I bring this up because the entire floorpan, including the trans tunnel and floor braces are shifted towards the passenger side by at least 3/4". It looks like the centerline is ok but is flared out towards the passenger side. Note the misalignment of the new floorpan to existing firewall in the pic. I'm trying to fit in a new replacement floorpan, which has the driveline tunnel perfectly centered. I can massage as necessary, I just want to make sure I do so in the right direction. If this is just normal factory slop(which I've noticed all over the body) then I will continue on. The body is currently bolted to the frame as I fit up the floorpan and firewall.

 

It may help if you say what vehicle you are working on as it's not obvious in your picture.

 

Thanks Fun71, I always seem to miss the obvious. 1971 Cutlass S, th350/350.

 

Any input? I realize this is not the most glamorous question, it just seems odd that the original metal could be that far off down the entire driveline tunnel. I would like to take the opportunity to straighten it out unless there is a purpose behind it.

 

Nate:
How much are you replacing? Are you doing a full pan with the braces and inner rockers, just pan and braces (no rockers) or patch panels? I did a full pan with braces & inner rockers a few years back on my 72 convertible and I found the sheetmetal at the tunnel seam was not a perfect fit which required a few nip-n-tuck cuts and some temporary sheetmetal screws to get the old metal to mate nicely with the new. I did not find the tunnel to be off-center in anyway. My sheetmetal came from AMD which is one of the better repop panel makers (IMHO).

Rodney

 

I will add my car body was not perfectly centered on my frame. My car had been hit in the side rear before and as a result the body was slightly cockeyed on the frame .

 

Hi Rodney,
I am replacing the full floor pan without braces or the rockers. I cut the entire original pan out except a small lip around the sides and back to lay the new pan on. I am planning on trimming to fit with the existing lip and butt weld. I left the original floor braces in place. The repo floorpan has the tunnel centered. The original floor pan is somewhat centered, but is stretched out towards the passenger side by 3/4" along with the floor braces. Towards the front at the firewall its stretched even more. In the pic you can see the gap on the passenger side. There are no signs of hammering or wrinkling from a hit. Its as if it was from the factory in that condition.

If this is not intentional, then please let me know and I will just straighten the braces to fit the new pan. If their is a purpose for this then I will need to work over the new pan, this will be a lot more work.