Floor pan install question

[Matthew J]

Quick question on floor pan install. There is about a 1/4" gap between my new AMD floor pan and the inner rockers on both sides of the car. Is this normal, or do I need to force the gap closed before welding in place? The car didn't have seat belts when I got it, and I can't remember how they attach.

 

[pnora]

You want to close up the gap so it it tight against the other panel.. You might have to grind and refit them.

 

[Matthew J]

You want to close up the gap so it it tight against the other panel.. You might have to grind and refit them.

Thanks. Just to be clear, it is the gap on the vertical wall which you can see through the seat belt hole I'm worried about. The flange on top where it actualy gets welded is flush. I'm pretty sure I could force the floorpan to be 1/2" wider with clamps. My fear is that gap gets crushed when the seatbelts are installed causing a buckle in the floor?

 

[s/w theo]

That gap you're referring to is normal. I have seen it lots of times on un-molested cars. After part is spotwelded in, they put seam sealer on that gap, among other places obviously.

 

[matthon]

That gap is normal, although I've mainly seen it filled with undercoat, dirt, and rust.

 

[Matthew J]

That gap is normal, although I've mainly seen it filled with undercoat, dirt, and rust.

As I put this thing back together, you would swear some areas were intentionally designed to rust out. That gap is certainly one of them. Also the top of the rails at the foor pan, outer ends of the torsion crossmember, and the little swimming pools on top of the front rails under the shock towers, just to name a few.

 

[matthon]

All of those and more rotted away on my Dart. Surprisingly the outer body was fine.