Replacing Body Pan

[THORIN]

The bottom of my vette is in bad shape. Lots of rust, with sheet metal replacement of some areas. Can the entire bottom of the Vette be replace seperatly, or is it attached to the body. If it can be swapped. Any ideas of where one could be found. 1977 coupe. Alson any idea of what it would cost for it? Also what is "IT" called? Body pan, tub, bottom?

 

[JohnZ]

Are you talking about the frame, or the floorpan of the body? If it's the floorpan, replacements are now available; nightmare job to replace them. If it's the frame, new reproduction frames are about $4500, good used ones about half that, $3k - $5K labor to swap them if you can't do it yourself.

 

[THORIN]

Its the floor pan. Thanks for the info.

 

[C3forME]

New floor pans are about $250.00 a side from Eckler's and a mother of a job to put in as John Z stated.

 

[herron]

Bought my '81 last year. I thought I needed a new floorpan when I looked underneath. Had it up on a hoist over the weekend, and it's not rusted metal that looks chewed up under the driver's seat...looks more like fiberglass. Was there a fiberglass coating underneath? If so, isn't that fixable with something like Evercoat Panel Adhesive? The metal floorpan (inside) seems fine.

 

[6880 Mike]

Bought my '81 last year. I thought I needed a new floorpan when I looked underneath. Had it up on a hoist over the weekend, and it's not rusted metal that looks chewed up under the driver's seat...looks more like fiberglass....

Supposed to be factory undercoating/sound deadener under there.

 

[herron]

Supposed to be factory undercoating/sound deadener under there.

So, if it's damaged and breaking up, what do you use to repair it. It looks like fiberglass.
:confused

Would the Evercoat help (or even work)?

 

[kyeakel]

On these cars, 75's and later, (I think) have metal floor pans. These were changed from fiberglas ones in previous years due to the addition of the catalyctic converters and the heat they radiate. On mine, a previous owner had put in an aluminum patch panel. This was glued into place with some tar looking black glue. This "repair" only caused the collection of water between this patch and the real floor pan, causing even more damage. It appeared to be fiberglass when I first looked at it, but really was rusty metal. Check yours with a magnet.

I'm currently replacing floor pans on my 78 corvette. I have one side removed and just need to clean, size, and weld in the new part. While I was doing this, I noticed why this occurred. My birdcage had rotted out, the drivers side had 2 holes as big as 50 cent peices. The passenger side had a hole you could put your fist into. These were right under the lower corners of the windsheild. The reason these rotted out where because the upper corners of the windsheild frame had rotted. :bash So, after removing the whole front clip, I've replaced all the bad windsheild frame parts. I've made parts to replace the lower windsheild areas as these are not commercially available. I'm also repairing my #2 body mounts as they were somewhat rusted as well. This is a big job, but I was doing a frame off restore anyway, so it's part of the deal...

Kipp

 

[herron]

thanks....I'll crawl under there with a magnet tonight to check...but the stuff doesn't look or feel metallic at all. :confused

 

[Evolution1980]

On these cars, 75's and later, (I think) have metal floor pans. These were changed from fiberglas ones in previous years due to the addition of the catalyctic converters and the heat they radiate.
<SNIP>
Kipp

Kipp, welcome to the
Be sure to stop over in the New Members Introduction section and introduce yourself!

 

[6880 Mike]

So, if it's damaged and breaking up, what do you use to repair it. It looks like fiberglass.
:confused

Would the Evercoat help (or even work)?

Check to ensure it's undercoating. Undercoating will have a tar like appearance and may show age cracking. It will not look like fiberglass. The same stuff will be in the wheel wells. If it's undercoating, scrape off the loose stuff and shoot the bare areas with 3M spray undercoat.

It's there to provide a bit of sound/heat deadening and to protect the metal floor pans.

 

[herron]

Didn't even get a chance to go into the garage last night...the honeydo list was too long.

Will try to get a picture tonight...it does look black...and you could be right about it being undercoating.

 

[herron]

Didn't even get a chance to go into the garage last night...the honeydo list was too long.

Will try to get a picture tonight...it does look black...and you could be right about it being undercoating.

Here is what it looks like....

...kinda DOES look like undercoating....!;help

 

[6880 Mike]

Here is what it looks like....

...kinda DOES look like undercoating....!;help

Sorry. I can't actually tell what you have there. Looks like undercoating, but also looks like possible corrosion damage.

 

[Evolution1980]

Herron, when I first got my car 13 years ago, mine was worse! The only thing keeping me from becoming Fred Flintstone was the carpet! I had a body shop custom fab a pan and shoot it with undercoating protection. I've noticed that mine is starting to crack/flake like 6880 Mike referenced. i'm not overly concerned at this point as my car rarely ever sees wet pavement / puddles....unless I'm at a CruiseFest, then I can pretty much guarantee it! :L