best way to get old floor pans out

Looking for help with the best way to remove and clean edges to install new pans.

Thomas,

I think the best way is a combination of tools for different areas. I used a spot weld cutter to cut out some of the spot welds, but also an air hammer in several areas. This combined with a cutoff wheel on a 4.5" grinder to 'thin' out the spot weld areas on the floor pan seemed to be pretty quick. After the pan was removed I went back with the grinder and dressed the flange that holds the floorboards and also used a roloc disk on an angle air grinder. Drilling each spot weld with a spot weld cutter would have taken foreeevvveerrr.

Here are couple of links to previous posts of mine. Ah, brings back memories :)

http://www.mgexperience.net/phorum/read.php?1,341794,342270#msg-342270

http://www.mgexperience.net/phorum/read.php?1,347917,347917#msg-347917

Lots of options and information in the archives.

I used a sawzall with a metal blade and cut out the ununsupported areas of the floor pans. I did not have a spot weld drill bit. Some people swear by these. I just used my angle grinder and used it to find the spotwelds. Then I ground down over the spot weld until it looked like it was starting to separate from the floor pan. Then I took a pair of pliers and pulled the strips of floor pan up. This leaves a small part of the spot weld on the floor supports. I simply ground these down flat.

After doing that for all of the floor pan, I used a wire brush and cleaned up the edges and supports and painted them with POR.

Thanks Norm...

I have link here with suggestions.

http://miller-garage.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=11&mode=&order=0&thold=0

spotweld cutter has the advantage of not messing up anything else, and you can then plug weld back into the same holes.

ThoRGilbert Wrote:

I cut out the unsupported areas, then used an air chisel after bending back a section of floor pan. Chisel under the panel and pull back and cut away as you go. A well directed chisel won't damage the chassis and goes quickly.

zzzinger Wrote:

I used a similar process to greg, but I drilled a few pilot holes and used a straight edge to draw a line to cut along. Air chisel was the go to separate between the welds and possibly cut through strip of floor and then multigrips. Time consuming and lots of little sharp bits of metal (wear gloves) but no serious damage at all.

Remember when welding - the sparks will stick on to glass so remove the screen and cover the instruments with steel or similar.

Paul ;-)

Thanks for all the info...