With the BH runout calc behind us, next up was installing the transmission without the clutch and pressure plate. The goal was to mount the trans to the BH face and get a rough idea where to cut the tunnel. SST includes a B-Body cutout template, but it's dated 2003 and meant for the TKO. The template hole would be way too big for the TKX.
Securing the trans to the trans jack, we raised it up. Note to self: when fabricating an exhaust system, best to have the front half of the exhaust system able to be unbolted ahead of the rear axle. Especially if you're running an H or X pipe. My exhaust is all one unit from the header collectors back to the chrome tips. At the time, I had a mobile exhaust installer weld up the exhaust in front of my house. It was convenient and he did a nice job; full 3" all the way out the back with all mandrel bends. But when you want to R&R a trans, it gets in the way.
We had to drop the center link in order to further lower the back of the engine, while at the same time tilting the trans upward while raising. To clear the H pipe required a series slight raises, while moving the trans jack backwards until the tail housing cleared the H pipe. Once the tail housing was above the H, we could move the jack forward while adjusting the tilt until the bearing retainer on the trans lined up with the register bore and the trans could be slipped in.
The engine and trans are still at a heavy downward pitch because the shifter nub was hitting the bottom of the tunnel. Using soap stone, I traced a crude parallelogram outline of the shifter housing, then the trans had to be removed and set aside to make room for the initial cuts. From underneath, I drilled 4 holes, one in each corner of the parallelogram.
The car can't be lowered because jack stands were holding up the rear of the engine and the exhaust, so using a ladder I climbed up into the car. The Fat Mat had to be cut away first. I also covered the bucket seat and carpeting with towels to protect from errant sparks. Using Greg's cutoff wheel and saber saw, I made the initial cuts. The old adage "measure once, cut twice" applies here because without a template you have to back-in the correct size hole. I wound up expanding the hole by 3x - 4x my original drawing before we could even attempt to reinstall the trans.
Fresh out of the box. The TKX is noticeably smaller and more rounded at the top than the TKO.
Fat Mat off, holes drilled
Initial cut. More had to be taken out of the passenger side.
It's getting closer but there should be minimum 1/4" to the tunnel to prevent any rubbing.
Sometimes saber saws have a mind of their own. Went a little outside the chalk lines.
The driver's side needed another cut to clear a small ear on the edge of the trans body, just ahead of the shifter. I cut a 45° angle off the corner and from underneath, Greg persuaded the tunnel with a ball peen hammer.
