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changing my floor panel


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#1 Bam

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Posted 07 November 2005 - 03:53 PM

I had my mini on axle stands overthe weekend at the back and I got in the car.........
And.............
the axle stands appeared next to me (went through the floor)
What is the best way to change the heel board, and each side of the floorpan not including the central hump. :sick:

#2 dklawson

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Posted 07 November 2005 - 04:03 PM

Sorry to hear about this. The floor is in quadrants separated by the tunnel and the crossmemeber. I believe you can buy replacement panels in half floors and more commonly in individual quadrants.

If you plan to replace half the floor at a time you should consider disassembling the car to remove as much weight as possible. Then you'll need to measure all the openings to have point-to-point reference dimensions. With that done, weld in braces, cut out the floor and weld in the new panels. It's much easier to replace individual floor quadrants one at a time.

I've never replaced a heel panel but from what I've read it's probably easiest to do if you disassemble the car, remove the subframes and have the car on a spit so you can easily access the bottom without obstructions.

#3 dklawson

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Posted 07 November 2005 - 05:07 PM

Since you have two identical threads about this... I'll limit my posts to this one.

In response to the other thread, in the future, put a wooden beam across the underside of the car once the subframe is removed. Support the car by putting the stands under this beam, not directly on the thin floor panel. I know this is hindsight, sorry it comes after you have to repair the floor.

#4 Dan

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Posted 07 November 2005 - 05:19 PM

Don't try to find seams to seperate as the floor pan is actually one single pressing side to side and front to back onto which the crossmember is welded, but as DK says you can get the repair parts as quarters. You will need to make the cuts at the correct place according to which make of repair panel you buy. Also as DK says it is really important to remove all the load from the shell and brace the hell out of it as it will loose all strength and want to sag when you cut out the floor. All the welds where you have cut panels will need to be fully seam welded, but any spot welds you seperate can be spot welded as original as long as there are at least as many welds of the same quality as original.

#5 Slimer

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Posted 07 November 2005 - 08:27 PM

Visual learner, sorry. Anyone got a pic of the support welds is place?

#6 Bam

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Posted 07 November 2005 - 10:39 PM

What i might is fit the heel board first so that i can fit the subframe and then tie rope around the floor to hold the car in place and put wood underneth to stop it from sagging.

Is the heel board easy to fit?

Thanks.

#7 Dan

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Posted 08 November 2005 - 12:19 AM

You can't use rope to hold your car together!

Rope stretches mate. You will have to weld some steel box accross the car as strapping, without a full custom body assembly jig it's the only way.




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