Thanks for the compliments guys. It's what keeps me motivated.

Not a bug update...but got some new parts.

Tremec's new shifter. Thanks Gene!!! According to Gene: The new Tremec shifter is lower profile and has spring biasing adjustment. It also make provisions for the 2-3 shift. Like he also said...since I have never used my shifter yet, I won't know the difference, but I'm taking his word on it.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1000130.jpg

I also decided to get the new Speed Tech body mounts. I had the original silver ones and got them before Killer Customs bought the company. I thought I would go with the black anodized ones instead. Thanks Roger!!!

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1000131.jpg

It's nice for dummies like me, they have put 1, 2 or 3 lines in them to tell where they go.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1000132.jpg

If I don't spend a couple hours in the shop tomorrow, likely won't be until the new year. That's okay as last week we were down to -20 Celsius so was getting a bit cold.

Get your butt out there! The cold temps will make those body mounts slip right into place!! Kinda like putting a bearing in the freezer! LOL

Oh man!

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr......

We've had a cold snap for the past few weeks and with Christmas and New Years I really haven't had a chance to get into the shop at all. With reading about all the guys that are having to sell their projects, I knew I had to get into the shop today even if it was for a couple hours. Fired up a couple 220 heaters and got the shop to about 10 or 12 C or about 50 F. Got to spend a couple hours out there, not a major update but an update none the less.

I started by changing the old Tremec shifter to the new improved one

The old one

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1000213.jpg

I'll admit I didn't know what to expect when I took the shifter off. I had no clue how it attached. Pretty simple set up, especially to swap the shifter from front to back.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1000219.jpg

Before I put the new on one, I thought I would take some side by side shots to show the differences. The one on the right is the new improved one. You can the screws which allow you to make adjustments on the new shifter.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1000216.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1000215.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1000217.jpg

And the new shifter is on the tranny.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1000220.jpg

I know some guys were debating if after market aluminum mounts needed the factory shims when putting into a Nova. Speedtech has assured me they don't require the shims and here's why. The one on the left is the firewall mount and is higher than the back one to make up for the shims.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1000221.jpg

And finally the subframe is attached to the body for good :D It still needs to be aligned, but I had to put it on the ground to see how it looks. Aligning it by myself should be fun :(

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1000222.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1000225.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1000232.jpg

Lots of room to spare

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1000224.jpg

And my secret weapon. Two L92's :drive:

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1000226.jpg

I had to cut the shifter hole a bit to adjust for the changing it around. I still need to trim a bit more to make it more even all around. I plan on making a cover to fit over the hole. Do any of you think it would be an issue making a cover and putting some seam sealer underneath and using rivets to secure it down to the floor. I want to be able to just drill out the rivets if I ever need to access the shifter.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/d...9/P1000230.jpg

Looking good Mike. On that shifter cover, do you think having it bolted somehow might be easier instead of riveted on? Not that service will be too often , but you never know.:cheers:

Thanks Eric. I thought about bolting it on, but then it's accessing the nuts from the top. I agree it will not be very often that I need to access the shifter, that's why I thought using rivets might work. Don't have to worry about them rattling loose and can just drill them out when needed and re-rivet to secure again.

Nice updates....I think you have the shifter on backwards for our application. Meaning your reach will be affected. Mine has the shifter in the back hole. Reach is perfect, of course it's a camaro.

What about some other kind of quick release body clips(Dezus sp?). I can just see there being a need at some point and looking back saying "should have listened to Eric" is going to suck.....:D

Thanks Todd. Actually it was originally the other way. Keisler recommended changing it. They said with mine this way it will move it forward and put it in more of a natural location for shifter. The one nice thing with the hole that is left for access, if I don't like it where it is, I can always switch it back (unless of course I don't account for that when I build the console)

I guess I could use some small bolts with u nuts attached to the sheet metal. Something like these. They are used on other parts of the car. http://autobodyclips.com/product_inf...ducts_id=10055

Coming right along.

The removable tunnel discussion came up a lot on the FFR related forums because of the same issue. There is a rivnut type deal you might want to look into. If I remember correctly it is like a nut that you rivet into the panel. Using nuts/bolts would be better than plain rivits IMHO but getting to the nuts is a pain after the fact. The riv nut makes that blind nut not such a big deal.

John