Jekt

well im trying to get my new pan cut out but have a question for those who al ready did it. i have drilled out all the welds from the pan to the frame i can see but i cant seem to seperate the two. any suggestions? was using an air chisel but couldnt get any seperation.

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toomany

There may be more spot welds you aren't seeing. I don't know how much you are taking out, but when I did my 82, there was a spot weld about ever 3/4"-1" along the rocker pannel. On the frame rail it wasn't as predictible. I want to say there was 50+ between the firewall and back of the rail. Then there are the welds along the firewall. The floor along where the rear seat cussion attaches I cut infront of the lower control arms. and overlapped the pannels.

Once I got all the welds cut the pans came out fairly easily. Mine were actually in decent shape still, only a small area under pedals on the drivers side and a small area over the cat on the pass side. I didn't really need to replace the entire pan on each side.

I used a grinder to grind down the pan/weld. I prefered this method. Yes is messier/louder, but I didn't want to put a bunch of un-needed holes into the rockers.

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82 Z28--waiting for 400/Th350
83 Z28--355/T5, Sort of an IROC clone
88 Sc---was V6, waiting for 355/700R4
87 K5---355/465/205, 4.88's, 36's
95 CBR1000F--DD in the summer

kevmann

Its definately not an easy process. What size dill bit are you using? I am not sure what size it takes buit I moved up to a bigger bit and it made the separation easier. I know its tough to do without drilling all the way through. I am still working on mine. I used and ruined a good wood chisel. It was sharp enough to cut through what was still attached and it easily cut through where it was welded to the frame.
I hope this is helpful. I have a few battle scars from doing mine.

I H8 WWD

I will need to have my done this winter or next summer (Full replacement pans both drive and passenger side). Do you have to remove the dash to work on getting the whole passenger and driver side floor pan out in the front? I'm wondering because I have no problem gutting my interior, but I do not want to mess with the dash if I don't have to. I will get the car prepared as much as possible for the work to be done, so I guess I'm asking what needs to be removed from the car to work on floor pans?

Whole interior from back seats forward (Dash?)
Exhaust, fuel lines?, brake lines?, driveshaft, torque arm, transmission, crossmember, trans mount, side skirts...

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DanTheAngry

I have some pics of my floor pan removal in my build log.
http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/bo...n-project.html (87 TransAm Restoration Project Log)

You'll probably want to gut everything. Dash, all the lines and fuel tank to be safe.
The factory pan from what I could tell in one piece but the replacement ones are two.

I used an air chisel fairly often and grinder like toomany did. make sure to protect your glass.

I H8 WWD

Thanks. I guess this will be perfect time to completely remove the heater core, ac ducts, ac wires all from the fuse block and dash out. I'd like to install VFN's 1 piece fiberglass dash when I do this if the dash has to completely come out. Thanks again. This is something I am not looking forward to do. I'll be having my car towed to a shop to have the pans installed after I gut the interior, remove the lines, exhaust and everything, I want them to do nothing but cutting, replacing and welding. Keep the labor work as low as possible. I know it's going to be about a $1500+ job including the pans at $500 a set. Thanks again.

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DanTheAngry

Yeah the pans are pretty pricey too. I think mine were like $360cdn each. Good call on gutting it first, save you a few bucks.

Jekt

well im doing a full replacement of the dirvers side. so i gues what im being told is i need to drill out alot more and maybe a bigger drill bit?

well looking at dans i think i just need to drill better and then try nd pry again lol.

DanTheAngry

I'd recommend picking up a spot weld cutter. Mine was $20cdn and it doesn't damage the panel underneath. Just drill a small pilot hole and use some cutting oil and away ya goes.

LarryL

I did my (TA) drivers side the end of 07. There was a seam in the front just under the pedals I cut above that, just at the bottom along the rocker, in the middle and just under where the back seats bolt in. The fastest way (for me) was a hand held electric angle grinder, the ones that use 3.5 or 4 inch round blades. Home depot or lowes 40$. I used fiber cutoff wheels, I cut everything first ( be careful fuel lines in tunnel on drivers side). You will have to save the rails that the seats bolt on to and reinstall them. I hope yours are good mine were rusted away. I had to make new ones. Once the section was out I used the cutoff wheels to grind down the remaining welds on the rocker. I bought a air flanging tool and flanged edge where I just cut out. I then layed the new pan in place went under the car and traced around opening and remover the pan. I left the same amount equal to the flanger on the outsite of my trace lines. I then flanged the new floor pan so they interlock flat. The flanger has a punch on it also, I punched a hole every 2 inches all around. I then laid the pan back in and marked my holes, removed the pan and punched holes in cars floor pan between the marked holes. The holes are to weld through. Make sure the car is on 4 jack stands so the car does not flex or twist when the old pan is removed. You can lay the pan in and cut off all extra before you try to fit it for tracing. Then start welding. I pickup a cheap used mig welder and it did the job for me. Take your time and it will all come together.

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Jekt

well my mounts for the seat were rusted through so ill have to make new ones aswell. hopefully this weekend i can get the old pan pulled thanx for all the info.

kevmann

I am still in the process but I am cutting the old pans out of a donor car that was hit in front. One of my seat mounts was rusted but I got one from the donor car. Thats what I recommend. See if you can cut out some from a JY car. A lot easier than making new ones.

kevmann

Actually I only needed one. The 2 from the passenger side I still have. (I still have the donor car) I also have the rear one from the drivers side. I could cut them out for you if you like. Let me know.

Jekt

ill check i know the front is completely junk, cant remeber if the back was salvageble.

kevmann

I dont know if the seat mounts are different from front to back and from ds to ps, but maybe someone else knows. You might be able to take the ps one and flip it around. I am not sure.

Kevin

LarryL

no can do, look at the floor and the legs where the seat mounts to floor, position is different as is height. But than again if you wish to chop, cut, reweld and add to them I guess you can get anything to work.

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DanTheAngry

Yeah they're different.

kevmann

I thought so. Unfortunately time has not allowed me to work on mine for several days so I haven't had the opportunity to look. Best bet is to see if you can locate one in the JY.

Kevin

Jekt

well im in the military and my neighibor works in the metals shop and can basically make anything. so he is going to fab me up some new ones.