Suddenly it seems daunting

[crvc]

I have removed the body from my '74 type 1. That was easy. The floorpan is sitting in the driveway waiting for new pan halves. They came yesterday and now that I see them, I'm not sure I can do the welding job. I may tow this to a welder to be done right. What can I do to prepare the floorpan before taking it over? I saw in an earlier thread that the cost of welding in new pan halves can be cut by doing prep work myself.

I assume if I cut the old pan out, using a hand grinder and cutting wheel, that should save money but what about cleaning the metal to be welded? What about using a wire wheel on the edges of the new pan to get rid of primer?

[Bobnotch]

You might want to talk to your welder first and find out how much he wants you leave of the old pans. I only say that because some of that German metal is better than the Brazilian, and he might want to use ome of it. Normally if you remove the old stuff along the tunnel (leaving the 3/4" lip) and removing the piece that was spot welded is usually good enough. I like to keep the area at the rear where the body bolts to, as its alot thicker than the replacement metal. This is why I recomend talking to your welder first. I hope this helps.

[Kafer_Mike]

Checkout the October issue of Hot VW's. They have a "how to" article on floor pan replacements...

[Air-Cooled Head]

I'm not sure I can do the welding job.

If you have at least a MIG, and can weld at all, you CAN do it. Use a heavy flux core wire. Make a couple beads, touching each other, then another on top.

The welding is easy, the alignment is another story,,,

[Fusillade]

You can do it. Patience and practice.

[fyrrmann]

Patience is the key word. When I did mine I used a plasma cutter and cut around the lip where the original spot welds were. Then cleaned the area to be welded with a grinder and wire wheel to get off the old paint, used a MIG to spot weld every 6-8 inches or so. When I did that to both sides I went back and put a weld between them and so on until it was done. Ended up with about an inch between spots. Then flipped it over and put a spot between the welds from the top in the same fashion. Don't get in a big hurry or you could heat up the pans to much and then they'll warp. It took me the better part of the day but I wasn't in any big hurry.

[Air-Cooled Head]

Patience is the key word. It took me the better part of the day but I wasn't in any big hurry.

My first time, it took me the better part of a day just getting the old pans out!

[Fusillade]

Here was my first attempt:

http://www.resto-custom.com/replacing_the_floorpans.htm


Since then, I've decided that I like POR-15 much better and have used it on all the front and rear suspension components.