40 Convertible Floor Replacement

[Pech33]

Any words of wisdom before I hack my floor? The drivers side "should be" replaced, the passenger side is in good shape. Replace the whole thing with Drake's one piece floor or buy the panels individually? Any special reinforcing to do before cutting the old floor out?

 

[TJ]

I would buy the panels individually. Replacing the entire floor will create other issues such as panel alignment, door alignment, etc. on a convertible. Hopefully Kube will weigh in on this issue as he has a world of knowledge on 40s and restoring them.

 

[Kube]

Any words of wisdom before I hack my floor? The drivers side "should be" replaced, the passenger side is in good shape. Replace the whole thing with Drake's one piece floor or buy the panels individually? Any special reinforcing to do before cutting the old floor out?

I'll add something meaningful tonight. Advice, photos, etc...

Can you post some photos of the floors you are dealing with?

 

[Pech33]

There are three holes in the driver’s side. Passenger side is intact but it looks like the floors sat “wet” for some period of time. The area under the back seat is in good shape. The trunk floor has been replaced with a riveted piece of sheet metal and that also needs to be replaced. I had the car for sale this Fall, two guys interested but neither cared for the floor pictures. With the value on these cars being somewhat down, at what point do you quit trying to improve the car? For a few thousand $, you really aren’t increasing the value, you are only removing objections to an 85 year old car.

 

[petehoovie]

There are three holes in the driver’s side. Passenger side is intact but it looks like the floors sat “wet” for some period of time. The area under the back seat is in good shape. The trunk floor has been replaced with a riveted piece of sheet metal and that also needs to be replaced. I had the car for sale this Fall, two guys interested but neither cared for the floor pictures. With the value on these cars being somewhat down, at what point do you quit trying to improve the car? For a few thousand $, you really aren’t increasing the value, you are only removing objections to an 85 year old car.

 

[Kube]

There are three holes in the driver’s side. Passenger side is intact but it looks like the floors sat “wet” for some period of time. The area under the back seat is in good shape. The trunk floor has been replaced with a riveted piece of sheet metal and that also needs to be replaced. I had the car for sale this Fall, two guys interested but neither cared for the floor pictures. With the value on these cars being somewhat down, at what point do you quit trying to improve the car? For a few thousand $, you really aren’t increasing the value, you are only removing objections to an 85 year old car.

Frankly, unless you were planning a full-blown proper restoration (you're not) leave it as it is.
Those floors are not too bad for a "driver", not bad at all.
The cost to replace the floors would far exceed any additional value. In fact, I tend to agree with you, the added "value" most likely would be it may be easier to sell.
The trunk floor does bother me even for a "driver". Still though, you won't add any $ value to the car by replacing it.

If you desire, I can attach some photos later tonight or tomorrow that will give you an idea of the work involved to replace the pans.

 

[Pech33]

Thanks for the input. I believe I’ll fix the holes, maybe try to “all metal” over the top of the pock marks and paint the floor. I still think the trunk floor will need to be replaced, it’s pretty thin sheet metal now and you can see the rivets.

 

[19Fordy]

Fix the holes with small patch panels. Do not try to replace the entire floor at once. Make sure you close the doors when welding to keep them aligned.

 

[alchemy]

Covering anything with “All-Metal” would turn me off so much as a buyer that I’d suspect garbage everywhere else in the car. You would definitely be doing the car a disservice with that.

Unless you are not showing all the bad stuff, it looks like the front floor could use a few small spots of replacement. Not the whole half, and certainly not the whole floor. But as you realize, hidden stuff may lurk under other coverings.

 

[glennpm]

Covering anything with “All-Metal” would turn me off so much as a buyer that I’d suspect garbage everywhere else in the car. You would definitely be doing the car a disservice with that.

Unless you are not showing all the bad stuff, it looks like the front floor could use a few small spots of replacement. Not the whole half, and certainly not the whole floor. But as you realize, hidden stuff may lurk under other coverings.

Yup, that's the way to do it. The floor looks very good to me other than a few places that could use a patch.

 

[Kube]

Covering anything with “All-Metal” would turn me off so much as a buyer that I’d suspect garbage everywhere else in the car. You would definitely be doing the car a disservice with that.

Unless you are not showing all the bad stuff, it looks like the front floor could use a few small spots of replacement. Not the whole half, and certainly not the whole floor. But as you realize, hidden stuff may lurk under other coverings.

Very good point indeed!
From a lot of personal experience when there has been undercoating, etc. applied, it has (99% of the time) been applied to hide what lurks below.


Pech, leave the car as it is including the trunk. You are not going to add more value than you invest by doing any repairs.

 

[19Fordy]

"Kube" makes a very good point. Sadly, it has reached the point where restoration expenses often exceed the market value of the vehicle. This will continue as old car values continue to sink.

 

[34fordy]

If it was my car I would not even think of resale. I would think of getting the car to the point that you can enjoy owning and driving it. That trunk is there to carry your spare tire and maybe some tools and a picnic basket. If you are planning on selling it, sell it the way it is and let the next owner decide how much he wants to do with it. I just love the old Fords that have a few battle scars here and there. Some folks call it patina but my term is "character"!