US Car Tool A518 Cross member

I understand you concerns about cutting the crossmemeber. My opinion on the matter is you have to look at the car as a whole and not just localized in that area. You still have the firewall, floor pan and roof structure. The best compensation for removing the center tunnel ware the pictures FABO members posted below.
View attachment 1715296070 View attachment 1715296071 View attachment 1715296072 View attachment 1715296073 View attachment 1715296074 View attachment 1715296075 View attachment 1715296076
One added subframe connectors and structural driveshaft hoop pictured below. And the other shortened the height of the tunnel channel leaving it entact but shorter. I think both Strategies will help control localized flexing of the sheetmetal in the tunnel to keep the spot welds in that area from tearing. I’m going to do both. This is just my opinion and I’m not engineer.
Like the later of the 2 options. But can see where doing both could really mitigate any negative from pulling out the unwanted material. Surely 3/8th flat bar is as strong or better than the rolled edge being removed in these pictures....