Heavy Rust Repair on Truck.

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I have an 88' Chevy with a new hood, fenders, and doors, and would hate to tear it apart for it will only be a dd. The floors on it are so terribly rusted that the only thing keeping my feet off the ground is a floor mat. I bought the truck for its tires and sander but upon further inspection i realized that the floors were the only bad part of the truck. Did I mention that it has 1 ton suspension, a rebuilt 454 with 8,000 miles on it, and a rebuilt automatic transmission... Just a little bit more incentive to keep it going.Attachment 627901Attachment 627911Attachment 627921Attachment 627931Attachment 627941 Attached ImagesLast edited by DSW; 02-21-2014 at 07:08 PM.
Reply:Oh, and for the reason I am posting this thread, I need to fabricate some sort of a makeshift floor, or some other remedy for this type of problem.
Reply:I hand fabricated a floor for an old early 70's Mack quite a few years ago. Ended up doing the floor in pieces and heating and bending each section to match the existing floor. Doable, but a real pain. Stock trucks they typically offer replacement panels for floor areas and high rust areas. I'd start by looking at those 1st and see if they will cover the majority of what you need to replace. Toughest part is if the areas not covered by the patch panels are badly rusted. Then you have no choice but to make some sort of replacement so you can tie the patch panel back into the truck..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Grab some re manufactures floor pans and weld them up. LMC truck has them and will ship right to your door. Then coat the underneath and inside with bedliner, and done.
Reply:Oh I merged the 2 threads you made with the same text, thus the duplicate posts above..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:88' Chevy pickup floor panhttps://www.google.com/search?num=10...72.Af5flSpS4Gghttps://www.google.com/search?q=88'+...w=1024&bih=640there seems to be a lot of price range, this is one of the lower priced ones I found, http://www.ecklerstrucks.com/chevy-t...1988-1998.html
Reply:Hey sounds like a nice truck to fix. They sell floor pans to be welded in.If you dont want to go that route you will have to purchase some 14 gauge sheet metal which will darn near cost you just as much as the replacement floor pans. Make sure you repair any rusted out floor struts/cross members because it will make it easier and stronger. Use weld thru primer on the bottom of the metal and cross members. Good luck.Fireman BillHH 210 MVPMM 211 Spoolmate 100Lotas LTP5000D PlasmaOxy/Accet (Victor)Wards AC/DC buzz box30 ton old hyd pressA few brand name toolsA bunch of cheap toolsA wife to worry me and4 dogs to supervise me
Reply:Originally Posted by Fireman BillHey sounds like a nice truck to fix. They sell floor pans to be welded in.If you dont want to go that route you will have to purchase some 14 gauge sheet metal which will darn near cost you just as much as the replacement floor pans. Make sure you repair any rusted out floor struts/cross members because it will make it easier and stronger. Use weld thru primer on the bottom of the metal and cross members. Good luck.
Reply:Oh, and I don't know if you saw in the pictures but the rockers aren't existent... the po did some poor rust repair with some diamond plate and some self sinking screws but it all broke off after getting into the truck the first time.
Reply:Again they sell patch panels for the rockers as well. You need to look and see how much the panels cover as to whether it will do what you need or not. Some places just sell the outer skins. Other places have a more extensive line up of parts including some interior panels..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I found some panels on several floor pans on several sites, but will I need just the pan or will I need the backing plate too?
Reply:Tube it... I've done many. Got one repair to do on Monday.I have no idea how extensive but it's an 88 Samurai... in the rain forest. Maybe I'll shoot some pics. That's when the li'l 140 Lincoln comes alive !!! That, a roll of Esab EZ .023 and some CO2( yup CO2) and it's showtime !Last edited by Burpee; 02-22-2014 at 07:41 AM.Bubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)
Reply:What's with the co2 do you use it for price or does it actually work better?Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk"I thank God for all the freedoms we've got in this country, I cherish even the right to burn the flag, but I'll tell you what, we've also got the right to bear arms and if you burn my flag I'll shoot you"-Johnny Cash
Reply:i replaced the floor on a friends car with material from a "borrowed" rolling garbage bin on the construction site and a 110 mig using innershield. it looked like a steel jig saw puzzle but out lasted the car.i.u.o.e. # 15queens, ny and sunny fla
Reply:By the way I'm posting this same thread onto Mechanics Park... I started it before I found out about the mechanics park.
Reply:Also, is it worth trying to weld a gas tank?or should i just get another...."I thank God for all the freedoms we've got in this country, I cherish even the right to burn the flag, but I'll tell you what, we've also got the right to bear arms and if you burn my flag I'll shoot you"-Johnny Cash
Reply:Originally Posted by SprockmonsterAlso, is it worth trying to weld a gas tank?or should i just get another....
Reply:If you want to fix a gas tank if it is just rust pin holes I have had good luck with the metal filled epoxy putty stuff just drain and clean up good. I have patched floor pans before I just cut as big a piece as would fit than fit smaller pieces in around it.Millermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply:ThanksSent from my EVO using Tapatalk"I thank God for all the freedoms we've got in this country, I cherish even the right to burn the flag, but I'll tell you what, we've also got the right to bear arms and if you burn my flag I'll shoot you"-Johnny Cash
Reply:In an age when most everything you need is manufactured, it doesn't make sense to make your own. In an earlier day I used Aluminum flashing to make patterns, then transferred the shape to steel.