Ok the car is completely stripped down and up on the rotisserie. A lot of the drivers floor and some of the passenger floor has rust. Connecting subframes, torque boxes, rockers, and roll cage are in works. I'm thinking a complete floor fab/replacement would yield a lot of benefits. So the question is. Is the upper structure of these cars sufficient enough not to have to brace the door openings to remove the entire floor at one time?
I wouldn't want to do it that way. When I replaced the floor in my Falcon, which is thicker metal, I did it in 1/4's
I've done it on an early Bronco, a 57 Chevrolet 210, a Mustang, and others. Some required a lot of bracing but others not so much. Never built a Maverick. Floors are not reproduced for these so I'd think someone has done it. The whole floor is coming out at once either way.
I did a complete floor replacement on my 4dr almost 15 years ago. I did it in my backyard, with the wheels on the ground. Of course, I was younger and maybe not as knowledgeable as I think I am now. Also, the B-pillar on the 4dr adds a bit more strength. I didn't even have good torque boxes, they had to be replaced, too. With that much of the car missing, it is definitely a concern that the car is going to flex and possibly move and change the geometry. Err on the side of caution. Like I said, I was young and foolish and didn't necessarily think everything through... http://mmb.maverick.to/threads/the-life-and-times-of-my-77-4-door-1993-2003.89653/#post-912560 http://mmb.maverick.to/threads/the-life-and-times-of-my-77-4-door-1993-2003.89653/#post-912570
Thanks Bob! I wouldn't call it 'beautiful' though. I did what I had to do in order to NOT scrap the car. I was just lucky enough to have had the foresight to cut the floor out of the yellow car two years prior! I still remember backing the car out of the driveway for the first time with the new floor!! What a difference it made in the feel of the car when it went over the curb!!! THAT shows just how much strength there is in that floor.
Looking at your photos of the floor when you first pulled up the carpets to the photo with it replaced and all shiny black, I would say it was beautiful LOL! Was it bad cowls that caused all that damage?
Thanks Bob! The cowls didn't leak on that car that I knew of, but I'm sure being daily-driven in the Rust Belt for most of its life didn't help either. Nowadays, when I see a rusty floor, I certainly would be looking at the cowl!!!
