Trans Tunnel: To be removable or not?

[steve aleve]

I am working on a 55 1st series on an s10 frame with a Vortec 5.3 and 4l60E. I have had to cut the floor and firewall for a trans tunnel and I planned on making it bolt in (in case I have to access the transmission or for easy access to unbolt the trans if I have to replace it.) It seems a lot easier to just weld it in and deal with the trans access later. Thoughts? Anyone doing it one way or the other?

[yossarian19]

You had to cut floor & firewall?
You must be slinging it further back than I have mine...
I'd just weld it in. It's not hard to pull radiator & grill off of these trucks & yank the powertrain as one big piece.
Alternately, drill undersize holes in the floorboard and firewall & clearance holes in the trans tunnel and use sheet metal screws. A #12 should do.

[steve aleve]

yossarian, thanks those are both good options. I do have the engine pretty far back and it sits pretty high as well. Not to mention I am mounting the cab very low.

[Sim6]

Steve, do you have a build thread for your swap?

[steve aleve]

I do... but it is far from updated. I need to find more time!!! I can barely find time for the build lol. Hopefully I can get a chunk of time to update so that everything is current.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=648779

[Chevy-49]

thanks, same question crossed my mind yesterday.

have a lokar trans mount shifter and hand brake,

access from above is help full although one piece carpet is not possible.

[HUSSEY]

I was planning on doing the same thing myself. I was thinking of making an insert that looked something like this:

http://www.progressiveautomotive.com...3/02/CV225.jpg

I was going of flange the firewall like the floor and making it removable.