Floorpan Plugs 101?

[BRE-240Z]

I've had a set of Charlie Osborne's floorpans in my garage for some time while I've been working out little mechanical issues on my 240Z (and also because I was a little leery of the expense involved with having someone install the pans).

Anyway, today I finally bit the bullet and took the Z down to the welder's shop, and he's going to be dropping the old pans out of the car and installing the new pans and floor supports tomorrow.

Which brings me to my next question....what are people who've done this using to plug the 'water drain' holes in the replacement pans? Are they the same size as the stock floorpain drain holes, or are they different? Can anyone shed any light on this for me?

I'll let you know what my experience is after I get the car back, but the guy who's doing the work for me mostly works on VW's and he was extremely impressed with the quality of the floorpans (he kept saying 'wow, this really makes it easy' and etc).

[JimmyZ]

They are VERY nice pans. I installed a set for another member about a year ago. Took about two days. (Had to wait for Ospho to do it's thing after sandblasting)

Best thing to do is grab a set of calipers or a bolt (means of measuring ID) and hit a junkyard for a new plug. Don't think I saw any plugs in the "Help" aisle of my local parts store.

I'm sure at the very least you can find a plug in the junker and possibly order it new from whatever dealership.

[bartman]

MSA sells them, at least if they're the same size as the stock holes. You just need to measure and give them a call, as they told me the sizes can vary. They're priced very reasonably as well.

[Zak's Z]

make sure your welder remembers to save your old seat mounts and the accelerator pedal mount thing.

[JimmyZ]

The profile doesn't quite match the old seat mounts. They can be modified a bit and will work though. It would be nice as an add-on to the floor pan kit to offer some matching OEM style seat mounts and crossmembers. Mine were so badly rusted I could only save one and eneded up fabbing the others.

The holes are non-standeard. (at least on what I had to work with) I'd either bore new holes to match the ID of the stock ones or find a replacement plug from a modern vehicle.

[Go240Zags]

The profile doesn't quite match the old seat mounts. They can be modified a bit and will work though. It would be nice as an add-on to the floor pan kit to offer some matching OEM style seat mounts and crossmembers. Mine were so badly rusted I could only save one and eneded up fabbing the others.

The holes are non-standeard. (at least on what I had to work with) I'd either bore new holes to match the ID of the stock ones or find a replacement plug from a modern vehicle.

John at Bad Dog sells some nice seat mounts if you need to replace yours. I have some and they look great, altho I haven't replaced my floorpans yet in order to use them. I'll toot his horn for him and you can find the parts listed here, just scroll down: http://www.baddogparts.com/index.htm

[JimmyZ]

John at Bad Dog sells some nice seat mounts if you need to replace yours.

Oh no. I don't need to replace them. Made the new ones out of stainless. They're rock solid but someday I'll get around to making some stock look-alikes. I was in a bit of a hurry to get the pan job done on mine.

The profile of the aftermarket pans is different than the original Z pans even though they look similar. Wonder if the bad dog part matches this profile and if they have all of the stampings and creases in all the right places.

It would be best to fab some pans to match the originals exactly for those of us who are "purists". I'm not quite there though.

Hope I don't start anything with that "purist" comment given the events of a few days ago.

Jim

[Zs-ondabrain]

John at Bad Dog sells some nice seat mounts if you need to replace yours. I have some and they look great, altho I haven't replaced my floorpans yet in order to use them. I'll toot his horn for him and you can find the parts listed here

I don't know man, If some one "Toots my horn" she better be HOT or at least as good looking as my wife. Oh ya, did I tell ya that Leah is having the rest of her teeth pulled in NOV. and will be fitted for dentures in January. OH LUCKY ME !!! (GET IT?)

Dave.

[beandip]

[quote=BRE-240Z;230494

Which brings me to my next question....what are people who've done this using to plug the 'water drain' holes in the replacement pans? Are they the same size as the stock floorpain drain holes, or are they different? Can anyone shed any light on this for me?

I have done the same thing you are, about 5 years ago. Just contact Carlie Osborne at Zedd Findings. He has the rubber plugs. I bought mine when I bought the pans from him. He will stick them in a envelope and you should have them in hand in a couple days. Your old seat mounting will work the same as it did before . I used a spot weld cutter to remove mine , and my welder welded in the mount in the same place it came out of. If I remember correctly the holes are smaller in the new floor. Gary

[BRE-240Z]

I have done the same thing you are, about 5 years ago. Just contact Carlie Osborne at Zedd Findings. He has the rubber plugs. I bought mine when I bought the pans from him. He will stick them in a envelope and you should have them in hand in a couple days. Your old seat mounting will work the same as it did before . I used a spot weld cutter to remove mine , and my welder welded in the mount in the same place it came out of. If I remember correctly the holes are smaller in the new floor. Gary

Hey, that's great! Why didn't I think of just asking Charlie to start with?

Thanks, Gary!

[ggarrard]

Charlie might be hard to get a hold of for the next 10 days or so, as I suspect he's already enroute to the ZCCA convention in Daytona.

GWGarrard

[BRE-240Z]

I just spoke to him and he has the plugs. If anyone else is looking for them, they are $2.52 each. Eight plugs are required making the total cost $20.16, plus shipping.