i just got started taking apart my 91 firebird and when i pulled the carpet back i foung out that the hole in my floor board got alot bigger. i dont have a garage so there are a few things i cant get my hands on. everyone tells me to get a new car but i cant. this is my first car and i had it for about 4 years, so its hard to get a new car. i lost my job a while ago so money is tight. can anyone help or give some ideas of ways i can fix it? even if its one small idea i will be very greatful.i need to show my friends and family that this car is here to stay.
Thank you,
Ryan

 

Just judging from the picture, you can weld a new floorboard section in.

 

how much would the floorboard section be?

 

You will need a 18V+ cordless 4" angle grinder with cutting wheel, gas to get to a pick your part (Probably $20-50) at the yard (IF that) a Mig welder and some patience...

I would suggest some weld in comp engineering sfc's... You half way there already LOL...

 

Cut that hole and run it like the "Flinstones"! J.K.

 

you can buy a new ds floor pan for 285.
http://www.yearone.com/serverfiles/f...+pan&SM=1&SC=G

or you can hit the junkyards.

Or you can buy a rust free body for 500-600 with a blown motor and switch everything over.

The most important thing at the moment if you plan on saving the car is to stop the rot. you need to cut off the bad rust. Clean it up the rest of the metal and get some rust inhibitor (POR-15 or the likes) on it ASAP so you have less to replace.

you can always pop-rivit a cover on it for the short term, but don't consider this a fix as the floor pans are structual on these cars.

 

thanks for the web site. that will end up being better because i can cut out all the other rust and just replace the whole side.

 

ok heres something id never suggest but it seems like ur kinda desperate....ive seen alota people use old street signs and pop rivit em into place...but you gotta take into consideration the risk of getting caught stealing a street sign. about the best way of getting a "quick fix" is to get some sheet metal and riviting into place. but like said above its only a temporary until you can get the cash to get the real thing.

 

being a body tech.my advise to to go to acouple shops and see what they could do for you.i always have extra metal laying around and know it would be a rather easy repair

 

i would like to thank everyone here for helping me and to let you know i got it fixed for free......

 

I paid 64 for my 78 floor pan on driver side.
classicindustries.com

 

its not that bad, just weld in a new floor pan, and it will be as good as new.

 

The whole floorpan in my dads 55 chevy was pretty much shot. We just stitched together sheetmetal pieces to the remaining floorpan. Make sure you sand the metal with either a grinding disk, wire cup brush or 80 grit, wipe it down with some solvent. DO NOT weld galvanized metal, you'll get really sick.

use a sharp awl or phillips screwdriver and poke around the area you need to replace, looking for soft spots. use a straightedge and a sharpie to lay out the hole youre going to cut. Lay a piece of cardboard over this and trace the shape onto cardboard to make a template. crawl under your car and MAKE SURE youre not going to cut into brake lines, gas lines, a floorbrace etc etc.

NOW, WEAR GLOVES! Cut out the metal either with tin snips (My 1st choice), a cutoff wheel or something similar.

Check your pattern in the hole and make any adjustments, trace your pattern onto the sheetmetal (available at a metal shop or lowes/home depot/ hardware store (16gauge NON galvanized sheet).

Cut out the sheet a little oversized, deburr the edges, wipe everything with solvent (lacquer thinner, mineral spirits) and weld it in. you can overlap the panels, your carpet will cover it up if you dont feel comfortable with a 'butt weld'. After the weld cools, go around it with some seam sealer or silicone. Paint the area with 'cold galvanizing' paint (hardware store comes in a spray can). Crawl under the car and paint the underside.

NOW, tips.

1) They DO make a panel bonding adhesive if you cant get access to a welder/brazing rod. Generally this needs to be CLAMPED since it uses an anerobic reaction to BOND the metal. If you go this way, I would glue the panel in place and put some sandbags over the area (since theyre soft enough to absorb shapes), stack some weight on that and leave it overnight. Paint as necessary

2) Dont cut 90-degree angles in your patch, this localizes too much heat and can cause problems if youre not a welder with moderate skill, use the inside of a roll of tape, the outside of the roll, a pop can, paint can lid...anything...as a template for your arc.

3) Buying an entire USED floorpan or worse an entire car for that small area is an outright waste. Patch it and be done. If you need another hand to hold the panel...use a magnet

~Nate

 

I agree I'd cut that section out and weld in a new floor section.

 

Invest in the power of prayer... and welding skillz

(serious about the first part)