A question, An observation and a ranting

[Chuck R.]

Yup, a three fer deal today

First the question,
I purchased a late 68 donor body and noticed that where the driver's side fire wall meets the floor board, there about eight bolts protruding equally between the firewall and the floor board holding a piece of steel plate in place. I've noticed that on my old body and on a couple of "other" bodys I've come across, that juncture seemed to always come apart.
Was this a factory mod or did Bubba get his hands on my donor body? The heads of these bolts are ground flat just like a rivet.

The observation,
This donor car has the bracketing and tabs for the fire wall insulation. I'm opting to re-install these components if they actually help or would it just be throwing good money after bad?
Any feedback on this?

Now the rant,
I cannot believe what body supplies are going for these days! I just can't wait to start paint purchase process!
Guess I'll have to go into the full conservation mode and stop buying beer and Jerky and go back to Boones Farm and fried Spam

Chuck

[Jean C.]

Re: A question, An observation and a ranting

Nuttin' better than chicken fried spam.

[Dave F.]

Re: A question, An observation and a ranting

Chuck,

Are you talking about the area directly below the steering column penetration through the firewall? I'm not seeing anything that answers your description on mine FWIW, though we know how busy Bubba has been over the years (and I don't think he's been eating Spam).

Dave

[Henry S.]

Re: A question, An observation and a ranting

Nuttin' better than chicken fried spam.

Lathered in water gravy, Mmmmm!

[Chuck R.]

Re: I don't know there Daver

Chicken fried Spam Charlie?.......mmm MMM! Now that sounds tasty......
Maybe it's because I haven't had lunch yet

The bolts and plate mentioned Dave are dead center of the bend where the flat portion of the floor board makes the first turn upward to make up with the firewall.

I'm just wondering if this was one of those running changes they made prior to the 69's coming out.

Kind of along the lines of the additional frame bracing they installed.

Chuck

[Chuck R.]

Re: STOP!!

You guys are killing me!!!

One greasy gram at a time that is

[Harmon C.]

Re: A question, An observation and a ranting

Chuck

I think that is a weak point as I have seen repairs in that area on later C-3's. Bubba may have put the pedal to the fiberglass to get a few more horses and cracked the seam street racing.
Lyle

[Dave F.]

Re: A question, An observation and a ranting

I don't have anything like that at the angled rise from the footwell Chuck - sorry.

[Chuck R.]

Re: That's what I surmised as well

As this work was performed prior to the accident it was involved in, I guessed it was either severe body flexing or foot pressure along with material fatigue.

It was suggested that as I'll be repairing this area anyway, that I should build it up to prvent this type of issue from re-occuring.
It sounds like "sound" logic

Thanks for the responses,

Chuck

[Chuck R.]

Re: A question, An observation and a ranting

I actually had a few minutes to clean the interior floor area and now it's obvious that this was an attempt to repair and reinforce the floor boards.

This should prove fun to correct

Good to see you back on the board Daver,

Chuck

[Dave F.]

Re: A question, An observation and a ranting

I actually had a few minutes to clean the interior floor area and now it's obvious that this was an attempt to repair and reinforce the floor boards.

This should prove fun to correct

Good to see you back on the board Daver,

Chuck

Thanks Chuck. It's good to be back - the last few years have been challenging but as I look back it served me well to strengthen my resolve to complete my project "Fog"

As Lyle said, the footwells on our early C3's are weak, downright flimsey to the point of almost negligence IMO. A layer or two of fiber matting applied on the inside ought to give you a bit more rigidity w/o affecting your new padding and carpet. A little creative glass work on the outside should get you back to a decent look.....what else can you do with what you have at this point - go back in time and pluck a new off the line? A little art - a little science, eh?

[Chuck R.]

Re: A question, An observation and a ranting

I'm actually going to look over my old body that has a good fire wall and see just how much work it might take to surgically remove the bad section and graft the good section in.

The steel reinforments around the penetration where the wiring harness blocks mate together on the donor body was badly twisted due to the accident it was in and this "swap" would solve that issue as well.

More fiberglass work than I had planned on doing, but the end result should produce a superior repair ...........if it's easy to separate.

I do hate to carve up that perfectly good firewall though.....