Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Does anyone know if the transmission tunnel hump from the 79-93 Fox Mustang will work for our cars when converting from a column shift automatic to a manual transmission car?  I guess this would also be for converting over from a column shift car to a floor shift auto as well?  The reason I am asking is that I just cut a hole in the tunnel on my '83 and called it good but I am thinking about reworking it as I think it would seal up better.  LMR has the hump for the 79-93 Fox Mustangs new so if there is not a difference then I was thinking about going that route.

https://lmr.com/products/79-93-Mustang-Manual-Transmission-Tunnel-Hump-Install

Well I remembered this chart from the old FMS/Ford Racing catalog and took a pic for you...it should explain things a bit:
 
(http://www.coolcats.net/ximages/crossmembers.jpg)

That is awesome info but I was referring to the hump where the shifter comes through the trans tunnel. Should have been more specific so my fault there.

Ah, sorry about that. I have no answer for you then LOL.

I researched this for my 84.  My car started as an auto and I just bent the metal around the opening to make it work.  I want to fix it proper but the Mustang tunnel is a different shape.  I can get a picture of both my 84 and my 90 GT as they both don't have interiors.  I was going to try the Mustang extension, but I don't want to drop the money on a new one and it just not come even close to fitting.

Am I missing something?  When I went from AOD to T-5, I used the boot and dust cover from the 88 stang donor.  If I remember,there were dimpled spots to drill on the tunnel on my 84 for the boot to align and fasten. I assume this was done for the TC's on the production line. I vaguely remember having to bend the outside ring, but once the consel was put back and the boot installed,all was good.

My car was a 5.0 AOD car so there were no dimpled spots and I am missing the riser on the hump for the T-5.  I think one of my buddies has a trashed manual trans Fox Mustang so I may go and see if I can cut that one out and do some mocking up.  This will take a few months but it would be better than spending $100 on something that just will not work.

Exactly, I don't want to spend $100 on a piece I can't use on my Cougar and don't need for my factory 5-speed Mustang.

fyi, same boat here,,,
87 factory auto with 3.8L has no drill locate dimples either..........

Mine is an 84...don't know about other years.

My 5.0 87 bird didnt either.

When I did my T5 swap, I had to bend the corners of the hole to allow the shifter to come up through the floor.  I didn't have an inner dust boot, so I don't remember if mine has the dimples.  I'd say probably not because the hole is too small.  The floor shift cars all probably share the same opening.  Since the factory 5 speed cars are so rare, being only on TC's and XR-7's, who knows if I'll ever see how Ford accommodated the T5.

I'm not too too worried about it, but it'd be nice to know if the new LMR Mustang piece fits, at least close enough to modify.  I'll probably have to fab up something custom anyway since I'm throwing a 3650 in and eventually a T56.

I just expoxied a ford ranger rubher shifter boot over the hole between the carpet. It would take much of anything to get something rubber to seal.

I saw a Turbo Coupe shifter part of the transmission tunnel on Ebay yesterday.

I did too but I was not sure if there is a sheet metal difference between the 83-88 Fox Birds and Cougars.  If not then I might be tempted to see if I can find a salvaged TC and cut one out of it as well as a Mustang one to compare.  I wonder if a body shop manual would have anything on this.

Could you buy the shifter tunnel extension separately back in the day? If so, a dealer could look and see if the P/N stayed the same between the years.

Guess I should buy one of them for when I do my T-5 swap on my '87.

I can take some pics of the tunnel of my Sport (1988) if it would help give you an idea..?

find your self a tc the tunnel humps r screwed on

Easier said than done. The nearest TC on car-part is 100 miles away. Haven't been parts scrounging in a while, not sure there are any near me.

The one on ebay looked to be welded.  If anyone can take a picture of one in the car that would be very helpful.

Looked like it's attached my fasteners to me. I'll send it to you for review if you pay for shipping.

I appreciate that but I don't think it's necessary. What I need is a picture of the piece taken with the firewall end of it at the 12 o'clock. Preferably the picture would be without any dust boots to see that bolt pattern.  I found a picture of one online but I cannot be sure it is what it says it is.

I can take some pics of the tunnel in my car if that would help.

Would definitely help and thanks!

I did column shift to 5 spd swap on my 84 Elan and used the tunnel shifter hump and the lower floorpan/shifter dustboot out of a wrecked 87 Turbcoupe I found in the junkyard.  It fit the countours of the 84 Birds floorboard perfectly and attached using I believe either 4 or 6 of the tiny (3/16" I think) head metal screws. Had to se a little factory seam seal out of the  way on the floorboard of the 87 TC with a flathead screwdriver to uncover some of the tiny attaching scews.

That tunnel shifter hump rises about inch and half to 2 inches from what I remember, goin off memory from roughly 10 years ago or better.  I know the shape and heights of the Tbird and Fox mustang trans tunnel are a good bit different because I had the two side by side in the garage with the carpets and seats out when I was doing the 5spd and HO engine swap on my 84 Bird. The donor Stang was a 91 GT.

Anyhow, if I ever see another 5 spd TC in the junkyard Im going to get that metal shifter hump because they are a PITA to find.

So the metal shifter hump in the TC was attached to the trans tunnel with six sheet metal screws from the factory?  I know this was mentioned before but you would be the first to confirm.  Just trying to clarify because if that is the case I know where two are that I can get when the weather gets warmer and I mean March/April warmer.

Yep and probably a good idea to bring a sharp knife to cut thru the factory seam sealer/caulking or whatever they used a bead of, around the perimeter of it. If I remember correctly, and dont hold me to this because it was 10 yrs or better ago, only some of the screws were partially or fully covered by the factory caulk. But its decently tough stuff, and it'll take a little prying once you have found and removed the screws and cut a line thru the caulk. I think it was 4 or 6 screws, cant remember exactly but seems like they were small diameter screws and had to use a small socket on them, like 3/16" or something close.

Here are the pics of my '85 XR-7 tunnel.

Sorry for the poor quality. It's been a hectic week and the only time I could find was either in the morning or at night and it's pretty dark in the garage that time of the day. I'm on vacation all next week so if you need some better pics, measurements, or more detail, etc. just let me know. Ignore the dash location as it's partially pulled away from the cowl at the moment to access the HVAC box.

Okay, that is what I needed.  I am going to hope that those two cars are still in that yard and that one of them still has that hump in it.  It will be well worth it to remove the center console and install it as I think that will allow me to correct an issue with the shifter boot.