I installed a 518 in my '73 Dart.
I removed the top of the crossmember entirely at first, and after a few weeks I fully welded the remaining part of the crossmember to the floorboards for rigidity as the spotwelds where starting to seperate.
Did not cut open the floorboard but used a healthy sized hammer to remodel/clearance the tunnel. The problem area is the ridge/nubs where the OD-unit starts.
I don't have any good pics of the modified tunnel because at the time of the installation it was a long day in the garage, taking pics was not high on my todo list.
This is the only pic I made during the 4 or 5 times I've had the transmission trial fitted up there;