The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Floorboard tips

Got the steel for my floors, and i'm asking for tips before i start. Any you can think of are welcome. Thanks.

Is the cab on the frame? If it is make sure the mounts are bolted down so the cab wont flex. Depending on how much you are doing you may want to weld in some added support. Mine is off the cab so I built a wood dolly and rails to bolt it to to simulate the frame. Seemed to work well.

Leave the doors on it while you are welding so that you know if the cab gets warped. If you experience changes in how the doors close go back and fix it before you get too far. The cab depends a lot on the floor for its rigidity.

Makes me wonder if the doors did not close properly on my truck was because of the holes in the floor. even though they were fairly small

the cab is off the frame, the mount braces under the floor also need to be replaced. how exactly do you brace the cab. Tack weld some angle iron across the doors. I will be doing the entire floorpans, and the kick panels just under the dash. any other info? thanks again

I would probably weld supports from side to side and front to back down low to stabilize the floor area since u are doing the whole floor.

I braced my cab with old discarded bed rails (found 'em). I cut to fit inside the hinge pocket and tack welded them in place. They worked well, but I wish I had instead bolted plates to the hinge locations using the old hinge bolts and then welded the braces inplace onto those plates.
(Maybe Next time)
I was able to (and did quite often) roll the cab over on it's firewall to gain access to the underside whilst I replaced the forward cab supports. The roll-a-round device I used was (2) cheap 700# capacity dollies from Harbor Freight ($14ea) bolted together with some 2x4s that fit under the support areas of the cab (where it sit at this moment durnit).
The floors went in nice (thank god for floor mats).

Terry
1953 1/2 ton

if they are separate panesl,do one panel at a time
lay a panel down and tace around it if possible
then cut it out smaller than needed then trim making sure its not to big.

Anybody have some pics of the operation?

In the Links section, you will find one to "Chuck the Truck". That site has a great supply of photos and information. Also, if you go to "Old Iron Chief", they have some project pictures and one is a red truck with a lot being replaced.