'71 Barracuda Question

[Claudia]

Does anyone know if the shifter hole in the transmission tunnel is in the same location on an automatic as it is on a factory 3-speed car? I am trying to convert mine and want to install the automatic console brackets but am unsure of the location as I do not have a motor or transmission in the car yet. Any advise is welcome.

[anlauto]

Not even close

['Cuda Hunter]

There is a thread here on cc.com that has some location measurements for where to mount your automatic shifter mounts to the hump.  You will have to modify your hole if you don't want to remove the 3-4 speed hump and replace it with an automatic hump. 

[Claudia]

Yes, I have all of the location measurements for the placement of the three automatic console brackets.
 
I am trying to locate the measurements for the shifter hole (size and location) for the automatic floor as I do not want to remove the factory 3-speed tunnel if I do not have to.

[anlauto]

There's absolutely no way you could mount automatic console brackets on a floor with the 3 speed/4 speed hump already in place.
In order for the factory to add the "hump" for the standard transmission, a large section of the automatic floor pan has been removed. The area where the vertical shaft of the console shifter exits the car above the transmission, does not exists any more if you have a standard transmission.

[Claudia]

Anlauto - I understand the differences between the standard and auto tunnels now.  It seems completely possible to modify the auto console brackets to fit the standard tunnel and cut a new hole for the down shaft of the linkage.  I am just wondering if the height dimensions are the same on both tunnels for the overall height of the center console once mounted.

[anlauto]

If you draw a line down the center of the entire tunnel from front to rear, then YES at that center line the floor pan is at the same height on both the automatic tunnel and the standard tunnel.

An automatic console will NOT fit a standard tunnel. You will need to use a 4spd console with an automatic top plate in order for it to fit.

You will most likely have to cut a large hole in the standard tunnel hump to get the vertical shaft of the automatic shifter linkage to pass through. Also the front bracket will not have any floor pan to support it on the driver's side due to the standard hump.

[72hemi]

It would probably be easiest to drill out the spot welds on the manual tunnel hump, remove it and weld in an automatic trans tunnel patch.

[larry4406]

I have a 71 barracuda console shift automatic in process of being converted to a 4-speed.  Attached are pictures of the before and after of the floor plan which may help you.

[Claudia]

Larry 4406 - Thank you for the pictures!  They do help!
 
Do you happen to have any pictures for the measurements from side to side for the location of the round hold for the down shaft or the diameter of the same hole?

[larry4406]

Hi Claudia - I do not have measurements left/right of the automatic hole thru the floor board or size of the hole.  I kept the piece that I cut out, but it is packed away somewhere.

[Claudia]

Larry4406 - If you can get some measurements and pictures of what you cut out of yours and you are interested in selling it, I would be interested in possibly buying it.

[1 Wild R/T]

Who's got some fabrication skills?  I've got a buddy with a real 70 Hemicuda  (BS23R0) it's a factory 4 gear car but since the owner has a bad left leg he converted it to a Auto... He didn't cut anything, He built his own shifter that protrudes through the stock 4 spd hole, it uses a OE pistol grip handle & he left the clutch pedal... So looking at it most people will never notice it's got an automatic... And since it's all bolt in & he kept all the original 4 gears parts it can easily be put back to stock....