The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Replacing passenger side floor pan on a 53' AD.

I am in the process of replacing the floor pan on the passenger side of my 53' AD. I ordered and recieved the pan from Jim Carter's. My question is, the replacement pan is long enough to go about 2 inches underneath the seat base. The seat base appears to be welded to the floor as there are no bolts that attach it to the body. What is the best way to tackle this? Do I need to remove the seat base to do this correctly? Any help would be appreciated.

Hi Doug,
Welcome to the Bolt! If the floor is good up to the seat base, you could cut the new panel so that it ends at, or in front of the seat base and weld it in. Just because the new panel is bigger doesn't mean that all of it has to be used. Sometimes it is better to use less - only the amount needed to repair the damaged area.
Samantha

Thanks Samantha,

I guess my only concern is the cut out for the battery hatch comes right up to the seat base. I am at work today, but will take a look when I get home and see if your idea will work.

Thanks for your input,

Doug.

that sound like what I did Doug, take a close look at it, do more than one fitting of the panel, and step back and think about it. I have mine butted up to the seat riser base, and looks pretty good.

I had some time today to work on the project. The unfortunate part is that I had to cut the cross member out that supports the floor pan. They are spot welded together and I didn't see any other way. I seperated the cross member from the old pan and will have to weld that back in first and then weld the new panel
in. Nothing is easy but it should be solid and look decent when it is done.

The seat riser also serves as a brace for the floor. Therefore it is important to end up with that structure as close to the original as possible. What this means is if you replace the metal underneath the lip, you have to get that joint as flat and tight as possible. I went through this whole procedure so I remember what it was like.

Doug

I did the exact replacement on my truck, but I didnot cut the cross memeber rather I carefully drilled out the spot welds and cut the new peice upto middle of battery tray and welded althoghter and looks awesone and fit was perfect. When I put the battery lit, it fits right.

Ganesh