Hi,

I have been reading the forums for a few weeks now, trying to read up as much as possible.

I am currently undertaking a CA18DET conversion in a 1974 ute,

I have read alot about having to modify the tunnel so that the gearbox will fit, I have read a few different things and I am not sure what is the best and or easiest option.

I have read that people have bashed out the tunnel. Cut and shut the the tunnel and even gone to the lenght of replacing the tunnel with a 1600 tunnel.

I am thinking that the cut and shut is the best option can anyone inform me of what is required or point me in the right direction to find details on "how to" or pics etc.

or tell me if I am heading in the completly wrong direction.

any help is apreciated guys.

Sam.

do you plan on working under your car, particually in the gearbox area?

if so I would go the new tunnel route...mainly coz i already have gone that way, but you should ask an engineer first about the replacement of the whole tunnel as some engineers wont pass you with one...and other wont ask if you dont point it out

Hi man,
I got lots of parts from Maddat. Craig was very easy to deal with.maddat

Philip

if you're chopping the radiator support, its easy enough to just beat the tunnel out. however, if you are planning on being able to remove the box from the motor whilst still in the car, its prolly better to go the new tunnel route. i just panel beated the tunnel in my ute, so to change a clutch, the motor/gearbox all comes out. in hindsight doing a tunnel mod would probably be the way to go (depends on how often u think u'll be wanting to remove the box

exactly what sooty grunter has said, i cut around the shifter bit and welded in a new peice but the rest of it is just massaged with the hammer. i also need to remove the motor and box to do anything to it. if you have the time and patience replace the tunnel with a bigger one. heres a couple of pics of mine

has anyone got any bits of where they beated little poor tunnel??

how much did u have to hit it and how far??

wat gearbox did u use??

was that manual tunnel or auto tuneel before hand?>


srry for hacking thread.. but ne sum use for u also if they answer :)

Yo can also use a Stumpy gearbox with a bluebird bell hosuing. That's the setup I use which results in not having to cut the tunnel at all. The gear stick lines up with the existing hole as well.

i say u find us one which doesnt cost 600bucks :)

also there rare as rocking horse shi t

the bits where u need to beat it can only be seen once you test fit the box its a pain in the ass but you need to do it. the box is the standard s13 and imho most of the shorter boxes are weak and #### unless u will be keeping the motor standard.

i ended up changing mine completely, to give myself more room around the gearbox. didnt have to but ive got a front mount and i couldnt really move the engine towards the front much more. and wasnt too keen on dropping the engine out to replace the clutch. im using the mr30 stumpy box with the ca bell housing but am able to change later on to a different gearbox without TOO much trouble later on. just have to see how it holds up when im finished, mine is gonna be pretty stock ca18det tho to begin with. hope this helps.