Rusty Floor Pans

dbdragracing · Sep 5, 2007

This week I bought my first classic mustang (I originally owned a 1989 Mustang GT)....a 1970 Mustang Mach 1. The car runs and looks good, but the floor pans are starting to go. During the next year I plan on starting a complete restoration of the car, but right now my girlfriend is wanting to take it to a few cruise-ins. The frame rails are solid and it doesnt have subframe connectors....is it safe to drive a little? Does anything other than the floorboards hold the car together? The passenger side is stronger than the driver side. Thanks.

runawayabc123 · Sep 5, 2007

Yes, the floor pan does help hold it all together.

The sub frame connectors do help. (Welded or bolted?)

I guess it depends on how much rust.

I have a 65 with fully rotted out driver side floor pan that was patched with extra sheet metal and a ton of pop rivots (I couldn't count them all if I tried) up the firewall and on to the passenger side. It is very sad. No sub frame connectors, but the rockers are solid. It holds together just fine. Don't get me wrong, this is no daily driver, just a Sunday driver at best.

I wouldn't worry too much unless you plan on putting a lot of miles (more than 100 in a year) or hard miles on it.

Post some pictures of it to give us a better idea. Can you see the road in the car? How are the rockers?

dbdragracing · Sep 5, 2007

No I cant see the road in the car and the rockers seem very solid. Where the seats mount seem to be very solid. The worst rust seems to be right behind the pedals on the driver side...the passenger side is still pretty solid. I just dont want to do unrepairable damage to the car. Thanks.

67coupe351w · Sep 5, 2007

dbdragracing said:
No I cant see the road in the car and the rockers seem very solid. Where the seats mount seem to be very solid. The worst rust seems to be right behind the pedals on the driver side...the passenger side is still pretty solid. I just dont want to do unrepairable damage to the car. Thanks.

You first step should probably be to get up under your dash with a flashlight and check out your cowl...theres a 99.9% chance that the waterthat rusted out your floor came from there. You can run a garden hose into your cowl as well to help you find any leaks. With luck it won't be too bad in the cowl but thats hardly ever the case for our lovely cars. If you go the garden hose route make sure you concentrate it on the cowl first and if you see no water move to the windsheild seal.

For subframe connectors look into Competition Engineering Bolt in subframe connectors. But rather than bolt them in weld them in. I know many on this board (including myself) have done this.

Depending on the extent of your floor damage it may or may not be a good idea to put the connectors in first. Have any pics of the damage?

dbdragracing · Sep 5, 2007

I dont have any pictures yet, but I will try to get some. Are the parts to fix the cowl readily available for these Mustangs? Does it make the car beyond repair? Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

palerider94 · Sep 6, 2007

Infortunately for the 1969/70 model only part they make aftermaket for the cowl is the upper part which typically is not the part that rust out. It usually the lower part that get leaves etc and begins to rust. If rusted either have to fab one or find donor. I found a donor part and got lucky after a lot of searching. Now I have to put it in. Very big jobs - d some searches to get idea of work involved. good luck. If just flloors rusted I would not worry too much about driving it.

65fastbackresto · Sep 6, 2007

Just a thought

I dont know how serious your rust is, but I`ve got some finger sizes holes here and there in my pans. I was thinking of using POR15 and some fiberglass matte to fix them, they really aren`t bad enough for me to chop into them.

DukeGnarley · Sep 6, 2007

65fastbackresto said:
I dont know how serious your rust is, but I`ve got some finger sizes holes here and there in my pans. I was thinking of using POR15 and some fiberglass matte to fix them, they really aren`t bad enough for me to chop into them.

dude, at least patch them with metal, you'll feel better about yourself knowing you did it right.

65fastbackresto · Sep 6, 2007

My welding skills nor my cashflow..

Allow for correct fixing of my pans yet, but soon they will.....

Jester67 · Sep 6, 2007

65fastbackresto said:
I dont know how serious your rust is, but I`ve got some finger sizes holes here and there in my pans. I was thinking of using POR15 and some fiberglass matte to fix them, they really aren`t bad enough for me to chop into them.

To quote Super Dave rust NEVER sleeps. Cut it out and kill it even with por15 that patch is short term at best.

pazur · Sep 7, 2007

man, put your painting effort rather to brake pipes or other critical parts that tends to get rusty. if you don't like the pans and you'll feel better cut them off and no way your car can get "unrepairable" whatever it means. and don't let your lady drive it because she'll most likely end up in the closest tree

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