#floorpanreplacement

Making progress. Got half of the plug welds done on the new panel. Time for lunch and then back to plug weld the remaining holes. Welding in the panels is the easiest part of the whole thing. #designsbyandrew #metalworking #metalworkingnation #welding #fabrication #fabricationlife #restoration #xframe #bbody #floorpans #bella #floorpanreplacement #sheetmetal #chevroletbelair #chevrolet #64belair

Made a fair amount of progress today on getting Bella done. I ran new lines for the rear brakes and fuel. It is much easier with the floors out of the car but still a chore trying to get the lines fed into their position once bent where you want them. I had a couple of wear marks on both from rubbing against the body so I decided to replace them now. I added new clamps to hold them in place to prevent the rubbing issue from being a problem later on. I also got the rear seat floor fitted and screwed in. I had to do some minor trimming of the flanges to get it to fit just right. Tomorrow I hope to be spot welding the panel in place. The panel was easier than dealing with the lines. I didn't find any leaks after start up so we should be good to go. All in a days worth of work. #designsbyandrew #metalworking #metalworkingnation #welding #fabrication #restoration #xframe #bbody #floorpans #bella #floorpanreplacement #sheetmetal #chevroletbelair #chevrolet #64belair #brakelines #fuellines

Got the frame and cross members cleaned and painted. I have a fuel and brake line to replace before putting the floor pan in and I should be on the way to getting the car back together. The heavy grease on the rear cross member was a bear cleaning off. The pinion seal had leaked for years before I got the car and howled something fierce going down the road. I rebuilt the differential and added a posi unit then. The old grease is a good rust preventative but doesn't look all that appealing when you are trying to restore the car so it had to go. It's been a slippery slope making progress up to this point but I'm almost to be top. Persistence pays. I have some small brackets to transfer to the new floor pan for the rear seat and will get those done while I wait for the paint to dry. Can't breathe to drive the car again. #designsbyandrew #metalworking #metalworkingnation #welding #fabrication #sheetmetal #restoration #xframe #bbody #floorpans #bella #floorpanreplacement #64belair #paint #chevroletbelair #chevrolet

Both halves of the floor pans for my 64 Bel Air got painted today in preparation for being welded in. I know you may have a question as to why I painted them before installing them? I figured that it will be much easier to paint them now and grind off the paint where I have to welder than today tryout painting them once in the car when the frame, exhaust and whatever else is in the way. I could be totally wrong with taking this approach but this is my first time installing floor pans on this large of a scale. I discovered a while back that if you pick up rustoleum's appliance paint from the paint isle at home depot, it is ultra hard as it's has hardener in it along with more gloss to it. It runs the same price as the regular gloss black. Once I get the exhaust system hanging on new hangers and the frame painted, the floor pans will be headed to their new home shortly. #rustoleum #64belair #restoration #xframe #bbody #floorpans #bella #floorpanreplacement #sheetmetal