Have you seen this before?
Posted by SolveFixBuild@reddit | projectcar | View on Reddit | 16 comments
Just received my floor pans on order from Classic Industries (footwells for a 61 Impala). Look at the pics: in the deep draw areas the metal is flayed rather than just doing it right and stamping a continuous piece. There are slits right in the area I was trying to patch (near the drain hole, lowest spot, outer corner of the footwell). Looks like a cheap and cheesy way to make a repro panel. The slits are wide enough that they won’t fill well with weld. Very frustrating.
ruddy3499@reddit
I had to cut half the spot welds out and reposition the skin on my reproduction fender to make it match hood on my Camaro. It was a fun time
MilkyWaySamurai@reddit
It probably makes it easier to fit.
RBuilds916@reddit
I was thinking that, too. If the corners weren't slit, it would be hard to flex them to fit. Of course, if you are cutting and filling floors, you have a cut off wheel, so it's not really necessary.
Careless_Steak9668@reddit
Those slits are not bad at all. Just weld it up, if you are not good enough to jump the gap and weld it up them put some copper behind it to help you weld that gap.
progdawg@reddit
Or a piece of tig welding rod
Mark_Proton@reddit
Does the copper act as a heat sink to prevent blasting through?
Full-Cockroach7772@reddit
The weld has a tendency to not stick to the copper so it helps the molten weld from falling out while you build a bridge across if that makes sense. And I’m sure it would help as a heat sink as well.
atmos0@reddit
The weld wont stick to the copper so allows you to build it up without just blowing through
SolveFixBuild@reddit (OP)
Thanks good tip.
Wide-Entrepreneur-34@reddit
No usually there is a big fkn hole with sharp rusty edges
BriarTheBear@reddit
Just weld and grind them out. An hour’s work and you’ll never know they existed
artschool04@reddit
So classic industry has three levels of sheet metal cheep mid and oem+. You have to look for the mis and it will be priced like 2x or 2.5 more than cheep. This is not always the case sometimes you inly get cheep or oem+ or just cheep Depending on your year and car make. Those seem to be the cheep or mid, they will require lots of help to fit and do the job okay
SolveFixBuild@reddit (OP)
Thanks - I didn’t see a difference in grades on these, but the ‘61 model year is hard to buy for. Impossible to find front fenders.
artschool04@reddit
I totally understand i have a58 olds i have to get Cadillac floors because they dont make 58 impala ones
Either_One_3105@reddit
These panels are cheap and suck but they'll work if you have enough existing structure to weld to.
joshmoney@reddit
I guess they figured: Since you already have the welder out….