hey people, i'm getting down to the wire and i'm not sure how big of a hole i'm going to need to cut for the shifter. i'm sure i could just half-@ss it but I want it to look good and be functional. Is there a template or anything, or does anyone know the exact sizes? thanks- also, if you have any advice and no-no's for the swap, let me know. All help is greatly appreciated

 

When you take out the console you will see a flat spot on the tranny hump that is about 6 in wide by 8 in long. Cut that out staying about a 1/2 in from the edge. Install the tranny and check the clearance, then trim if nessesary.

 

As long as you can access the bolts holding the shifter to the trans, you should be good.

Pete

 

what do ya'll recommend to cut the hole with?

 

If you have access to a plasma cutter, I say that would be the thing to use. It keeps the heat in a very concentrated so the risk of fire is very low (keep a fire extinguisher handy just in case!) It makes for very quick work. I used one, cut from insde of the car. But my hole for the shifter looks all horrid and crapitable. My next choice would be a sawzall. Easy to use, usually very easy to get a hold of. It doesn't make any sparks or get things very hot, but it gets metal shavings everywhere. Those two are your best bets, I'd say.

 

What about a air cutoff tool? I have one that seems to cut through sheet metal pretty good. Think it would work well?

 

Are you talking about an airsaw, or the kind with a carbon cutting wheel? I personally thing a carbon cutting wheel throws too many sparks, and throws them too far. It'd almost be like a bunch of little cigarette burns in your interior. not cool.

 

nibbler

-Schultzy

 

whats a nibbler

 

Like tin snips, but with much more power...

 

It is actually a pneumatic tool that takes little bites out of sheet metal. You can drill a pilot hole and then just guide it around to cut out your hole.

-Schultzy

 

i used a drill to make a hole at each corner then a tin snips to cut it out, sure it was a little tuff but not bad,

based on steel roofing experiance i'm gonna guess the floor pan in that area is about 26ga sheet metal

 

I used tin snips, took about 3min. and no sparks.

 

i took my console out and didnt really notice any kind of place on the console that would indicate where the hole is supposed to go-- any suggestions??

 

I put the tranny in place, raised it up to the floor pan and made marks in the road grime on the bottom of my car. That's how I positioned my pilot holes. You may want to be more specific and measure for you holes insted of freehanding like I did.