Bought a 65 all-original. Problem is, it's all original. Yeah, thought I got a great deal, and now it ain't lookin so great. My hot rod is slowing becoming a not rod.

Anyways, I removed my carpet, looks like I'll need new pan(s). On the driver side I notice I can see light coming through. I pull off the kick/vent panel and find that this area rotted through. I am not exactly sure what you’d call that area. Is that still considered part of the floor pan?

Is it repairable? I suppose I have to pull the fender and see what awaits me on the other side.

At what point $$$ wise to you call it quits and just try to find a better body?

Oh, and what is purpose of the 4 ‘plugs’ in the floor pan?

Thanks,
Jeff


http://www.jhilb.com/IMG_0459.JPG

Oh, looking at NPD catalog, I see they have a 'toe' floor pan. I guess this would be that area then.

Anyone have a web site that shows somebody replacing floor pans?

Do replacement floor pans have the body bolts in them? I mean, I am not exactly sure how the body 'pulls' onto the frame. It looks like the bolts are part of the pan and pull onto the frame correct?

The 4 plugs in the floor are commonly called drain plugs. There were used in the factory as part of the jig for the shell.

The toe board is the part that is rotted through and it is not that uncomon on the drivers side especially. Toe boards are available as is the 1/2 floorpan which covers one side of the floor. Floorpans & toe boards are seperate pieces. Full floorpans are now available but they do not include the toe boards either.

Body mount bolts are attached to the supports that connect to the rockers, floor braces & floorpans.

A suggestion, if you are buying new sheet metal, stick the parts made in north america as opposed to offshore. The fit and finish is better and the guage of steel is usually heavier.

Hope it Helps

Thanks Steve. I owe you a bunch you've been an extremely valuable knowledge base and I really appreciate it.

Common thread here seems to be to stick with parts made here in the good 'ole US. That's what I'll do.

I always called this section at the vent, the kicker panel. My 65 has both sides rusted out.
The inner rockers, just below, are also rusted.
I cut out the rusted sections and fabricated a piece of steel to cover the vent area and the inner rocker in one piece. Welded it in and it came out strong. It is'nt original, but when I placed the vent covering over the metal, you can't even tell it's been replaced.