floorboard install tools? - Lateral-g Forums

**GregWeld** · #1 03-25-2010, 09:51 PM

BTW -- Don't use a twist drill when putting holes in sheet metal. Get yourself a couple of step drills... they're for sheet metal work.

Do you have a spot weld cutter? There are some real crappy versions out there -- and some good ones. Trust me -- the good ones are worth their weight in gold. Drilling out spot welds sucks. I use the Hougens roto broaches - they make a killer spot weld cutter. I center punch each weld real well - and then use my cutter... a good center punch keeps it from crawling offcenter.

http://www.hougen.com/cutters/sheetm...potweld_lg.jpg

ItDoRun · #2 03-26-2010, 07:31 AM

You probably won't be able to get a spot weld drill to all of the welds, especially the area behind the front seats. The pan drops down for the rear passenger's feet and that hump makes it difficult to get a bit between it and the rocker. A right angle drill may work, but I didn't have one when I did my floor.

IMO, forget the spot weld bit. Just get you a grinder and grind through the existing spot welds under the car...it's much quicker! Plus, if your doing the full floor replacement, you're probably not worried about salvaging the existing floor anyway.

You can check out my cardomain site starting on about page 20. It shows the floor install for my car.

redfire69 · #3 03-26-2010, 01:27 PM

I used a grinder as well to free the floor from the rockers and toe pans. But I also replaced the inner and outer rockers in addition to the one piece floor. Grinding and cutoff wheels are your friend!

clay69camaro · #4 03-30-2010, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregWeld

BTW -- Don't use a twist drill when putting holes in sheet metal. Get yourself a couple of step drills... they're for sheet metal work.

Do you have a spot weld cutter? There are some real crappy versions out there -- and some good ones. Trust me -- the good ones are worth their weight in gold. Drilling out spot welds sucks. I use the Hougens roto broaches - they make a killer spot weld cutter. I center punch each weld real well - and then use my cutter... a good center punch keeps it from crawling offcenter.

http://www.hougen.com/cutters/sheetm...potweld_lg.jpg

My old floorboards are already out. I used my airhammer, plasma cutter, drill with lots of the wrong bits as you described above haha, grinder, cutoff wheel, but I got them out without destroying what I was going to be working with in the future.

just wanted to know what to use to "spot weld" them back in.

thanks everyone. I got the floorboard from classic industries yesterday, I'm going to try and find some time to fit them in later this week.

redfire69 · #5 03-31-2010, 04:48 AM

One of the easier ways is to use a panel flanger to overlap the new to the old. Then drill 3/8 hole every couple of inches along the flange to fill with roset/plug welds. Fun stuff!

ItDoRun · #6 03-31-2010, 07:24 AM

Let us know how many times you get burned while welding. I've got battle scars all over my neck and arms from laying under the car welding the floor in. I'm glad that part of the build is done! Fun stuff.

redfire69 · #7 03-31-2010, 11:49 AM

Also invest in some throw away ear plugs. Ask me how I know, LOL! Slag inside your ear canal is no fun....makes a loud sizzle noise though!

clay69camaro · #8 03-31-2010, 06:19 PM

Ouch!

clay69camaro · #9 04-03-2010, 09:11 PM

I slid the new floorboard in today just to see the fitment.

On the drivers side there is about a 1/4 inch gap the whole way down. I'm pretty sure my car shifter while I was removing all the old floor.

Am I in serious trouble? Or will I be fine when I start clamping everything together and the gap just goes away?

tyoneal · #10 04-23-2010, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregWeld

BTW -- Don't use a twist drill when putting holes in sheet metal. Get yourself a couple of step drills... they're for sheet metal work.

Do you have a spot weld cutter? There are some real crappy versions out there -- and some good ones. Trust me -- the good ones are worth their weight in gold. Drilling out spot welds sucks. I use the Hougens roto broaches - they make a killer spot weld cutter. I center punch each weld real well - and then use my cutter... a good center punch keeps it from crawling offcenter.

http://www.hougen.com/cutters/sheetm...potweld_lg.jpg

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Your description was amazing. I don't know about everyone else, but it reads like a instruction book.

I appreciate the insight.