09-30-2015, 06:23 AM
Okay. Here we go...
I've taken all my interior out but the dash and steering column for now. I need to replace the floor pans and package tray. Here's my first question. The package tray I don't have too much to question. Cut the old one out. Weld the new one in.
The floor pans... The front and rear driver sides are done. The front driver side is gone especially next to the rocker panel. The front passenger side has surface rust but still has good thickness and strenth. The rear passenger side is done in the center. Both seat platforms are in good shape. The right rear bolt hole on the passenger side was rusted out and came out with the seat. It left about a 3 inch opening. The plan is to remove the bolt hole from the seat and weld it to a piece of metal to patch the platform. The floor pans under the platforms are good. A few bits of surface rust but nothing major.
I'm trying to figure out my best approach to this and the order to do it in. I could just cut out the three section that are bad. Perhaps even the fourth area (passenger front) just because and replace with new floor pans. For about the same price of those four pieces though I can get two full length floors pans. Then my mind wonders to the support rails and torque boxes.
If I go with the four pieces I simply plan to spray the inside of the platform area with a rust inhibitor. Overall I plan to brush and sand the entire interior down to the metal. The exterior is straight and a only a few surface rust spots. Those will just a be sand, fill, sand, and paint.
If I cut out and grind on just the sections that are bad I'm guessing I won't have much work to do at all underneath. Those pieces that are solid still should still be in place and I'm just welding on top of them. If I cut out the full length of the floor pan I know I'll have to cut off my seat platforms and install them on the new ones. What about underneath? Will I have to cut off rails and boxes and weld them back on too or will they stay in place if I cut the full length out correctly?
My third train of thought runs the idea of lifting the body off the subframe. Then send the body, doors, front fenders, and hood off to paint. This leaves me the subframe, engine, transmission, and rear end just sitting there. Then I can go through it easily. Clean it all up. Replace what needs fixing. Then put it all back together with a new exhaust and suspension.
I've taken helicopters apart all the way to the skids and built them back up to airworthiness so I'm not too afraid to strip this car down either. It's just other than the floor pans and package tray I have a solid car that runs. So I even debate if I should just drive it to the paint shop. Strip the driveshaft, readend, and suspension there, leave it on & paint around it, or have I lost my mind wanting to take it all apart? My biggest question would be how much work am I getting in to with removing my dash panel and accessories off the firewall. Worth it just have to a fun weekend driver?
I've taken all my interior out but the dash and steering column for now. I need to replace the floor pans and package tray. Here's my first question. The package tray I don't have too much to question. Cut the old one out. Weld the new one in.
The floor pans... The front and rear driver sides are done. The front driver side is gone especially next to the rocker panel. The front passenger side has surface rust but still has good thickness and strenth. The rear passenger side is done in the center. Both seat platforms are in good shape. The right rear bolt hole on the passenger side was rusted out and came out with the seat. It left about a 3 inch opening. The plan is to remove the bolt hole from the seat and weld it to a piece of metal to patch the platform. The floor pans under the platforms are good. A few bits of surface rust but nothing major.
I'm trying to figure out my best approach to this and the order to do it in. I could just cut out the three section that are bad. Perhaps even the fourth area (passenger front) just because and replace with new floor pans. For about the same price of those four pieces though I can get two full length floors pans. Then my mind wonders to the support rails and torque boxes.
If I go with the four pieces I simply plan to spray the inside of the platform area with a rust inhibitor. Overall I plan to brush and sand the entire interior down to the metal. The exterior is straight and a only a few surface rust spots. Those will just a be sand, fill, sand, and paint.
If I cut out and grind on just the sections that are bad I'm guessing I won't have much work to do at all underneath. Those pieces that are solid still should still be in place and I'm just welding on top of them. If I cut out the full length of the floor pan I know I'll have to cut off my seat platforms and install them on the new ones. What about underneath? Will I have to cut off rails and boxes and weld them back on too or will they stay in place if I cut the full length out correctly?
My third train of thought runs the idea of lifting the body off the subframe. Then send the body, doors, front fenders, and hood off to paint. This leaves me the subframe, engine, transmission, and rear end just sitting there. Then I can go through it easily. Clean it all up. Replace what needs fixing. Then put it all back together with a new exhaust and suspension.
I've taken helicopters apart all the way to the skids and built them back up to airworthiness so I'm not too afraid to strip this car down either. It's just other than the floor pans and package tray I have a solid car that runs. So I even debate if I should just drive it to the paint shop. Strip the driveshaft, readend, and suspension there, leave it on & paint around it, or have I lost my mind wanting to take it all apart? My biggest question would be how much work am I getting in to with removing my dash panel and accessories off the firewall. Worth it just have to a fun weekend driver?
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