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70 Midget floor repair panel

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Timboy57

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Hello every one.
I have been lurking around here for awhile and finally registered.
I am in the slow process of tearing down and resoring my 1970 midget.
My question is has any one used the outer patch panels for the floor pans rather than replacing that whole side of the pan?
If so how wide are they?
I know replacing the whole pans is a better solution but money is tight on this one.
Thanks for reading cheers.
 
If money is tight, find a local sheetmetal shop and pick up 1/2 a sheet of 20 gauge sheetmetal. 1/2 a sheet is 4' x 5' and it's enough to replace both floors and footwells.
Cut it with good sharp sheetmetal snips, fold it up an inch on each side, and you just made a floor pan for about $30.
Some shops sell smaller pieces, some shops will let you raid their scrap pile. You can bend the lips over a 2x4 with a hammer, curved pieces can be bent over a pipe or bucket if you get into making fender patches. Curves take a bit of practice and some notches but it's not rocket science and what you can make may not look as good as the stamped panels you buy, but if money is tight, this sure beats some of the gutters I have found pop riveted in as floors and sills.
 
Thank you for the reply spritenut.
I'm suprised no one here has used the repair panels.
Oh well maybe I will just wait and get the pan.
 
I've never seen the panels you are referring to, or I'm misunderstanding your question. If I were going through the trouble, I'd do the entire floor pan. If money was tight, I'd just cut back into the good metal and patch with scrap stock as Frank suggested.
 
I see the floor-pan panels that he's referring to. They're $150 and $120 for bugeyes/mkII sprites/mkI midgets and later cars, respectively from moss. I doubt you'd be able to beat that price by too much using sheet metal (assuming you purchase it), and it'd look shabby if you only patched part of it. If you can do your own welding, it should be relatively inexpensive to use the right part. Plus, I know of a few moss distributors who'd be willing to discount that price, making it quite cost-effective. Just my .02c.
 
OH, I thought he was referring to only the outer edge of one of those panels.
 
Yes Trevor I was referring to the outer edge.
Vic Brit sells a floor pan edge patch part #9-9844 LH and #9-9845 RH.
I had no intention to fabricate the piece although I could as we have a sheetmetal brake at work.
I was just wondering what peoples thoughts were regarding the patch panel vs half pan replacement panels.
Thanks for the responses guys.
BTW Trevor,I love that supercharged engine nice car.
 
I believe that the full replacement panels are equivalent to new items. Not so sure about the patch panels. Like I said, they're really not that expensive. I would do it right the first time.
 
search this forum for "floor pan" I did my 65 sprite a while back and there is a thread here that was a lot of help thanks to all the guys.
If you can spray the loose stuff off the bottom. Get lots of drill bits to drill the spot welds. An air chisel is nice too. Must be careful with it though.
Before and after pix are nice too. hmmmm... I guess I should post mine some time huh?

Good luck
 
well, YEAH! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif
 
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