No wife, no kids.... time to play

[Morris]

I sent the wife and kids away for the weekend to visit family. As soon as I get done with my coffee, I am going to tear into my car. And I am not gonna stop until it gets dark.

The giant order I was expecting from LBCcarco has not arrived yet, so I am not sure what I am going to do. Maybe some body work. Maybe some paint prep.

Or what I really want to to do is cut out my tunnel so my gear box can be removed without pulling my engine. I still really want to experiment with installing a 5-speed one day, but once the car is painted, I do not want to ever pull the engine again. If I modify the tunnel now, I may be able achieve that loft goal.

You got about 15 minutes to talk me out of this stupid idea before I head out to the garage.

 

[Guest]

O.K, don't do it. You'll loose too much structural integrity if you do. You need the tunnel for support. Dude, if you don't ever want to pull the engine again buy a Miata.

 

[Morris]

I actually think I can increase my structural integrity. I plan to drill 4 holes (2 for each side of the tunnel) through the square tube that run from the cabin to the bottom of the car. I will then weld tube tube into those holes. Finally I will run long bolts through the tube tube that will connect to a very sturdy cross brace.

 

[Billm]

One possible problem with this (maybe) is that when you tilt the engine enough to release the transmission it will hit the heater box and you won't be able to seperate them anyway. May want to look at that first.
BillM

 

[aeronca65t]

I saw a Spridget with a removeable tunnel (and a Toyota swap).

It had a <span style="text-decoration: underline">full roll cage</span> and it <span style="text-decoration: underline">still</span> flexed (the doors popped open). The owner eventually did this steel-tube bridge thing in the tunnel area to stiffen it.

I wouldn't cut the tunnel out.

 

[Morris]

Good idea BillM.

 

[Morris]

Okay... Nial wins.

Also... the more I looked out how much work was going to be involved in cutting for a job that I maybe might do one day... I think I mostly talked myself out of it.

 

[mightymidget]

You could just buy a Triumph

 

[Morris]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]You could just buy a Triumph[/QUOTE]

Aren't you putting a ford V-8 in one of your cars? You could just buy a Maverick.

 

[14dna]

Thank You Morris.

I love that answer.
Although a memory of mine includes a Maverick, but that is another story.

Dave

 

[Trevor Jessie]

Maverick Grabber with a 302. A 3000 pound car with 210 HP. It was no slouch.

 

[Guest]

You could just buy a Triumph

Hey Morris, I've got a one owner '71 TR6 fresh out of 28 year indoor storage...