Interior sheet metal replacement order?

[morethanstock66]

Howdy,

I have finally been able to get back under my 66 recently and am needing to replace the floor pans, kick panels, inner rockers, and outer rockers. I am new to replacing sheet metal myself and I was wondering if anyone who had done this before had suggestions. I have a MIG and cut off wheel and the replacement panels from top banana. I was curious about the order of replacement. I thought at first about cutting it all out, measuring the replacement panels, fitting them, then welding them in. However, I also thought about taking out replacing one at a time (cut out floor pans, weld in new floor pan to the old surrounding sheet metal, then move outward.)The problem is that these panels all connect. Should I replace one at a time and weld the same seam twice on the different pieces, or do it all at once. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[pimpston65]

top banana eh, never heard of em. well now that ive seen it done so many time by reading the build threads most folks go from outside in as far as metal removal and rev for metal replacement and use the same methods of attachment i.e. spot weld,butt weld for seamless joints,plug welds kinda like spot weld but not cuz u grind it smooth unlike a spot weld u see the little dip in the center of the weld to make it appear factory anyway the way i did mine many yrs ago i look at the damage/rot first to see what needs to go and what is still good. then i figured how each piece worked with the next and how it attaches. i used a sharpie to make straight lines to cut for the area coming out and used that metal and cardboard as a template on odd shaped areas and as the pieces the makeup where replacement panels fall short. i used a cutoff wheel on mostly all area as the bearly touch the surface under the piece being cut out, would be crazy o just start cutting and not know whats underneath. i bought 18g or 16g steel sheet then got to forming per my templates, i had my neighbor and friend that works michigan catipilaur with my cheapo mig welded weld em up as i was new to welding now i set my own heat and wire speed then i bought panels i couldnt form like outter rockers and such and test fit a ton cut a little weld a little. and next then you know it looks like new money, well after some grinding more welding pin holes and different grit sand paper for a smooth surface for primer then more sanding and paint and BAM one project down. hope this helps. pic would be nice of ur build

[morethanstock66]

Thanks for the info.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...45#post6595745
Here is a link to my build.

Did you brace the door frame before you cut the floor out though?

[Woogeroo]

you may want to ask around in here too :

Paint & Bodywork

-W

[morethanstock66]

I didn't even see that, I'm still kind of new here. Thanks!

[Woogeroo]

Yeah, that's what I figured.

Go Explore your forum!

also, check the section 3, external links area of the 60-66 faq, some of those fellas with videos have some neat info..

The body section in section 2 has all sorts of various threads, dunno if they apply to your truck.

Then, of course, explore the build threads... lots of photos, ideas, mistakes, fixes...

-W