Ok, I see where I'll have to "bump" some metal to widen the tunnel. But, one step forward, three steps back; there is a possibility of a girdle for the bottom end in the future, somewhat like:
which makes the whole engine taller (doesn't it?), which means that I'll have to move everything up an inch or two.
So I threw together a tub for the bellhousing, 17.5" wide, half that tall, 6" deep with a 1" flange at the firewall:
The "raw" firewall as currently partially patched:
Where I'm thinking of cutting (the black line):
I'm going to sleep on it, and think a little more. Any thoughts, opinions, etc?\
Mike