Tunnel Cutters Unite - or How Did You Seal?

[no7fish]

For all you swappers that have had to enlarge the shifter hole:

How did you seal around the hole and shifter?

Can you post pictures?

What did you use in place of the factory rubber grommet? Tape, glue, rubber, plastic, etc?

[ponchiz318]

I saw someone use duct tape, which is probably the route I'm gonna go if I don't get a hold of some sheet metal. In for info as well.

[BigL350]

I used on of the universal Mr. Gasket rubber shifter boots that has a steel mounting ring. I fastened it to the tunnel with sheet metal screws and sealed it with black silicone. Feedback from another board member was that the rubber on those deteriorates quickly so I may need to find something better at some point.


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[JBasham]

I needed something pretty fire-resistant because it's a track car.

I took a piece of Home Depot sheet aluminum and cut a hole in it that snugs my shift lever base.

I put that up against the trans tunnel from the underside of the car, trimmed it so there was about 3/4" of overlap all the way round, and riveted that to the trans tunnel all around the edges of the panel.

Then from the underside of the car, I put 3M Seam Sealer tape all along the edge of the panel to seal it to the tunnel. Covered the edges and the rivets.

Then I went back and sealed the itty bitty gap between the shifter base and the hole in the plate, with flexible high-temp silicone tubing.

[ponchiz318]

I needed something pretty fire-resistant because it's a track car.

I took a piece of Home Depot sheet aluminum and cut a hole in it that snugs my shift lever base.

I put that up against the trans tunnel from the underside of the car, trimmed it so there was about 3/4" of overlap all the way round, and riveted that to the trans tunnel all around the edges of the panel.

Then from the underside of the car, I put 3M Seam Sealer tape all along the edge of the panel to seal it to the tunnel. Covered the edges and the rivets.

Then I went back and sealed the itty bitty gap between the shifter base and the hole in the plate, with flexible high-temp silicone tubing.

Pics?

[no7fish]

These are some good options. Thanks a lot for the help, guys!

[unnatrl]

These work well also. Cheap and available at any home improvement store.

[Fair]

When it comes to sealing up the shifter opening in the trans tunnel its hard to beat the Joe's Racing fire proof Nomex shift boot and flange kit. Check Summit Racing for "Joe's Racing Shift boot".



We have used these on race and street cars many dozens of times at our shop. Every V8 swap we've ever done has this shift boot.



As shown above they will fit under the "pretty" OEM leather boots, but they are fireproof. The aluminum flange is bolted to the tunnel and the boot attaches to that via snaps. Much safer than the Home Depot solutions (FFS)

[TipsyMcStagger]

When it comes to sealing up the shifter opening in the trans tunnel its hard to beat the Joe's Racing fire proof Nomex shift boot and flange kit. Check Summit Racing for "Joe's Racing Shift boot".

Thanks for the tip.

Tipsy

[JBasham]

Pics?

I put them at the bottom of the T5 Transmission page.

https://sites.google.com/site/motors...5-transmission

[Tim Mc]

Fair: That Joe's boot is a slick deal-thanks for posting.

[doktor b]

i have the Racequip version of that Joe's boot. works just as well, saved a few bucks.
and i sealed it to the tunnel with actual seam sealer and then riveted the base plate down.