Floor pans

[4961Studebaker]

If you need something more malleable, [)]
license plates and galvanized roof flashing work in a pinch.....[B)] with pop rivits [}]
Don't ask for pictures ......I was too young to know better.

ChopStu

134 weeks till completion.

[hopsBB]

This is what the po had on the drivers side floor.It was just screwed down with some sheet metal screws and then he covered the whole floor up with a black mat
[img][/img]
This is what I found when I brought the car home and took out what he had put in
[img][/img]
This is the drivers side and it is almost totally gone
[img][/img]
I'm gonna have to weld in all new door seals,floor pans,everything.This is why I've gotta make my own.

[jimmijim8]

The picture displays why you should just buy the ones from Classic or Leroy Carey if Leroy does make pans for a Lark. Classic pans include the threshold. You have nothing there to go by even if you are to make them yourself. Do you have factory blueprints or another car to make patterns from. Pretty hard finding someone that has a car in that rough shape wanting to make it road worthy. We should be saving the better shape cars out ther lest they become like yours. Buy a better car and use that one for parts. You may not like reading this but it is the truth. Better cars are not hard to find and can be had for cheap. Take a drink of water. You'll wish you had after you jump into that. jimmijim jimmijim

Stude Junkie+++++++Do it right the f$$$$ Time. Never mind. Just do it right. When youre done your done. You'll know it.

[warrlaw1]

I'm with jimmijim on the C.E. pans and frame supports. Your car will need the pillar supports or your doors will sag. The C.E. floors are 18 Gauge but the pillar supports are even heavier. If you ever have to pee through those floor boards make sure you miss the hot exhaust. The steam will blind you

[hopsBB]

This car is totally fixable.It'll just take me some time to figure it all out.

[jimmijim8]

Wha-cha-gonna do when the rest of the car disintegrates while you're a figgeri'n.[:0] If your frame is any good ya might try a body transplant. Maybe transplant that car in yer worst friends driveway. Just Kiddin'. Tackle that project and make sure to keep us updated. You've got a whole lotta work to save that thing and hopefully you have a whole lotta fortitude and determination resources to do it properly.Plan on investing time and more money than it'l ever be worth. You may gain self satisfaction from the project. Hope your boat floats. You may become the next Craig Piper. Good luck and God speed your progress. jimmijim

Stude Junkie+++++++Do it right the f$$$$ Time. Never mind. Just do it right. When youre done your done. You'll know it.

[hopsBB]

Work begins in the mourning

[Invalid User Name]

I hope that is a misprint and not a harbinger of things to come.



Venice, Florida
1950 Champion 9G F1

[jimmijim8]

Today is the onset of the beginning of one seeking the fortunes of Studebakerism. Were rooting for ya hops. God speed and please work safely. jimmijim

Stude Junkie+++++++Do it right the f$$$$ Time. Never mind. Just do it right. When youre done your done. You'll know it.

[sweetolbob]

hopsBB

Now that you have decided to go ahead with you floor project, here is a shot of the underside of the 54K that I did with sheets of 18 ga steel and a home made bead roller and a cheap 24" HF medal brake. If you can't roll beads than you can form them or tack weld small metal angles to stop oil canning.



Forge ahead fearlessly, it's only metal. Just remember to stabilize the door jamb area so the doors will fit first.

Bob

,

[gordr]

Nice work, Bob!

I don't own a bead roller, but I have an old home-made brake that does what I need it to do. I save a lot of scrap metal that already has pressed-in ribs, etc., and cut the the scraps to match existing floor ribs. I posted pics of a Wagonaire floor to which I did this about a year ago.

Another useful thing: find a sheet metal shop that will brake up a few lengths of "hat channel" for you. Hat channel is sheet steel formed into a rectangular trough about 3/4" deep by 1 1/2" wide, with flanges about 3/8" wide on both sides. In profile, it looks like a flat-brim hat, hence the name.

Weasel bodies were built using a lot of this stuff. You can cut it straight, or on a bevel with a saw or snips, punch holes in the flanges, and plug-weld it to the underside of a panel that needs stiffening. It's a huge time-saver to have a supply on hand, even if you have the tools to fabricate your own.

Gord Richmond, within Weasel range of the Alberta Badlands

[Milaca]

Bob Streu, I would be interested in seeing a picture of your homemade bead roller. I wouldnt mind making such a tool myself.


Brent's rootbeer racer.
MN iron ore...it does your body good.

[jimmijim8]

S'ow I did a complete front floor in a 63 GT before Classic was doing pans. 'Bout 13 pieces of flat and hat channel combined to make each side of the front pans. I made the thresholds and rebuilt most of the hoggies. Chore of my life the whole restoration was and swore I'd never do it again. That was 10 yrs. ago and now wish I was phiysically capable of doing it again. jimmijim

Stude Junkie+++++++Do it right the f$$$$ Time. Never mind. Just do it right. When youre done your done. You'll know it.--------------{edited for spellin'}

[sweetolbob]

Brent, Not trying to hijack the thread but you asked about the bead roller.

Not sure what guage steel it will roll but it ate up the 18 ga floor panels I made. The secret to a bead roller it to build the frame strong enough to tow trucks with.

I'm lucky in that I've accumulated a lathe, mill, and both stick and mig welders over the years.







Obviously it's been a while since I've used it.

Bob

,

[Milaca]

Looks good Bob. Simple yet adjustable and effective. I don't have a metal lathe, but I suppose one could order the dies from a bead roller manufacturer. The rest could maybe be accomplised with a drill press, cutting torch or plasma cutter, and a welder. Looks like 1 inch shafting and a matched set of spur gears and shaft collars. Thanks for posting.


Brent's rootbeer racer.
MN iron ore...it does your body good.