Hi guys, as I was working on my ignition switch and the dash when i noticed, when one screw fell to the floor, that there is a second opening in the transmission tunnel of my '68 Dodge Dart GTS with 4-speed manual. I searched the forum, the web and the service manuals for '67 & '69 (i haven't got one for '68) but unfortunately was not able to find an explanation. The console is missing thats why the screw fell underneath the carpet -> that's why i noticed the second opnening. The second opening is located a little bit left (driver side) and in front of the opening for the gear shift and it also has some sort of rubber grommet. According to fender tag and broadcast sheet this car should be an original 4 speed manual and also the mounting for the console is in place and looks quite original to me. Attached some pics, i hope this helps anyhow. I apologize upfront if this is something very obvious but I am new to the Mopar world and this second opening is not logical to me. Thanks for your help! Best Chris
IDK but Better check your VIN and see if it was originally an automatic car OK erase that; the auto shifter port was not in that location nor on a 4-speed hump
That is where the linkage for an automatic transmission goes. The hump where you shifter is is correct for your car, do not worry about the other one. Seal it up so moisture & critters can't get in & you are good to go.
Look in the service manual in the automatic section, it will show the auto shifter setup for console. Are you CERTAIN the fender tag matches your car?
You are right but idk yet what it is for. That sounds not as bad as i thought. Do you know if this was done by a previous owner or is the opening for auto there from the factory and they just fitted the correct tranny? I checked once again and VIN tag, fender tag and broadcast sheet match and all say 4 spd manual.
Maybe someone raced the car with both a 4 speed and an Auto for certain classes? Now for the humor, does it have a transfer case?
Don’t blame that on the factory. House Electrical wire? LOL Someplace, sometime, someone needed to pass a shifter cable or some wires through.
That’s not the factory automatic transmission shift linkage location. Looks like someone took an automatic shift linkage boot and added it to the top of the 4 speed hump. Access to something on the 4 speed maybe? We’d have to see more of the 4 speed hump to see if it was original or added, but that auto trans boot was definitely added to the 4 speed hump. Not where it goes even on an auto car.
From what I recall that area is on the hump. When I replaced the hump and widened the tunnel with an aftermarket patch panel, it had the floor shift boss for the boot and retaining ring and its in a different location and different angle than shown.
If it had originally been an automatic; it would have had a console and a different tunnel not added on; and there would be remnants of the two console anchoring U-brackets, and the shifter-mounting bracket, as well. Furthermore, the KD mechanism might still be under the hood including the bracketry, and the stud on the carb. I have such a 1969converted car, and the hole for the Z-bar was on the side of the tunnel, and was cut out, when the hump was installed. I am third owner and when I asked the second owner back in 78, he said the original owner had wanted a "Cuda", could not find one, so had the dealer convert a FormulaS automatic car, to Cuda status. That's the story I got; all numbers agree mine left the factory as an automatic car.
Thanks for all your support. In the mean time i aksed the seller of the car and he mentioned the console tachometer the car had from factory according the fender tag. So the second opening might be for the wiring of the tachometer?
Got a pic of fendertag? We can decode it and see what options it left factory with. Welcome aboard by the way. Also go to mymopar.com and search there for a free factory service manual. Cheers Steve
Hi Steve, thanks a lot. Attached a pic of the fender tag, I already decoded it. Here is what i figured out: Dodge Dart GTS 2 Door Hardtop 340cid 4-bbl HP V8 4- Spd Manual Floor Shift Tires: E70x14 Red Sidewall, steel belted Model Year: 1968 Build date: January 29. Axle: 3.23 Rear Axle Ratio, Sure Grip Interior: Sport Trim Grade, Vinyl Bucket Seats, Light Blue Interior Paint: Bright Blue Metallic (Dodge), Electric Blue Metallic (Plymouth) Other: Light Blue Metallic (Dodge), Frost Blue Metallic (Plymouth) Upper Door Frame Color. Stripe Deleted Moldings: 25: Drip Rail Mouldings 30: Body Belt Mouldings 78: Wheel Lip Mouldings ABC Options: R1: AM Radio T7: Tachometer X1: Tinted Glass (all) Y7: White Vynil Top abc Options: a6: center console b4: Bucket seats u1: sold car
You are correct, that it is a factory 4 speed car. Here is a picture of what the console mounted tach wiring looks like. Green wire goes to the negative side of the coil. Orange wire is for the light bulb power in the tach. Violet wire goes to the positive 12v accessory. Black wire goes to the ground. I'm doing this from memory so if someone thinks I'm incorrect then pipe in...
I'm not too familiar with darts, but 68 wouldn't have a rally dash, so the "T7" code for tach would be on the console wouldnt it?
Thanks guys for all your replies, but I need to get back to my first question: Has my second tunnel opening something to do with the console mounted tach? Thanks for the Info and the pics, I will check if I can find any of the applicable wires.
I'm guessing, but I would say yes. Sometimes rubber grommets/plugs have a part # molded in them, see if you can find one? Get a factory parts manual from mymopar.com and look for a parts breakdown.
First question is how many owners of this car before you? Because it looks to me like the logical answer is someone converted this car from a 4spd with console to an automatic trans and console, and then it was converted back to a 4spd without a console( I only say that because that's not a console shifter in the car know) some time in its life without removing the original floor hump. A lot happens to muscle cars over 50+ years.
I checked once again just a second ago and the hole through the tunnel to me looks quite original. What do you guys think? And as 4spdragtop said, there is really a number on the rubber but i can not find anything related to it. For me the number says 2781405. I really found the correct cables
