Drive shaft tunnel mystery

[Superbee Sean]

Riddle me this? As I replace the floorboards in my 68 Superbee....I am puzzled by something, and need some advice. The driveshaft tunnel, on the driver side, just behind the shifter tunnel has a small indent, like the size of a baseball. The replacement panel (AMD) doesn’t have that shape. There is a hole in the indent, mostly rust, so hard to tell if originally there was anything there. Anyone know why this shape / indent is there? Not anything to do with shifter / linkage, since everything is coming thru the shifting tunnel..... I’m ready to patch over it......or do I dare not??

 

[Beekeeper]

That’s not factory someone banged that in there for what reason I have no idea.

 

[Superbee Sean]

Ok then! Thank you Beekeeper! It is such a smooth impression, I wasn’t sure if it was supposed to be there or not. Haven’t fitted that side floor pan yet (waiting on the new shifter tunnel) so hopefully the pan will cover and then will simply cut out. If not, cutting and patching will have to do. Thanks again!

 

[gkent]

I know exactly why that's there - the patch on the tunnel is the clue. At some point somebody installed a Hurst Ram Rod or Super Shifter. An arm moves the shifter up and back and that patch is where the longer shift arms would pass through the tunnel. The "dent" is for clearance for the reverse adjuster bolt.

 

[Superbee Sean]

I know exactly why that's there - the patch on the tunnel is the clue. At some point somebody installed a Hurst Ram Rod or Super Shifter. An arm moves the shifter up and back and that patch is where the longer shift arms would pass through the tunnel. The "dent" is for clearance for the reverse adjuster bolt.

Hmmmm, I wouldn’t have ever thought that. The patch on the shifter tunnel matches the several patches that were basically....the floor.....before I tore them up to install the new floor pans. So if I keep what is in there now, shifter wise, I shouldn’t need that. Guess I will wait until the new pan is in before I decide to patch and keep, or patch and cover....all great info! Thanks!!

 

[gkent]

I'd just replace that shifter tunnel. looks like it was hacked up pretty good.

 

[Superbee Sean]

That part is on order, the new floor pan is set up for an automatic, so there will be some cutting, grinding and welding.....and swearing!

 

[zyzzyx]

Just asking, but by any chance do you still have the torsion bars still in an "loaded"?
The reason I ask is it looks like I see a retainer clip! You have to relax the tension
and put the car on jack stands to replace the floor. If not, sorry!

 

[gkent]

so there will be some cutting, grinding and welding.....and swearing

Its really not that big of a deal. Set the hump in place and maryk the inside with a sharpie then cut 1" inside that mark. And you don't have to go all the way to the front. If you want it to look "factory", cut it out with an axe.

 

[Superbee Sean]

Just asking, but by any chance do you still have the torsion bars still in an "loaded"?
The reason I ask is it looks like I see a retainer clip! You have to relax the tension
and put the car on jack stands to replace the floor. If not, sorry!

Yes sir, the car is on jack stands......5 all together, 5th one is supporting the tunnel since I will be replacing the back seat floor pans too.