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  •  » FYI Ford, Classic Mustang Tech Discussion
  •  » 67 mustang T-5 conversion tunnel cut ,cross member issues?

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    2/07/2021 7:29 AM  #1

    mustang stu
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    Registered: 4/15/2016
    Posts: 93

    67 mustang T-5 conversion tunnel cut ,cross member issues?

    I'm sure I'm not the only one to go thru this. My 67 mustang 351w 4spd top loader, I started the conversion to T-5,
    new pilot bearing (needle),adapter plate install to bell housing, bought a transmission jack (great move). I started
    the transmission install, it went right in, I thought this great, time for a beer, very happy, then I figured I'll bolt up the
    trans cross member and starter to bell housing and  call it a day and break out the beer. I bought a conversion kit
    from American Powertrain to use their cross member, I have two different mounts 1 rubber, 1 poly, more solid. I
    get same result with either mount , you have to jam the trans up tight to to put the cross member and trans mount in.
    The top of the trans hits the the upper cross member support , ( Floor trans tunnel) also when the mount is installed
    in lower cross member you can't bolt the mount to the 2 holes in the trans bottom it looks like would have to move
    the back of the car a full bolt hole or you would have to slot the holes on the trans mount a full hole to bolt up. I
    thought this conversion would be a slam dunk, it looks I may have to pull the trans back out and cut the floor, not
    sure or did I get the wrong cross member bracket? Waiting for "Tech support" to open Monday, but felt I would get
    more info and tips from this site (as all way's ). Sorry for the long post.   mustang stu
    P.S. After 351w install the 4 spd went right in fit great

     

    2/07/2021 8:39 AM  #2

    John Ha
    I FYI 24-7

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    From: Mitchell, SD
    Registered: 4/02/2013
    Posts: 932

    Re: 67 mustang T-5 conversion tunnel cut ,cross member issues?

    I have a 66 convertible so mine is similar to your 67.  I reused the rubber mount from my toploader on the Modern Driveline crossmember.  I suspect your crossmember is wrong.  Not too familiar with American Powertrain but I know that the Modern Driveline stuff fits and works well.  Does your crossmember look like this one?

    Founding Member of the Perpetually Bewildered Society
     

    2/07/2021 10:41 AM  #3

    mustang stu
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    Registered: 4/15/2016
    Posts: 93

    Re: 67 mustang T-5 conversion tunnel cut ,cross member issues?

    Dear John, Thanks so much for your reply, the cross member they gave me looks nothing like the modern 
    drive line one. It's a funny looking one, it just bolts to the back of the cross member it does not swallow  both
    sides like the original  and the modern drive line one. I'm hoping that they gave me the wrong one, I don't like
    to start cutting and hacking to make something fit. I thought this was a pretty straight conversion, I did the dial
    indicator to check the bell housing to crank shaft alignment, right on spec. I  have a top load trans mount and one they
    sent me "poly " same results both mounts. I also thought there would be no cutting involved. I'm in a holding pattern 
    right now. Should there be a lot of cutting on the trans tunnel?  Once again THANKS!     MUSTANG STU
     

       •Thread Starter
     

    2/07/2021 4:21 PM  #4

    MS
    Forum Originator

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    From: Canyon Lake, Texas
    Registered: 1/24/2013
    Posts: 12,260

    Re: 67 mustang T-5 conversion tunnel cut ,cross member issues?

    I think the crossmember offered by MustangSteve would fit better for you. Just sayin’...

    Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
     

    2/08/2021 5:54 AM  #5

    TKOPerformance
    Hyper FYIFORD ADDICT

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    From: Newark, DE
    Registered: 12/15/2014
    Posts: 7,499

    Re: 67 mustang T-5 conversion tunnel cut ,cross member issues?

    First, unless you have poly motor mounts don't use the poly trans mount.  Engine and trans mounts need to match in terms of material.

    Second, I had zero issues like this in my '67.  I would say the crossmember is your problem. 

     

    2/08/2021 6:53 AM  #6

    John Ha
    I FYI 24-7

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    From: Mitchell, SD
    Registered: 4/02/2013
    Posts: 932

    Re: 67 mustang T-5 conversion tunnel cut ,cross member issues?

    mustang stu wrote:

    Should there be a lot of cutting on the trans tunnel?  Once again THANKS!     MUSTANG STU
     

    No cutting or hacking on the tunnel should be needed.  With the right parts it should go together very smoothly.  The only issue some people have reported is needing a small amount of enlarging of the shifter hole on top of the tunnel (the one that the shifter pokes through into the passenger compartment) - mine was fine so there's a fair chance yours will be too.

    I tried the MustangSteve crossmember.  It's a great piece and is well made but on my 66 convertible I would have had to do major surgery on my exhaust to use it because the crossmember interferes with the path of the exhaust pipes going into the tunnel.  The convertible has a reinforcement plate bolted to the bottom of the tunnel, and the normal exhaust routing is above the plate.  So it's not a straight path to get the pipes through there with that crossmember.  Cars without the reinforcement plate may be much different and I have no experience with them.  I ended up using the Modern Driveline crossmember, which allows the normal exhaust routing.

    Happy I could help

    Founding Member of the Perpetually Bewildered Society
     

    2/08/2021 7:00 AM  #7

    mustang stu
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    Registered: 4/15/2016
    Posts: 93

    Re: 67 mustang T-5 conversion tunnel cut ,cross member issues?

    TKO  Thanks for your reply.  I agree, they sent me that poly mount in their package. I have a stock rubber mount
    with 800 miles on it. Tremec recommends using a rubber mount , that's the direction I  was headed,  the motor mounts
    are also rubber. I thought  this should be easy conversion from every thing I have read. I'm  checking out the crossmember. 
    mustang stu
      
     

       •Thread Starter
     

    2/08/2021 7:09 AM  #8

    mustang stu
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    Registered: 4/15/2016
    Posts: 93

    Re: 67 mustang T-5 conversion tunnel cut ,cross member issues?

    John Ha ,  I didn't think that  I should be doing  any cutting from what I read. Taking a small break for a couple
    day's while I check out crossmember options.   THANK'S for the info.  mustang stu

       •Thread Starter
     

    2/08/2021 3:30 PM  #9

    TKOPerformance
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    From: Newark, DE
    Registered: 12/15/2014
    Posts: 7,499

    Re: 67 mustang T-5 conversion tunnel cut ,cross member issues?

    I can't speak to exhaust interference issues with the crossmember I used.  I changed my entire exhaust as I did my T5 swap, so the pipes fit with the crossmember just fine because the pipes were built around it.  Its an important point John makes, and worth considering/looking at. 

     

     

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