65 Dart Wagon Conversion to a Sedan Delivery
I admit it - I've been lazy and not very motivated to work on the wagon! I decided the other day to get off my duff and get the driver's replacement floor pan in. I finally removed most of the rotten, rusty metal (yes some California cars do have rust issues due to a leaky cowl). Here's what I had left
I took my cut-off wheel, grinder, spot weld cutter and Rolox and cleaned all the metal to bare metal around the perimeter of where the new floor pan butts against the top of the inner rocker panel, the firewall, the transmission tunnel and in front of the seat area. Took my combo flanger/punch and made a series of holes around the perimeter and over the frame rail and trans cross member of the new floorpan to mimic spot welds. So today I finally got the floor pan tacked in several spots before - wouldn't you know it - ran out of gas! Here's the replacenent floor pan tacked in:
Even an original 65 floor hump fits very well over the tunnel and new pan.
After I get another tank of gas, then it's weld the pan to the underlying metal through the holes and seam seal it. Then on to the next floor pan - the passenger front is pretty rusty but I have hopes for it as there's no rust through - yet. Passenger rear needs either patches or replacement- kids dragging in wet Santa Monica beach sand does a number on the metal! Driver's rear for some reason is not too bad (maybe the PO's kid didn't sit on that side!).
I admit it - I've been lazy and not very motivated to work on the wagon! I decided the other day to get off my duff and get the driver's replacement floor pan in. I finally removed most of the rotten, rusty metal (yes some California cars do have rust issues due to a leaky cowl). Here's what I had left
I took my cut-off wheel, grinder, spot weld cutter and Rolox and cleaned all the metal to bare metal around the perimeter of where the new floor pan butts against the top of the inner rocker panel, the firewall, the transmission tunnel and in front of the seat area. Took my combo flanger/punch and made a series of holes around the perimeter and over the frame rail and trans cross member of the new floorpan to mimic spot welds. So today I finally got the floor pan tacked in several spots before - wouldn't you know it - ran out of gas! Here's the replacenent floor pan tacked in:
Even an original 65 floor hump fits very well over the tunnel and new pan.
After I get another tank of gas, then it's weld the pan to the underlying metal through the holes and seam seal it. Then on to the next floor pan - the passenger front is pretty rusty but I have hopes for it as there's no rust through - yet. Passenger rear needs either patches or replacement- kids dragging in wet Santa Monica beach sand does a number on the metal! Driver's rear for some reason is not too bad (maybe the PO's kid didn't sit on that side!).
