My 69 was an steering column auto. that was converted to a Muncie 4 prior to purchase of it. I'm in the process of restoring this daily driver and would like to repair the botched tunnel cutting job to install the Muncie this idiot did before me. Are new pans in order if the existing floor is unrusted? Although I've never seen one,can I purchase a new tunnel by itself. I intend on keeping it the way it is as a floor mounted Hurst shifter and boot.

I've seen them on Ebay before, they're few and far between though. How bad did they butcher the tunnel? Is there no way to repair the damage? My car was also converted to a 4-speed Muncie, and although they didn't butcher up the tunnel that bad, they did cut out a little too much towards the drivers side, and it used to produce a nice, hot stream of hot air coming up from my exhaust through the old, warn out carpet. I'm going to patch it up before I put new carpet back in, I don't think it's going to be that big of a problem. What does yours look like????? KZ

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John D. Smith
69' SS/396 CLONE!
http://www.geocities.com/kz1000ltd/

It looks like it was started by drilling 4 holes with a drill bit of some sort and most likely used aviation/sheet metal cutters to cut out the center. The driver sid is the worst. Took the excess metak and just folded it down the inside towards the driver. The rubber boot is held down with the 6 screws. The whole setup just seems shoddy. Is you're boot commected directly to the sheet metal. I do feel hot air. The whole set up just feels mickey moused.

Hey, I apologise for the typos. I ought to look at what I'm typing before I send it.I'm an toidi....woops idiot.

Yes, the boot was there, but only connected by screws on the passenger side, it wouldn't reach all the way over to where the metal was cut out. I'm not sure how I'm going to fix it yet, but a new tunnel is out of the question. I just may patch it with a piece of sheet metal, I don't know yet. It seems like they cut out more than what was really needed for clearance. Funny thing though, once you get it together, it's really hard to tell. The only way I knew something was amiss was because of the hot foot I kept getting when I was driving it. Yours sounds butchered alot worse than mine. If I see another tunnel for sale, I'll definitely post it......Good luck! KZ

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John D. Smith
69' SS/396 CLONE!
http://www.geocities.com/kz1000ltd/

I just repaired a friends car that had the exact same situation except they cut the hole with a dull air chisel. It was horrible. The hole was 9" too wide and 4" too long.

I ended up doing what John mentions, making a patch. I trimmed the hole with a 4" slitting blade so that the edges were straight. Then cut the patch so that it overhangs the hole by a health amount (no accuracy required.) Tack weld with a MIG every inch or so, clean up the weld, pound down any protuding sections, and seam seal the edge. You can then cut the appropriate hole for the boot.

The fix is relatively easy, and as John stated, once you put the carpet back in it will hide a multitude of sins.

Don't be surprised if you need a new carpet by the time you are done. Often the barbarians work their magic on the carpet as well.

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Click here to see see my car and hear 5-speeds. http://www.geocities.com/casanoc

kz1000ltd and CarlC thanks for the help. I think I'll take your advise and patch the hole and re-cut it the clean way. The carpet isn't too bad but it might have been cut with a ice pick. I know it can't be seen but just knowing its there doesn't help me sleep any better.CarlC is your Camaro a Van Nuys car? I bought a LA Camaro in Arcadia, not too far from you.

It's a Van Nuys October 1967 build. My father traded a junker (for that time) 1957 Chevy pickup for it in 1977. I traded my sister a '71 el Camino for it in 1982.

Don't be put off by the patchwork. If done right it will be just fine. It was amazing how much quieter the car was after fixing the tunnel and boot properly. And with the carpet the patch does not show at all.

Another tip: If you have a console check the boot alignment with both the shifter and the console. I centered the boot on the shifter and after re-assembly it really needed to be back about 1/4" to align with the console shfter plate insert.

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Click here to see see my car and hear 5-speeds. http://www.geocities.com/casanoc