-Repairing a rusty floor-
Oct. 27 '03
- I removed the front and rear seats, lower seatbelt buckles, kick panels, side rear panels and plastic door and tbar moldings, shift knob, center console(upper and lower) and carpet.
- I then removed the rear hatch plastic side panels so I could sound proof behind the sail speakers and check for more rust...luckly I didnt find anymore holes, just a tiny bit of surface rust that I'll deal with.
- I then took the carpet outside wet it all down with the pressure washer. I then spread out a little laundry soap and gave it another light spray with the water. Then with a good firm brush I scrubed in the soap. Rinsed out with the pressure washer, and let dry in the sun.
Heres a pic of my drivers floor front and rear, then the passengers rear floor showing what I found at first look.
It looks like a previous owner repaired the floor previously and the patches almost compleatly all rusted out. Looks like a case of not covering up your new metal to prevent it from the elements. Some people would think the cars old metal floor would rust out before the new stuff, thats not the case...bare or untreated metal will rust faster then the old galvanized primed and painted factory floors.
I also found my drivers front seat rear brace/mount was rusted out totaly so I cut one out of another camaro to be welded into mine.
Nov. 3 '03
I removed all the loose rust and paint with a wire brush wheel on the grinder. Then cut out loose metal with cut of wheel. Grind down the old spot welds and grinded spots where the new patches will mate up.
Nov. 17 '03
Got some 20guage steel and pre-fabed some patches. I sprayed the underside of the patches with primer and undercoating. Sound proofed the sail panels and 6x9 mounting brackets.
Nov. 18 '03
Grinded the floor of the car where the welds will go. Also cut and positioned the replacement seat brackets...and prep'ed them for welding.
Nov. 22 '03
Finaly got the welder working right and started welding in the new patches.
Nov. 23 '03
Finished the welding. Gave it another going over with the wire wheel on the grinder. Then gave all the bare metal a coat of primer. Then used tar to cover welds and pin holes. Then sprayed the hole floor with rubberized undercoating.
Nov. 24 '03
I assembled the interior in reverse order,,,I also used Spraynine to clean the plastic stuff before I put it back in. Also it was a good time to change my interior light bulbs to blue. I also put some new hardware to hold the seats down as rust happens in this place alot.
Nov. 25 '03
Jacked up car and resprayed under the car with undercoating and made sure there was no bare metal exposed.
