Need help on floors

[ChrisA]

Hey Mat, when you make a post to a thread at the bottom there is a "manage attachments" button. When you click on that you can upload the pics to the post. If you have the pics on your computer or camera its easy.

Your rockers look pretty rusty, you could replace them as a complete panel, or if you're good with patching the holes you could go that route. I'm afraid there is more rust inside the rockers that you cant see yet. I'd replace them as a whole.

Much luck,

Chris

[new_2_z]

bamb thanks for the reply but i have some knowlege(im a noob i admit it but i want to learn) but its better to hear what others think. ever heard the thing two heads are better then one. i planed to replace everything at start its just i would like to have back-up on my thought. i never said anyone flamed me about my car i was just sharing why i bought such a car.

[sblake01]

Maybe it was my 'surface rust?' comment? You've got way more than surface rust going there but I don't want to squash your enthusiasm. I just don't think you realize what you'll have to go through to eliminate what I see in those pictures. Like Carl said, money, time, and skill. And if you don't have the skill then we're talking even more money if someone with the skill does it for you. Your questions and observations would lead one to believe that you think you have a fairly easy repair job ahead of you but the pictures show different.

[Bambikiller240]

Matt:

Perhaps I should have stated my beliefs more like sblake01 did in his post. I'm not trying to discourage you at all. Just pointing out that the comments like:

I just need help in deciding in either patch it or just get a new floor pan.

i can stand on it and it wont bend so im sure the metal is still strong its just i need to get surface rust off.

the bottom of the rockers are solid just the top where the melal plate was is any show of rust.

make some of us wonder about your expectations of what will be involved. You really have some work ahead of you.

That floorboard is "gone", no if's and's or but's about it. It could be repaired, but isn't worth the time, or effort to do so.

Typically the rust that you can see is the tip of the iceberg. You are quite likely to find considerably more rust under the paint, and inside the doglegs & rockers.

Once again, I'm not criticizing, just pointing out something that is a very common occurance. I do wish you success, especially given your stated attitude and reason for selecting this car. You can learn a lot from doing this work.

[new_2_z]

well thank you i know that i have alot of work infront of me its just nice to see others to give guidence when i doubt.

[gnosez]

Isn't there some sort of Formosa termite problem going down in Nor'leans? Seems to me they mutated and started eating metal. Those rockers and floor pans are toast and I suspect (I'd be willing to bet $20.00) that there's more to be found in the rear wheel well area, in front of the door hinges, lower portion of the fenders below the "Datsun" emblem, the rear deck lid, the lower portion of the hatch, below the battary tray, and most likely in the frame rails before and after the T/C rod location. Do whatever you want with this Z, but do yourself a big favor and get a complete understanding of all the rust and the costs associated with removing/replacing/restoring it before spending another dime on this car. Any car can be saved, but only you can determine how much money is enough.....I may not be able to see into the future but I believe a huge welding bill is waiting out on the horizon for you.

[new_2_z]

a welding bill i got a pro doing it for free for me. Its good to know people in the south. and all those other places u were talking about is all solid. to bad i dont live in new orleans and last time i checked termits eat wood but i could be wrong :stupid:. any way just father time took a beating on floors and the batter tray. from the other z i have seen in louisiana sitting out this one has been taken care of. i look at this way all that rust is getting rid of weight so my et should be nice just playin im fixin it. you dont have to worry about me "jerry-riging" like we do in the south with duck tape and a hammer. im doing it the right way.

[gnosez]

Well, all that's real good to hear. If you have to replace the floor pans, remember to bolt the tranny mount in place before you weld them in. This will keep the tunnel from moving inward.......

[Walter Moore]

BTW, the "black stuff" will also come off with a hammer and chisel, but that is the hard way. :stupid:

I just finished removing it from my car (which appeared to have a pristine floor...) and I found some holes under the insulation. (or were those places where I got carried away with the chisel?)

So, anyway, I agree that if you have holes the size of those in the picture what is "solid" under the insulation is likely worthless. By the way, that insulation when it is cold is really strong.

The rocker panels look bad as well. I found just a little bondo on my car around the read fenders, and when I stopped sanding I had removed 1/2" from the surface of the entire car under the belt line. Every surface of the car has been repaired with riveted in repair panels, including the rear fenders, rocker panels, etc. (And this is a car that I had "checked" for rust before I even considered starting on it.)

In my case, the repair panels are solid, so I am going to leave them. But I want to strongly warn anyone who intends to go down the road of "restoring" one of these cars that there will be rust in places you would never think to look... and the cost of the repairs will be higher than you expect.

Look hard before you start down this path.