I need to replace the floor supports (and
floor pans) in my 65. Is it necassary to raise the body ? If so how can I go about doing this ? Is it possible to support the body somewhere and lower the frame ?

i was fortunate enough not to need new floor pans and supports, but have seen people do this, you need to support the body from side to side and front to back. dont take any chances and go skimpy on the supports, over-doing it is always a good thing http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif anyway, i would definately replace the braces first, that way you can line them up with the floor pans or whats left of the floor pans so you know you floor will weld back to the original spot, and wherever you can on body braces, like behind it or any place you can stick a mig in there, put a nice bead of weld down nd burn it in real good. hope this helps!

Bob you need to raise the car off the frame no way around it. The brace sits behind the frame and you just cant get access to the brace to remove it properly. All you need is some 4x4 pieces of wood to slide under the body to go across the frame. You shouldnt need to go higher then that.

I raised my body with several floor jacks and a porta power. Just put the 4x4 under the cowl in the area were the front body bolts are and right in front of the rear wheel well.

The best way I have found to replace floors is doing one piece at a time dont just hack out everything and try and start from stcrath. Remove the front brace first by drilling out the spot welds with a drill bit or spot weld remover bit. Drill them out dont cut out the brace, you need something to algin the new brace to. It helps if you mark the old brace first with a marker to locate it back into position faster. Now once the new brace fits to your liking use some sheet metal screws to hold it in place and just a few tack welds not too many as you may need to remove them and re adjust the brace. Now replace the other brace.

Once both braces are in and held tight in place, you can start to cut out the floor. The trick is too remove only half of the floor if you are replacing the whole thing. This way you have something the algin the new floor half too. Get the new half to fit to the braces and the other side of the floor(the old half). Once you have the fit you like hold it down with screws and some tacks. Now remove the last remaining part of the old floor and algin the other new half to the braces and the freshly installed floor. Once you have the fit now you can start fully welding in that floor and braces.

You dont need to worry about the car flexing if your rockers are in good shape and not half missing from rust. If they are, it would be a good idea to brace the car to keep it into shape. But being to carefull never hurt anyone so putting a brace or two will not hurt just cheap insurance..Eric


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1970 chevelle
1970 chevelle SS455 not a typo its a buick baby
1949 and 1972 chevy trucks
http://briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/sevt_chevelles