Well, I just got my elky as you guys may well know.
The floor pans are rotted right out. I have not inspected well enough to know how the frame is under the car.... I am getting off the point.

I have a few options... Assuming all is good with everything else. Brand new floor pans are gonna set me back like over 550 dollars. That is not including shipping. I found a junkyard on www.junkyarddog.com that has the pans rust free for 200 plus 100 shipping. But also I can get my hands on a enough steel to cover the floor and give me a good amount of scrap for the rest of the body ... that will only cost me 23 dollars. The steel plate is by far the best price to go. But should I in all honestly put new pans in instead? I am attemping to retore the car to somewhat it's original shape but at the same time customizing it greatly. In everyone elses oppinion Which way should I go?

But should I in all honestly put new pans in instead? I am attemping to retore the car to somewhat it's original shape but at the same time customizing it greatly.

Check out Mill Supply, Inc (http://www.rustrepair.com/app2/onlinecat.htm?p=sm-chev.car) for new floor pans.

Each floor pan half is $250. Do it the right way. Don't do it 1/2 assed.

:mrgreen:

On our 81, near as I can tell there are just spots rotted. The car is for my son, so I'm probably going to patch the holes by welding panels in.

If it was my car id check and make sure that the frame isn't rusted out to bad and if its solid id go with new after market floor pans just make sure you check the rear frame from behind the rear wheels back and around the rear body mounts really good.

This week I took the car up off it's wheels to remove the rest of the trim and front bumper. I am so happy to say that the car is in much better shape that I imagined. The pan does not need replacing at all. there are two [one on each side] small spots taht have rotted through. probably 4"x4" not big at all. I will be welding down some steel.

Also, That is the only sight of rust under the car that I have found at all.

Ok...here's where it gets interesting. You say the car is for your son? Is this a (dare I say a daily beater for a teen, gosh forbid) or do you plan on getting it back someday?

Option #1...make it do

Option #2...(perferrable) do it right....just my $0.02
:wink:

I would shop around at various junkyards. $300 from a junkyard is way to much. I had replace the drivers side floor pan on my sister-in-laws Cutlass. My favorite self serve junkyard picked up the car of my choice flipped over and cut out the floor pan all for $15. Now that's capitalism at it's finest!
If you're close to St. Louis pay Taylor's a visit. It's open Saturday and Sunday. I don't really see any rusty floorboards in St. Louis area. That is unless the car came with a factory hole in the roof.

Just got a good look at my 81 (which I bought in 6-02, been really busy) and like to have gagged. The rear of the pans are pretty rusted, which I DID see. What I did not see whent I borught it home was the fact that the rear bed was shot at #5 mount and everything was dropped about 1 to 1.5" on that side. That resulted in a friction point on the metal brake line and..you guessed it..only the front discs were operational!.

No matter, someone rerouted the brake lines and patched it all together with Home Deport compression fittings.

At least I have the limited slip differential........

Now do I have a potential parts car here or what!

Nice forum. I'll stop by often.

Dan (81 Elky in NJ)

Now do I have a potential parts car here or what!

Well Dan, on a positive note, the posi must be worth something. :lol:

I found floor pans for my 67 for $69 a piece. I found them at http://www.carsinc.com but they are from 64-72. Just trying to help get an idea for how much you should spend, and help keep you from getting ripped off.

You have to decide what the car is worth and it's value to you. Would you throw a pile of money at a rusted out toyota? My 81 Elco is my daily driver with a rusty floor and I'm just patching it. On the other hand My '67 Chevelle I've owned since I was in high school gets all new metal and a frame off. I'll have a ton of money in it but hopefully I can pass it down to my kids.

Well, this will probably get me shunned from this best website ever. I posted a picture of my new floor pans installed. I hammered 'em in out of 18 guage, not the 22 guage being that I going to mount seats back farther (you can see the brackets welded in on the front). Then riveted. Then had a guy spot weld around. Then sealed. I don't think I did a huge disservice to the legacy of this particular vehicle. Seriously, piles of rust accumulated during each day or night of hammering. Still leaking in from somewhere (get out the bucket). Good times. Never did anything like it before. 3 lb blacksmith hammer. Now it doesn't creak and torque around uphill turns.