tech question: making a trans tunnel

I need to make a trans tunnel, and I'd like some suggestions. What are good ways to do this (different configurations, and how to)? I might be able to get access to an English wheel, but I've never used one. I'll probably start with it being screwed in, and weld it later. One piece, or will it take two (the "shifter box" sticks up quite a bit, so it looks like it'd be difficult to transition)? The front is about 12" across, the rear is about 8", the length is about 22".

Thanks,
Kurt

 

I'd do a couple pieces. Bend the big one around the electrical pole by the road. then the smaller one around a gas bottle (oxygen/mig gas). Then fart around with the little pieces to blend in.

 

I just did one for my godfather's 36 dodge. What I did was form a piece around the oxygen tank on the torches then I took a piece of angle and clamped it to a table. I slid one side of the formed metal in but I tapered it (longer on one edge than the other. I then repeated on the otherside making sure to taper the same side. (Leave enough for the legs of it). Use it like a break.
It worked out great.

 

cut and tape together one out of posterboard first. Play with it until you get the shape you want, take it out and lay it on the flat tin, untape or cut just enough to get the pattern to lay flat. Anyplace you untape or cut will be a weld in the final product. Tunnels can be bent over anything round as grumpy blues suggested. No need for an english wheel on this unless you wanted something real fancy.

 

The oldtimers used to use old gas tanks, cut them to fit your needs!

 

Was that after thet blew 'em up welding on 'em??

 

I used some 5/8 rod to make a jig- bent it round the base of a drum to make a ½ cercal for the fire wall end and a smaller piece of rod bent around bit of 4 inch pipe for the other end.

Sat the 2 in place and tacked a length 1 inch square tube each side (floor) and one on the top.

Got some cardboard and covered the ½ hoops and down to the sides, marked around the hoops and bottom of the sides to make a template.

Cut some sheet using the template, pushed the cut sheet over the end rods and down to the square tube.

Done!= cone shaped tranz hump.

You can tack it to your jig to put in any bumps that you may need – shifter clearance or stuff like that.

.

 

I've seen an old oilpan used, and it makes for a real interesting piece.

 

Oh yeah, thanks for reminding me- I've seen that, and I like that idea. The extra turbo 2.3L pan I have is a little small as is. I wonder if the pan on the straight-six engine I s****ped would've fit. Anybody have ideas on what pan might fit?

Thanks,
Kurt

 

Okay, I'm getting closer with one piece of sheet metal. I'll tack weld it in from a bit forward of the shifter all the way to the front. Then, I'm gonna drill two 1/2" holes, and cut along the lines shown (see top view pic). Then, I wanna try heating the area behind the shifter and bending and/or beating it into shape. Do you think it'll work? What kind of heat and flame should I use?

Thanks,
Kurt

 

what about the side out of a 22g oil drum it will also have the swages already in it giving some extra strength

 

Still recon making a buck to fit the shape you need is your best bet.

Looking at your first pic, bending some round bar to suit the shape of the floor / firewall will allow you to get the shape and check clearance. If you use cardboard over your buck (jig) it will be easy to transfer the shape to flat sheet metal. Looking at the cover, it may need to be made in 2 or 3 pieces. 1st fire wall to shifter box, 2nd cone shape to fit around the square sifter box and 3rd a box shape to go over the square part of the shifter.

If you heat and bash the bit of metal (in your second pic) you will probly end up with a lumpy, warped bit that will require a lot of planishing to get it smooth.

 

A cheapo wheelbarrow might make a good transmission tunnel with some t*******.

 

I wonder too if a trip to the hardware store for some chimney pipe/tubing might be a helpful thought. Also, I have a sheetmetal shop that is just around the corner from me and the guy lets me go dumpster diving in his s**** bin. I've seen him toss out both square and round heating and a/c ducting that I could get for free. Then it'd just be cut to fit from there.

 

I've never looked at one, but I wonder if a 6cyl ***mins Diesel pan or a Dodge V10 pan would fit here?

 

Do a search on www.metalmeet.com for "tuck shrinking." You can easily make a tucking tool out of a couple of punches welded together. If you have a shot-bag and a hammer, you can use the tucking tool and shrink quite a bit to get yourself a cone shape.
-Chad J.

 

I posted about a ****** Tunnel on this Thread.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1830569#post1830569