Southern Oregon Floorpan Replacement

[cjandmm]

I have a 1988 GT that is getting prepped for restoration. Interior is completely gutted. I found that the driver floorpan is ripped where the driver rear seat-track bolts are located. I have a complete replacement driver-side floorpan, but this kind of bodywork is way out of my wheelhouse. Does anyone have a recommendation for a shop in Southern Oregon that could/would do this kind of work? I can flatbed the car if necessary, as long as its done right.

There is no rust in this floorpan, its just the damaged sheetmetal. It was originally my dad's car and he was not a small guy. Couple that with frequent hard acceleration over the years and it just gave up the ghost.

 

[347HO]

I'd be willing to take that job...

I live 6 hrs away tho. And the weather ain't getting warmer unfortunately.
I can make room in my shop, but it will have to be done inside a weekend.

Let me know if you wanna discuss specifics.

I also do paint, body and custom metal, aluminum and fiberglass mods if thats something you want done in the future.

 

[cjandmm]

Thanks! PM sent with some extra info.

 

[347HO]

Post up your pics and a description what you want/expect.
I can make a better assessment what will be required.

Disclosure:
I'm not affiliated with this website, so any agreements, work accomplished does not reflect or is the responsibility of this site.

I alone guarantee my work to your satisfaction. Which I'm pretty confident you will be very happy with my craftsmanship.

 

[cjandmm]

Attached are some pics of the damaged floorpan. The floorpans are really clean, with only a couple spots of surface rust (nothing penetrating). The damage to the floorpan is the driver-side, near the door and just in front of the rearward seat mounting bolt holes.

This cars value to me is mainly sentimental. It was my dad's, then mine in HS and someday will be my sons. My expectation is to get it back to a "new-like" condition. It won't be going anywhere near a concourse, so the repair just needs to be functional, since its hidden under carpet anyways. I bought a new floorpan panel from LMR years ago and its just never been installed.

Once its repaired I'll be putting in some full-length subframe connectors with seat supports to reinforce it against future failures.

 

[347HO]

Can I get a picture of the replacement part?

Are you wanting the entire pan replaced, or a portion of the pan?

 

[cjandmm]

Here it is. I would probably be OK with just a portion replaced. I hadn't thought about that...just assumed the whole thing was going to need to be replaced.

 

[cjandmm]

Ok....I'm not a welder so maybe this is a dumb question, but since the metal is all there and not rusted away, could this get bent back into place and welded together instead of actually replacing the sheetmetal? Just wondering if that would end up not strong enough or if there is other issues with that approach?

 

[347HO]

I'm not sure.
I will suggest a majority of your pan be replaced, as I assume it wiil take very little, more time vs attempting a bunch of repairs all over the place.
My suggestion to you, and how I would perform this repair is to cut out the entire pan, leaving some vertical, bottom radius.
Trim back the new pan to "drop in" fit and weld along the radius parting line.

What I mean, for example..
Take two plastic beer cups, cut the bottom of one cup 1" from the bottom. Cut 2" off the top of the other cup.
Drop cup #2 into cup #1 then weld the parting line.
Rattle can some rubber paint everywhere and admire your work!

 

[cjandmm]

That would work well enough for me. Like I said, this isn't a show car. Its going to be a semi-daily driver and will go to my son in another 10 years when he's old enough.

You had mentioned doing this at your shop in Renton. Is that still something you could do sometime earlier next year (maybe Jan - Mar)? I am pulling the dash to fix a heater core and need to get it running after 18 years of sitting but after that I should be able to throw a driver seat in and take it on a road trip.

 

[347HO]

You are certainly welcome to do this in my shop.
Must be a weekend however.
Will need about a week advance notice so I can make a bay available.
I attend local car shows and races, so we can schedule around that if need be.

 

[cjandmm]

Thanks. That may work out well. I have to get the heater core / evap replaced and the dash back together, then get the engine running first. That's going to be Jan/Feb timeframe likely. After that I can make any arrangements to deal with the floorpan before the interior goes back in.

It was running when parked but has been sitting for 18 years. Inside my shop thankfully, but still sitting.