floor pans

[71buickfreak]

I am looking at purchasing a 73 GT. It has been about 10 years since I have owned an Opel, and I found this one recently and struck a deal with the owner. it has a rebuilt engine, new interior components and the body is pretty decent shape. except for the floors. They are pretty much gone. The area at the rocker undert the front door edge is all that is holding it together on the driver side. Is this one worth salvaging? The ribs under the seat are rusted, the seat area is not rusted out, but everywhere in front if it is. I have done several floor pan replacements on other cars, but there does not seem to be much holding the car together. Where can I get the floors? will they come with the support structure? help. thanks in advance.

[SantaClaw]

Here how it's done on My 73 GT:


Mine wasn't to bad in the passenger side, but the drivers side needed a new frame rail and floor pan..

The floor before:



Cut out the rot:






Reinforcing beam:




Cut out & bent:




Here it is, all repaired:





Get someone to cut out and bend the pans for you.

[71buickfreak]

So you basically built a reinforcement frame that fit in the rockers and welded that up and then laid in some flat steel. I have a plasma cutter, making the parts is not a problem, I am just trying to justify the trade and all the work that has to be done.

[SantaClaw]

Originally Posted by 71buickfreak So you basically built a reinforcement frame that fit in the rockers and welded that up and then laid in some flat steel. I have a plasma cutter, making the parts is not a problem, I am just trying to justify the trade and all the work that has to be done.

I didn't, but the guy I'm buying the car from did...

That's the way I've changed out floor pans on all my cars... The welds in the middle of the pan are to "pull" the plate straight, and to reinforce.

[Killer Texas GT]

Originally Posted by 71buickfreak I am looking at purchasing a 73 GT. It has been about 10 years since I have owned an Opel, and I found this one recently and struck a deal with the owner. it has a rebuilt engine, new interior components and the body is pretty decent shape. except for the floors. They are pretty much gone. The area at the rocker undert the front door edge is all that is holding it together on the driver side. Is this one worth salvaging? The ribs under the seat are rusted, the seat area is not rusted out, but everywhere in front if it is. I have done several floor pan replacements on other cars, but there does not seem to be much holding the car together. Where can I get the floors? will they come with the support structure? help. thanks in advance.

You need to locate a donor parts car for the pans, as there are no replacements or reproductions (to my knowledge). Where in OK are you?
I am currently working on a GT for a client, replacing rust out with good metal from donor parts cars. So far have replaced the right side rocker panel and structural "L" piece front to rear, section of the top cowling on both sides. Now in the process of replacing the drivers side kick panel(at the vent) the door jamb(mount section for the door) inner panel for the air intake for the kickpanel, and the front sructural member for the engine cross member along with the floor pan from the front seat support forward. Also replacing both front fenders and sections of the rear fenders and inner fenders. Time consuming and a royal pain to do it right. But well worth saving a GT.

[Phoenix]

Originally Posted by blancojp We use floor pans from '65/'66 Mustang, they are only $89.00 for a full length unit and you have lots left over. You can also use BMW 2002I floor pans which are exactly the same, just wider and longer. The pre '73 Beetle pans can be used as well but are very bulky to work with since they are 2 gauge size thicker.

From another thread.

[71buickfreak]

I am in stillwater. Finding a parts opel for a good price with decent floors is just about impossible. For what I will have in the car value wise, I just don't know if I can justify it. I don't have a problem building some support frame stuff, which is what it looks like I will have to do. We will see. Thanks.

[71buickfreak]

I see where you replaced the outer rocker, on this car, the outer is good shape, the inner (support rail is completely gone along with the rest of the floor.

[GTJIM]

Originally Posted by 71buickfreak For what I will have in the car value wise, I just don't know if I can justify it. I don't have a problem building some support frame stuff, which is what it looks like I will have to do. We will see. Thanks.

Just think of it as a GS455 Buick - the justification will follow!

Many of us have replaced floor panels and done much body work on our GTs - the pain/sorrow/cost is usually well rewarded by having saved another GT.

[71buickfreak]

I know, I have always liked opels, I had to sell my last because the city i lived in said it was a junk vehicle even though it was not. but I did not have a garage to keep it in. no choice.

The '73 has a frech motor and the interior upholstery to go on the seats and what not. I just got a little spooked by how far the rockers in the inside were shot. I did find a good price on some good original floor pans that inclde the rockers, so I think I will go that direction. It should be back up and driving soon.

[Gordy]

When I first joined the sight in 2002 I was moving and I posted 2 new floor pans from C&R Small Cars that I had bought back in the 90's and they sat up in my garage rafters for a few years. Figured I'd never have a need for them! Can't remember what they sold for here (but I bet less than $100 each) but I wish I had known how to sell on E Bay back then!. Maybe someone still has them around.

[opeletti75]

i have heard of some people useing volkswagon pans not for baking