Floor pan madness?
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albersondh
- Posts: 165
- Joined: Mon Dec 09, 2002 12:01 am
Floor pan madness?
Ok I dont understand the whole floor pan thing going on. It seems that anyone I have ever heard of who has rusted pans buys new ones and completely replaces them or cuts pieces out of them and welds them into were the rust was. Whats up with this cant I just cut out the old rust and weld in some sheet metal why does it seem like people only use other floor pans to fix floor pans. I hope Im not crossing some invisable you just dont do that boundry here it just seems cheaper easier and faster.
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JC-ATL
- Posts: 1559
- Joined: Thu Jul 25, 2002 12:01 am
Well, you've just crossed a "don't do that" boundary. We're coming to your house to confiscate your VWs.
But seriously, small rusted areas can very well be fixed with sheet metal. Hell, even some large ones. But you'll hurt the value of your ride, and if you do large areas with flat, it will be weaker and flex more than the ridged areas in a replacement pan.
I also think that a lot of us like the peace of mind we get from eliminating all the rust in a pan or pan section with brand-new steel, which certainly isn't all that do-able with sheet metal. And none of us want to be thought of as the D A M N previous owner, not so lovingly referred to on this site as the DPO.
But seriously, small rusted areas can very well be fixed with sheet metal. Hell, even some large ones. But you'll hurt the value of your ride, and if you do large areas with flat, it will be weaker and flex more than the ridged areas in a replacement pan.
I also think that a lot of us like the peace of mind we get from eliminating all the rust in a pan or pan section with brand-new steel, which certainly isn't all that do-able with sheet metal. And none of us want to be thought of as the D A M N previous owner, not so lovingly referred to on this site as the DPO.
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Kubel Nick
- Posts: 1770
- Joined: Sat Jun 29, 2002 12:01 am
It's commonly done but like said, if I was to buy a car with a patch'd up floorpan I wouldn't pay as much as one that was repaired "correctly". My Mini Cooper was repiared like this and looks pretty.... sad looking 
That being said, as long as you replace all the rust holes in the floor it should be fine. But another alternative route is to take a new pan and just cutout that section to replace the same section of rust, so the ridges would line up and still look factory.
That being said, as long as you replace all the rust holes in the floor it should be fine. But another alternative route is to take a new pan and just cutout that section to replace the same section of rust, so the ridges would line up and still look factory.
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wchiro
- Posts: 390
- Joined: Mon Apr 08, 2002 1:01 am
Re: Floor pan madness?
albersondh wrote:Ok I dont understand the whole floor pan thing going on. It seems that anyone I have ever heard of who has rusted pans buys new ones and completely replaces them or cuts pieces out of them and welds them into were the rust was. Whats up with this cant I just cut out the old rust and weld in some sheet metal why does it seem like people only use other floor pans to fix floor pans. I hope Im not crossing some invisable you just dont do that boundry here it just seems cheaper easier and faster.
Welding in sheet metal is ok, but replacing the rusted out sheet metal with new floor pans or sections of new floor panels is better for the overall stiffness of the floor pan. For example get a length of sheetmetal and bend it (pretty easy huh?) now get another length with a bend in it (shaped like a piece of angled iron) and bend it...get the idea?
Aloha from Hawaii,
Wayne
