Pan replacement-FYI

[tfmcmahon]

I saw this on the Motoring Investment site and thought his candor was admirable and the photos even better.He always has some nice looking cars and this is a primer for those that need info on what to look for and how to repair rusted pans.Thanks to Brian for his taking the time to post the pics! TFM http://www.motoringinvestments.com/R...eprofessor.htm

[911scfanatic]

Thank you very much for the link. Useful info. I hope others post more rust repair links.

For anyone who has caught Daryl's work, it's amazing:
http://members.aol.com/darryld/912.htm

He posts on PP, and truly is an inspiration.

[kenikh]

That is awesome; it's one thing to understand the process in your head and another to see it in living color.

[Homemade 911]

with Kenikh...this is good stuff.

Pictures make all the difference in the world, especially when it comes to tough chores like floorpans. I've been slowly steeling myself for the day when I actually tackle my pans. Both Brian and Daryl are to be applauded for their hard work.

Thanks guys, for helping the rest of us along...

cheers
Thom Kuby
With yet another "iron-oxide challenged" set of floor pans

[tfiv]

What's the best tool for making nice clean cuts even in tight spots?

[kenikh]

WAIT!!! Darryl did this? How did I miss that the first time? Nice to see a fellow Seattlite who is so skilled! I have been meaning to catch a beer with him for a while, but we haven't hooked up yet. Now I have another reason to bug him.

[e72phil]

What's the best tool for making nice clean cuts even in tight spots?

Plasma cutter. Clean, low distortion, neat.

[911scfanatic]

Having websites with lots of pictures and descriptions is what helped me build the confidence to take on a lot of the rust repairs myself. There's still lots of trial and error as you develop your technique, but that's part of the fun.

[Cornpanzer]

Certainly nice work. However, that repair is very rare. Typically if the center of the floor is perforated, the outer perimeter is gone too. When you start digging into that outer perimeter, you find that there are several pieces of inner structure that is typically eaten up and these parts are not available as repair panels. That small hole you see in the floor can become a tremendous amount of workwhen you start poking.

I knew that my pass side floor had some rust from a previous repair. I had no idea what was lurking within! The first pic is what I saw from the outside and the second was what I had after I had cut away the floor

Unfortunatly, there are not too many "rust free" early 911s any longer. If you talk to the 356 guys they will say that anyone who tells you that they have a rust-free 356 is either lieing or has just completed a rebuild. This is something we have to get used to and deal with.

I am happy to say that everything has been rebuilt. Much of the inner structure had to be done by hand, but it looks great now. I would need a rotesserie, TIG welder and a lot more time to make it invisible, but as my car is just a good driver I am not worried about ever fooling people. It is what it is

[Cornpanzer]

This is the finished project. Best photo I could get with the car on the ground.