1979 Spider in Atlanta, Reluctant Restoration

[KeithM]

I met some of you already in the New Members section, thank you for saying hello.

My Spider came to its new home at my house last week and I was pretty excited to rewire it, redo the cooling, ignition and fuel systems and then get it back on the road. Sure it needed some bodywork, but nothing so bad it couldn't be done in a couple of weekends. That's what I thought anyway. While extracting the old wiring harness I pulled the seats and carpet to make it easier to remove, and found out just how bad the floors were:





So I'm a bit disappointed since there's more work to do than I had planned (always the case for me anyway). I'm in the middle of a frame-off restoration on a 1973 IH Scout, so the Fiat was supposed to be a 3-4 week project that will turn out to be much more than that (and the Scout will continue to wait, while my friends clutch their sides with laughter at me having taken on yet another project that they wouldn't even consider). But anything can be fixed, including this. By my estimation I'll need at least all four floor panels and the seat supports. I haven't had a chance to evaluate the underside but will likely need the floor pan supports as well.

It looks like replacement pieces are available from a few different vendors, all of which seem to have mixed reviews with respect to fit, finish, steel quality and service. If you've redone your floor to this extent please comment on the parts you bought and your experience installing them.

[Fiatlanta]

Are the floor panels separate pieces? Or do you have to cut them out and weld back in?

Looks like a lot of work. good luck.

[chrisg]

they will be separate pieces soon it appears. from my limited experience with very rusty 124s & completely rebuilding a rusted out floor on a 124 Coupe, I'd say the flat parts are rather simple & forgiving, especially if you do not plan on entering car shows with lights & mirrors underneath to show off the virgin underbelly of your car (and, hell, even if you were...). The more significant part(s) are the connection point for the long trailing arms (along the cross member at the leading edge of the rear seat, under the car) and any damage that may have crept into the rocker assemblies. Good luck. Save another one!

[RRoller123]

And that cross member at the rear floor area is critical too, it looks like it may have a couple of holes in it?

[KeithM]

Yes, the parts I'll be replacing are:

Floor pans (there are 4: drivers front and rear, passenger front and rear). I believe I can bend these with my sheet metal brake without too much trouble

All 4 seat brackets

Floor cross member

Rear sill

I'm not looking forward to it at all.

[cabanabob]

Hey Keith, How did your floors turn out?

[basso]

I'm not looking forward to it at all.

Ha! I know exactly what you mean - my restauration started with the wheel arch corner in the front and ended in an actual 6 years restauration process ;(

I v'e replaced nearly all critical metal parts and like to give You one advise: Buy original pininfarina replacing parts for the body - they are expensive but you'll turn nuts when a replacement is not correct in shape and needs two days of Your attention to fit into your car - it is demotivating. Do not trust them when sellers explain that their parts are "plug and play". I tried a lot of parts...

I hope Your firewall is ok, it can't be bought and you'll have to make one from scratch.. a lousy loud adventure ( i posted some photos in my restaurations thread). If You like to cut out the crossmember consider welding an holding-frame to Your Body to pervent warping ( is that correct english ? ).

I'm looking forward to read in your posts you did it
Basso

[DRUMMOND]

Hi KeithM

This started with a small rust bubble, but ended well. Just for encouragement