Week #100

The last big metal repair I have is the area at the drivers feet. I had initially bought only the patch panel for this area but determined that it didn't go quite far enough up towards the firewall to repair what I needed. I had to spring for the full length floor panel... and use only the front 1/3 of it!

These repairs are not really that difficult if you've done 1 or 2. This particular patch is in the perfect place for the patch going undetected. There is the firewall seam at the front, the 4 speed hump at the right, the "torsion bar cross-frame at the rear and a major frame rail at the left. The only area that will need any attention as far as butt welding or the like is a 4-5 inch line from the firewall seam to the hump. At the torsion bar frame member, I will just overlap the patch above the frame... from underneath no one will see where the old and new stop or start.

After the bad is cut out and the new is fitted in place, you only have to go through the same drills as you do with the trunk. Mark where the rails are underneath, put dots where the "spot weld" holes are going to be and make sure that all mating surfaces are, well, mating.

I think I had maybe 6 hours in this patch from start to finish. I did forget to cut the hole for the body plug before I welded in the pan but I'll for sure get that done before any priming/painting gets done.