Design-wise I will drop the shifter into a pocket, built into the cover, so the cable comes out level with the top of the doghouse, I will run the cable straight forward, over the top of the doghouse. I will then make a closeout panel to cover the cable (and wiring) which will pull off with a couple strips of velcro. Making the closeout panel out of the same carbon fiber that I use on the cover will make it all but disappear...
Mounting the shifter with some quick release pins will allow me to easily remove it and set it on the floor or in a seat to pull the cover.
Here is the solution in a nut shell...
" While looking at photos of the cover installed, I noticed, on the right side of the engine cover flange, there is a square hole which was the old computer connector pass-thru. I can route the cable in a big loop over the doghouse, vertically down thru that hole and then rearward toward the tailshaft. This will be one huge loop, no tight bends at all. I will route some romex along it tonight ,if I get time, but I thinking I may be able to get away with a 10 foot cable. I plan to hard mount the cable as much as possible to keep loss of travel to a minimum."
added a quick photoshop for cable routing
http://images42.fotki.com/v1314/phot...routing-vi.jpg
When I got home last night I ran the short cable I got with the shifter along my "path".
Up on top, the cable naturally falls down thru the pass-thru.
http://images58.fotki.com/v154/photo...MVC007F-vi.jpg
http://images57.fotki.com/v139/photo...MVC008F-vi.jpg
Underneath it sweeps right back toward the rear of the van. Mind you this is all natural, there are no forced bends in the routing.
http://images33.fotki.com/v1187/phot...MVC005F-vi.jpg
This routing will work perfectly and it tucks the cable right alongside the old frame rail, well away from the headers and exhaust heat.
Thanks for looking!
Mark