Hello,
I am new to the forum and new to classic cars. I bought a 1970 Cutlass sedan, and I need bodywork done. The crossmembers are shot, and so are the front floor pans. I have the kit, although it is for a 2-door (since nobody makes anything for 4 doors). I am not very experienced with welding, and I do not have the resources to remove the frame. I have to cut everything out and replace it from within. If anyone could give me any tips or steps I should take, that would be great. I'm a college student, so I want to try and do this on my own. I have all the tools I think I will need; Welder (flux core unfortunately), Angle grinder, spatter spray, etc... Please, anything will help! Thanks.

passenger side floor

drivers side crossmember

 

When you say crossmember are you saying the frame suspension crossmember ? if so I would look into another car. The floor pans will need to be cut out and new ones welded in place. As far as getting your floor pans to fit no they won't unless you want to cut & hack this up. maybe someone on this site can give you some idea's on floor pans. But again if the frame is rotted you are getting into a lot of work, time & money.

 

I may have misspoke, sorry, still learning the right terminology. I think it may be the floor pan supports? The seatbelts were bolted into them through the floorpans. The frame is okay.

 

The front seat floorpans are the same as for the 2dr cars, so those are readily available. The floorpan crossmember is also the same and available. The rear seat floorpans are different due to the 4" longer wheelbase, but you may be able to use them in pieces, or possibly get two of the rear pans for each side and splice them together to make the longer 4dr pan. Floor pans are a great place to learn sheet metal welding because obviously it doesn't show once the carpet is in place.

 

Thank you this was really helpful. If there are any big “do’s and don’ts” let me know!

 

Another thought is that maybe your college would have vocational programs that maybe have auto body? or a local community college that has the same, take classes or maybe they will do the work for you.

Pat

 

On floor pans for novice welders get to good metal and overlap them a small bit then weld. Buttweldingfloor pans if you’re not experienced will be a most frustrating situation burning hold into the metal. Overlap , Stich weld, then come back slowly and fill in going back and forth to avoid the heat warpage and all.. then undercoat,put carpet down and your good to go.

 

I recently did the exact same repair on my 70 sedan. I had no issues with the rear pans although I only needed front section and not the whole pan. Also, I think it’s important to seam seal top and bottom of all welds.

 

Hi again. I made a post back when I first joined, asking for tips on welding because my 1970 Cutlass Sedan has pretty significant rust. I'm fairly new to the classic car community, and I guess I didn't really understand just how bad it was. I have been turned down twice by two body shops, saying it is too involved or too costly. Just telling me it isn't worth it. I'm stubborn, and I just don't want to give up on this car yet. I have the middle floor pan support beam and two floor pans. The issue is that the floor pans are for a 2-door. I was just hoping to call on sedan owners to ask where they get these kinds of parts. Thanks, guys.

 

You will probably have to find some good used ones.

 

^^ +1 Don't limit your search, any '68-72 GM A-body sedan's floors will work. Sadly, you are working against the inherent prejudice in the classic car business that "more-doors" are only good for parts, not restoration.

 

I merged your 2 threads because most of these questions have already been answered in the first one.

 

I guess that's what happens when you start a reply and don't finish for a few hours.

 

I wouldn’t give up easily either. Being turned down by body shops does not surprise me at all. They are into insurance work, and most of them won’t have a clue on what it will take to work on your car. Without being there with you and looking over your car, I don’t know exactly what I would do. A lot would depend on your welding/fabrication abilities. People like me with the 2 door 68-72 gmA bodies really have it easy, since so much is available repo. Perhaps you can photo document the problem areas a little better and we can help more?

Depending on the extent of damage would dictate how much of the metal needs cut away and patched back. A lot of times on my car I am able to shop fabricate parts. A lot of this will be just learning to weld thin metal. YouTube has a lot of good vids on auto Sheetmetal welding, if you have not done it before. Floor pans are a great place to learn and refine welding ability. I think someone else mentioned buying parts that are for a 2 door car and “stretching” or “shrinking” them to work for you.

 

https://www.dixierestorationdepot.co...REARPAN&d=1335

Dixie claims it fits the four door. Whether it really does I can't guarantee. Phone call would be in order.

 

Run, don't walk away from that. There's a 4" difference in the wheelbase from a 2dr to a 4dr in the 68-72 cars, and all of that extra four inches in in the rear seat footwells, so they are full of pucky.

 

You could always take an auto body course at your local votech. That's how I refinished the body of my 71 98.

 

Recently reacquired the remains of a '71 Supreme body tub. Am going to offer up remaining pieces and or sections to anyone that might want them, or could use them. Certainly willing to sell the car whole, what's left of it. The car has localized body cancer, due to the presence of a long gone vinyl top, the rear window area, the trunk filler panel, and lower quarters are ruined due to this. Other areas are very usable. Yes this is a coupe, not a four door sedan, but if the footwells could be used, and perhaps the underfloor braces, let me know. PM if still looking for something. Have a lot of small bits scavenged from this car - dash pieces, hardware, etc. Dave S. internet seller since '01.