Replacing Floorpans

matara Custom Title Time!

1,342 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 10 Aug 2004, 10:48 am

#214731

Hi,

Can you tell me on a beetle is it better to replace the floorpans with the body on the car or off? I'm taking the body of my cabrio soon to send off to the panel beaters and was wondering should I do the pans before I take it off?

Seems like it would be heaps easier with the body off, but how do you make sure the holes line up with the body?

Thanks

Steve

VWCOOL 23 Windows of Awesome

5,158 posts · joined Jun 2003 · 10 Aug 2004, 3:36 pm

#214914

Kinda do it with the body half-off. Lift body, chop out old pans, put new pans in position, lower body back down to check alignemtnt of holes... you get the idea..

Pay your debts, CxxT

Doug Sweetman Nil Bastardo Carborundum

2,128 posts · joined Sep 2002 · 10 Aug 2004, 4:37 pm

#214956

Definetely with the body on (or as VWCOOL says, half on). Its the only way you can get the alignment right.

If you can, recover the seat rails off the old pan, as typically the seat mounts on the new 'brazillian' replacement pans are very flimsy and will result in an annoying rocking when you put your seats in.

matara Custom Title Time!

1,342 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 10 Aug 2004, 4:53 pm

#214965

As its a cabrio and its been fully stripped, jacking the body up a bit will be easier as you can get to the floorpan from the top also.

Thanks

Steve

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 10 Aug 2004, 7:55 pm

#215110

Steve

I would strip the body shell off the floor pan in order to change the pan halfs. It can be done with body on but its much easier to do it with the body off. the pan can be turned upside down or held on its side to get better access.

You can tak weld the pans into position and trial the sghell to it to make sure it all aligns before final welding.

Much easier to clean all the road crap off the pan and away from the new weld areas.

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Dasdubber DAS Resto Haus

5,746 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 10 Aug 2004, 8:58 pm

#215175

Make sure you brace the door tops of the cab before pulling the body off - there will be a lot of stress on the 'heater channels' between the a and b pillar otherwise and may cause alignment probs later.

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matara Custom Title Time!

1,342 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 10 Aug 2004, 10:52 pm

#215284

Thanks Dasdubber I will be welding some nuts into the front foot well above the heater channel and using right angled steel to brace from there up to the seat belt mounts at the top of the rear quarter panel, then bracing between the two seat belt mounts and diagnally across from one corner to another.

The body will then sit on a dolly on castors bolted to the rear of the heater channel and the front of the heater channel.

I want to make sure it keeps its dimensions as I have to put new door bottom pillars in (got some top quality ones with cabrio 4 hinge holes made by Hookeys Panel shop in the UK). The whole thing should be rigid enough to take the doors off and there will be no movement.

Thanks

Steve