Hi gang. Got a small problem. took out the front seat and carpet in my '71 chevelle and what do I see? Rust and holes! The rust can be sanded and por-15d but what about the holes? They're not too big, maybe silver dollar size and smaller. Do I need complete floor replacement panels? Or what else would work to just patch them up? What gauge and type of metal?
Also, my seats need re-covered. Deluxe interior, cloth inserts. Local shop says the fabric is $250 per yard! Yikes! Anybody know a cheaper source? It's green (moss green, I think)
Thanks, everybody. I always get the best info on this forum. Stan71

How bad are the holes? Are you at risk of falling through the floor and doing a fred flintstone? If yes, the right way to do it is to replace the entire floorpan. If the floorpan is looking like swiss cheese and is unsafe, you may want to consider floorpans.

And that is a pain in the rear.

If it is just minor rusting and the pan itself is still solid, and the holes are doing nothing more than letting air in, I'd fiberglass or sheet-metal them. It depends a lot on what your doing with the car, on my 69SS someone had cut a 8"X6" hole right next to the trans tunnel; I just took sheet metal, riveted it in place, and fiberglassed over it. I'm not looking to win any 100% resto awards, so it is a good repair. I sealed it all (both sides) with POR15.

If they are really just air holes, and you wanna be real cheap, clean the area around the hole on both sides real well, use some duct-tape to cover the holes, and then take the POR-15 patch and smear it over the entire area. It won't be as solid as metal, but it will keep the weather off the carpet and it works fine. I wouldn't do this for serious reqpairs where you have dozens of holes, but I did it where I forgot one and it worked well.

Of course, this is just how I would do it and everyone else's opinion is probably completly opposite. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

Wes

Stan
Those holes may only be silver dollar sized now, but if you patch them, you need to open them up to solid metal. If you leave any of the old rust behind, it will return PDQ. I'd TRY patching them too.
Year One has the seats with cloth (rondel) inserts (deluxe?) on page 13 of the new catalog ($525.00 - ouch). Colors are Black & Jade Green. You might want to check with Ground Up too.
Finally there are several links to upholstery suppliers at http://chevelles.net/links Go to the suppliers section, then interiors. Maybe one of them can do better, but then who sews the new covers? Good Luck.

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Rick
72 El Camino (http://members.home.net/jimmy4/rick1972elky.html)
TPI350/700r4
TC#00038
ACES#00140

[This message has been edited by rick (edited 07-16-2000).]

I guess I'll patch the holes. I'm sure it can be done. As for the interior, maybe I'll have them done in color correct vinyl tuck and roll- I can always do the factory resto some other time.Anybody sell tuck and roll covers? Thanks for the ideas. Stan71

Stan, I had the same problem with my Camino that you have. I thought about doing the POR patch thing, but I decided to replace the floor pan sections instead. The job is really not that tough if you have the right tools, and take your time. Look in the tech referance section or do a search on floor pan replacement. There is some excellent info on this site. Good luck!

Frank Z.

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70' El Camino SS 396 in pieces! Astro blue, black stripes someday.

Experience has educated me a little... Plus Canadian weather too in our rust belt. The guy's are right when they say, clean the holes right back to clean steel then look at the actual size of the damage. The floor panels aren't that hard to replace but if you don't have to and the holes aren't bad then cleanup as best as possible, weld in patches and POR-15 both sides up real good. This might actually be a good opportunity to clean up all the floor, front and back.

Also, if you are spraying the POR-15, try to get as much as you can into the braces under the floor, as they tend to let go if there is too much damage.

Hope it helps.

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Canadian ZZ4 Powered 64 Malibu SS!
Team Chevelle Gold Member #37
WebSite http://www.magma.ca/~ssoltesz/steves/1964.htm

I pretty much agree with everyone on the "patch" job on the floor.POR-15 the area,and fiberglass it and use a little undercoating.I have a theory on floors:if you're hangin' with Fred Flinstone,replace 'em.If it's little small spots,patch 'em.To me,welding in new floors flaws a car,unless they are beyond repair.I recently helped my cousin replace the floors in his 71 SS454,but we did a unique deal.We cut the floors out a 71 Monte with a bad frame(but MINT floor,go figure)and welded it in where the factory seams are.This was the COMPLETE floor,including the tunnel.Can't even tell.The floors even had the bucket seat/console brackets and hole for the cable.A floor pan with options!!That,to me is the only way.Just my twisted .02 and experience. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif

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1970 Chevelle SS396/L78/M21/4.10
1972 Olds 442 convertible(455,W25,M40)
1982 Oldsmobile Cutlass 350 Olds,TH350(daily driver)
1969 CHEVELLE SS396/TH400/FOR SALE!!
"Be aware of the possible ramifications of the potential outcome"

Sand it good, put duct tape under the floor areas with holes, coat with POR15 silver, lay down some POR fiberglass material while the paint is still wet, then coat the material with more POR15, put on the second coat after that's had time to dry, paint the underside with more POR15, then forget about it. If it's really bad, use some POR two part epoxy putty on top of the fabric.

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Mike
formerly known as gotapileof70Malibu
'70 Malibu
'70 Malibu convertible
see the ragtop at:
http://genxrodsandcustoms.8m.com/mike.html
North Vernon, IN

Good advice all, but what thickness of metal should I use to patch with? 18 ga. Steel? Galvanized? Help? Stan71.

Ragtop70 has the right idea. I've used that approach more than once except that I used the POR paint and fiberglas cloth from the local department store (Wally World). Wet the floor with POR, dab the cloth in and smooth out the best you can, and paint over with POR paint again once it's set up. This stuff's like concrete.