to the tunnel frame? Thanks in advance.

[Rdone585]

Mine is a MK II. I did have to modify the tranny tunnel to get my T-5 mid shift to fit. I'm assuming your frame is probably a MK4 so it will most likely be different. You should ID your frame so others can provide the best help possible for your specific situation.

[Sdonnel]

I also went with a shifter in the mid shift position. In the attached photo, you can see where the middle plate is directly under the cross bar. I tried to cut it just enough to get it to fit and then sister in a longer piece of tubing on the forward side of where I cut. In the end, I cut the whole thing out and didn't worry about it. The chassis is strong enough that I am not worried about anything happening. Measure twice, cut once.

Scott134429

[SJDave]

If you are only using the sheet metal cover on top, then I would advise to cut and relocate to support the panel. Now in my case I wanted two cup holders behind the shifter, so I had to use 1" marine plywood to get enough height above the TKO600 for the cup holders to fit. So I could have just cut out the offending cross beam and called it good. The amount of stiffness these add is not significant to the handling of the car....but it helps a little theoretically.

Here's a pic of what i did, just cut the cross beam at the one end and cut a "v" out of it partially across, then bent it to the other side to clear the mid shift, and rewelded it. Pretty easy fix. You can see in that picture the Rivnuts in the side rails to attach the vinyl covered plywood. I cut the side bends off the console aluminum piece and attached it to the bottom of the plywood for fire protection with wood screws and rubber cement.

HTH