I'm getting ready to do my full trunk, floor and braces with the help from a few friends. Is there any certain sequence I should replace these items?

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67 Malibu Convertible, 2nd Owner since '78
Bonner Springs, KS
A.C.E.S # 4806
N.C.O.A # 5322
67 Malibu Convertible (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/ragtop67malibu283.jpg)

If your replacing Floor & braces
I like to remove the as much floor as needed and leave the brace in tack.
Then measure the distance from the floor to the top of the floor brace .
with this measurement in hand I remove the remander of the brace marking it/s postion on the inner rocker.
So I like to install the BRACE FRIST

I only needed to replace the end of the braces so I cut out one half on the floor, replaced a portion of the brace on one side and then repeated the operation on the other half of the floor. Braces first!

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http://webpages.charter.net/65chevelle/

I was told that since I have a convertible that I should only replace one side of the floor at a time. Does that make sense even if it is still on the frame.

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67 Malibu Convertible, 2nd Owner since '78
Bonner Springs, KS
A.C.E.S # 4806
N.C.O.A # 5322
67 Malibu Convertible (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/ragtop67malibu283.jpg)

Ragtop you will have to lift your car up off the frame a few inches in order to replace the braces, a 4x4 will work. There is just no way around it, the braces sit to close to the frame in order for them to be removed and installed. Place a few 4x4 across the frame in several ares like under the cowl and rear seat and make sure that the rear end of the car is supported too.

The best way I have found on replacing floorboards with the braces is one piece at a time. Start with the front brace, carefully remove it from the floor. Drill out the spot welds dont just cut it out. Now take your new front brace and install it on the old floor. Get the brace to fit to the old floor nice and snug, a few whacks with a hammer might be needed. Once it fits to your liking hold it in place with sheetmetal screws.

Now with the front done go the next brace and repeat. Once both braces are in position you can start to remove the floor. You only want to remove half of the floor at a time. This helps keep the car in its shape and helps with the alginment of the new floors. If you are replacing the area under the rear seat leave that for last.

Remove one side of the floor leaving the other half in place. Now Install the new half fitting it too the new braces and the old other half of the floor. Once it fits to your liking hold it in place with sheetmetal screws. Now remove the other half and fit to the braces and other new half of floor. you might need to slightly reposition the floor halves and maybe the braces to fit right, but get them snug. Now that everything fits good, start welding them together. Doing it piece by piece removes the chance of the car losing it shape and greatly speeds up the floor removal because you know that everything fits before you move on to the next area.

If you are replacing the area under the rear seat you want that to be last because you want the new floor in place and the car back on the frame in order to replace that area. That reat seat portion has two braces that weld to the floor and then to inside quarter panel, the piece that the quarter glass bolts too. Those brace help support the car so you want the car in its full structurly strengh before you remove them.

Since your car is a convert it wouldnt be a bad idea to weld up some type of brace that goes across to each inside quarter panel to replace the strengh of those braces you will be removing in order to replace the floor.

I might be overly cautious when it comes to replacing floors but I know what can go wrong, and when it goes wrong it not easy to fix. Good luck...Eric