Fold in transmission tunnel!!

[68xstang]

Hi!

My 68 coupe has had a small bump in the front right corner. I removed the carpet, and noted a fold in the transmission tunnel and passenger floor pan(in front of the passenger seat).
Apparently the force has gone via the frame rail into the floor, with the result seen in the picture.

Can someone tell me whether the driveability and wheel adjustments will suffer from this? Or is it still ok to drive with this? Note the rocker panels are still ok, the only place where deformation is noted, is the transmission tunnel and the floor pan right in front of the seat base(where the frame rail ends).

Thanks!

 

[2+2GT]

We need to know if there is any other secondary problems with the front frame rails, firewall, rocker, etc.

 

[danny clemens]

If it were mine I'd straighten it out and drive it if there isn't a weak spot that caused it happen. If it starts doing it again I'd weld some heavier steel on it to reinforce it.

 

[DukeGnarley]

I'd take it to a frame shop and have them check out the alignment of the frame rails etc. if it's out of whack see if then can bend it back. It looks like someone took your stang off of some sweet jumps or something.

If the rails are in alignment, then it's probably ok. I'd take a bfh and try to get the transmission tunnel back into shape. as stated above, look around for anything else that might be bent. firewall, fender aprons etc.

 

[68xstang]

We need to know if there is any other secondary problems with the front frame rails, firewall, rocker, etc.

I haven't noticed any secondary problems, only the deformed area in the floor pan on the passenger side. I have been driving the car last summer, since i bought it in the spring, without any noticable problems.

I have painted the car, and I am now fixing the interior(carpet, door panels, etc.). That's how I noticed the deformation.

How could I do a check that all dimensions are as they should be? And what were the tolerances back in the 60's?

Thanks!

 

[2+2GT]

There's a diagram in the service manual.

Tolerances in the 60's were not what they are now. "Git 'er done" was more like it.

The wrinkles from mis-fit here are original:

 

[68xstang]

I took the drawing from the shop manual, and went to measure the underbody. There was, as expected, a small 0,3" difference lengthwise, and ~0,4" cross dimension.
This is really minor, and requires no action. Thanks for the support guys!