Having trouble fitting the Vert Tunnel Wall

[Zippyfoo]

Hi everyone,

I've run into a panel fitment problem and I'm not sure what to do. I cannot get the downward arm of the vertical transmission tunnel wall to meet up with the two passenger compartment pieces (one on the side of the tranny tunnel and the other from the foot box). I've tried force it into place, but it won't go and I figure before I get rough I'd check with the experts.

If I look at the vert tunnel panel it's pretty clear that it isn't symmetrical. The passenger side is cut at a different angle than the drivers side. What I can't tell is if it's supposed to be. I'm pretty sure that if it were cut the same shape on both sides it would fit.

I tried to take a picture of the panel, but it didn't come out very good. You can tell that it's already starting to distort as I try to force it into place.



Does anyone know if that panel is supposed to be symmetrical and I have a poorly produced panel? Do I need to try to really bend (which would actually distort) the panel to try to make it fit. Maybe I can hammer it into place, but that doesn't look like it will really work. It looks miscut to me, but I'm not sure.

Any thoughts?

Thanks
Doug

[Michael Everson]

That panel can be a little tough sometimes. dont be afraid to put the passenger side panel on the outside instead of the inside to get a better fit. You are going to have to make it work or try getting a new one from FFR. remember its all covered with carpet and will never be seen again. I believe all bends in these panels are done by a trained eye. Not machine controlled.
Mike

[thebicman]

Trim the panel if the fit will be better for you. If you have a gap, it can always be filled also.

[HIRISC]

Bend, cut, grind, adapt, overcome.

As stated above, you'll never see it again and the fitment order there doesn't matter - it will be covered by Dynamat (or equivalent) and carpet.

[CCRsAC]

Originally Posted by HIRISC

Bend, cut, grind, adapt, overcome.

As stated above, you'll never see it again and the fitment order there doesn't matter - it will be covered by Dynamat (or equivalent) and carpet.

+1 on that!!! I bent, cut, and ground the snot out of mine to get it to fit right - in the end, it was a perfect fit and aligned very nicely with the inner panels of the footbox and the sidewalls of the floor/trans-tunnel pieces.

[CobraDVM]

Doug - mine fit like crap as well. I ended up installing a heater console in front of it, so I cut it into 3 pieces - so at those corners where it's starting to distort, I cut it up to the top, so I had 2 long L shaped pieces, and a flat piece. It allowed the side pieces to sit flush rather than forcing them to fit.

[cobrajj]

On my 3.1 kit it took some addition pursuading to get all the panels to finally come together to line up enough for the drilling and riveting. Adjust as needed. Jim

[Zippyfoo]

Ok, so it looks like I just need to make it fit.

Thanks for the advice everyone!

[HIRISC]

Originally Posted by Zippyfoo

Ok, so it looks like I just need to make it fit.

Thanks for the advice everyone!

Yes sir.

[Steak]

Than goodness for clecos

[NiceGuyEddie]

i clearly remember that i had the same problem. i was afraid to trim, bend, and do the under/over thing as suggested.

once everything is covered with fatmat & carpet, you'll never know what underneath.

[Frank Messina]

Once you get it as close as you can, that's when you whip out that roll of aluminim foil tape to fudge in the gaps. Makes it look real professional. Then you pile on the insulation and carpet. Bam, just like factory.

Frank

[Zippyfoo]

Just an update: Using a hammer, a grinder and a little persuasion is going a long way to making this fit.

Once it gets all sealed up it should look fine.

Thanks for the advice!