Pictures of tunnel cutout for an NP435???

[mjstef]

Does anyone have any?? Got the entire driveline out today and i want to cut the tunnel for the tranny tomorrow. I would like to see how far back to cut it and see if ANY of the re-enforcement channel can stay. Any other tips would be welcome. I am doing it with the engine out since the engine is so easy to pull anyways. Took me 45 minutes from driving into the shop to engine out of the bronco. Damn i love working on old stuff! Plug for Alternator, Plug for ignition, Heater & Radiator Hoses, Starter, 2 nuts from motor mounts and bell housing bolts and out she came!!

 

[Tito]

What body lift are you running, if any? That will make a difference.

 

[73bronco]

I only have pictures of the tunnel cover I made AFTER cutting the huge hole. My hole was about the width of the raised portion and about 3 inches up(in front of the bend) and about 9 inches back from the bend. I have NO body lift so a body lift will change how you cut it. If I remember correctly there is a very good write up on pirate or here. Google it. There are some good pictures on here when you google it, it is the first option that comes up. Here are some pics of my tunnel cover so you have an idea of how to cover the hole.....

 

[mjstef]

What body lift are you running, if any? That will make a difference.

No body lift but i am thinking of dropping the T-Case cross member 1" since i will install a 2" suspension lift soon. This might help me get away with NOT lengthening the driveshafts.

 

[73bronco]

No body lift but i am thinking of dropping the T-Case cross member 1" since i will install a 2" suspension lift soon. This might help me get away with NOT lengthening the driveshafts.

Unless your driveshafts are almost too short now then a 2" lift should not require new driveshafts. If it were me I would leave the cross member where it is and flip the bushings that are the trans/transfer case mount. That drops the combo down about 3/8". The NP435 is considerably larger than the stock 3 speed so if you drop it too much then it will hang below the frame rails. Comparison pics of NP435 and stock 3 speed..........

 

[Pokey71]

No body lift but i am thinking of dropping the T-Case cross member 1" since i will install a 2" suspension lift soon. This might help me get away with NOT lengthening the driveshafts.

Dont drop the t-case. i have a 3.5 and it does fine...
With out a Body lift you are going to be cutting almost all of the top of the tranny hump. my 2 inch BL is just enough to get it in there without lifting up the body from the mounts...

 

[Tito]

May as well cut out the whole top portion real nice then make a new piece to cover the whole. I cut mine out quite a bit including the support for the tunnel.
I run a 1" BL on mine.

 

[TN1776]

My thoughts on the matter are that you should remove most of the flat part of the tunnel and make a nice cover to fill it back up. I was hesitant at first but after installing my tranny only to find out the shifter was stabbed wrong, I was very happy to have the access to lift the top cover off and re-align the shift forks. The NP435 is a heavy sucker and its not hard to misalign the shift forks.

 

[Madgyver]

No pictures of the cut-outs but I do have pics of the cover and the cut-out are close if not the same underneath...

 

[mjstef]

Thanks, This helps a lot! Glad to get rid of the P.O.S. 3 spd. and the garbage Hurst shifter!!

 

[Nobody]

This is mine. I have a 2 inch body lift. I was close, but I discovered that the hole needed to be slightly offset to the drivers side.

 

[mjstef]

Does the re-enforcement channel rub on top even with the body lift?

 

[Nobody]

nope. Plenty of clearance up there. There is a little nub that comes close, but it's fine.

 

[mjstef]

So i wonder if i can get away with not cutting the cross member without a body lift?

 

[allenfahey]

Yes the crossmember will need cutting without a BL. Here's the size of the hole I had to cut on one of my old Bronco's with original wore out bodymounts. Measuring from the 45 degree bend up towards the defrost duct on the right side is 4" up and 6" towards the rear with a 1" lip to the crease towards the floor. On the left side it too is 4" up to the air box and 6" towards the rear with a 3/4" lip to the crease to towards the floor.

 

[kyle]

Another thing to keep in mind is that there is a tall top cover NP 435 and a short top cover 435. Though the tall top covers are less common, if you do have one you will want to swap it out with the shorter version.

 

[Nobody]

Another thing to keep in mind is that there is a tall top cover NP 435 and a short top cover 435. Though the tall top covers are less common, if you do have one you will want to swap it out with the shorter version.

I have both. The nice thing about the tall cover is the short throw shifts. I used the short cover though.

And yes, you will need a body lift to clear the body channel. I hate body lifts probably more than anyone, but on EB's the advantages of a 2" body lift far out weigh not having one. I highly recommend the wildhorses body lift. For once I got a product I wasn't disappointed with.

 

[mjstef]

I have both. The nice thing about the tall cover is the short throw shifts. I used the short cover though.

And yes, you will need a body lift to clear the body channel. I hate body lifts probably more than anyone, but on EB's the advantages of a 2" body lift far out weigh not having one. I highly recommend the wildhorses body lift. For once I got a product I wasn't disappointed with.

Got it in without a body lift. Good 1" clearance all around. The one question i have is do i really need the T-Handle & Detents on the trans-case shifter? I was thinking of cutting it off and putting a round knob on it as i can't seem to get the 4 spd shifter bent around the 4x4 shifter to be able to hit granny gear without it being a long reach to the passenger side. If the shifter is comfy for the driver it hits the t-case shifter.

 

[kyle]

Just an FYI Tom's sells a tunnel cover for a NP 435 conversion.