I posted a long list of items to do and what you
have to transfer from the old floor pan to the new one --"take measurements or keep the old floor until you are done........................
We finished last year a 1962 Chevy Impala SS convertible full floor pan.
The reproduction floor pans do not have all the factory items on them for the floor pan.
I can't find the post I made.
- Buy only the quality full floor pan made on a Jig with the braces -do not buy the overseas floor pan -you want one that fits the best. Our floor pan came from Cars Inc. in Michigan (only $ 145 shipping by truck) . When we finished the floor I have a hard time telling that that the floor pan was replaced (with the items we did that I noted below) as compared to the original floor pan in my 62 SS Impala convertible that I did a frame off restoration that I am finishing this month....
- I have a number of pictures of the installation of a full floor pan with braces in a 1962 SS Convertible. Its the same floor pan as your 63 except the bucket seats brackets are slightly different (that you transfer)
- A full floor pan with braces is the best to do when compared it to adding braces to 2 - 1/2 floor pan pieces that come without braces.
Items you transfer to the new floor (
items not on the new floor pan)and other comments...
- transfer the center SS 1963 console brackets
- transfer the gas pedal studs and small brace
- transfer the SS bucket seat bracket -use the bucket seats to make sure they are welded in the right place.....
- Transfer your 4 speed and power glide tunnel cover (painted black) to the new floor and I assume you want to cut the rectangular hole in the floor under the tunnel cover like the factory did.
- the new floor pan has 63 style front seat belt mounting nuts on the bottom of the floor(on 61 and 62's you have to transfer the mounting plates to the new floor). Assuming that you want front seat belts make sure the floor pan is drilled to use these welded nuts to mount the seat belts
- There are "6 factory dimples" in the "original rear floor pan" under the back seat for where you drill holes for back seat seat belts. I do not think the new floor pans come with these dimples. If you want back seat seat belts measure and document or drill the holes for 2 or 3 seat belts....
- all factory floor pans for bench seat or SS cars have a rectangular bench seat braces under bucket seat brackets on the bottom of the floor pan -if you want the bottom of the floor pan to be correct you have to transfer these rectangular brackets from the old floor pan to the new one...
- The convertible braces that are welded to the floor pan and that hold the convertible top and top cylinders have to be removed to install the full floor pan. I see them in your pictures. See my bold post on the flange on the new floor pan shown below
- You don't have any convertible top cylinder brackets to transfer to the new floor(1961 and 1962's do.....) -they have 4 nuts(per cylinder) on the bottom of the floor pan that the top cylinder brackets bolt through the floor from the to
- back seat mounting brackets (4 brackets -I see them in your pictures) have to be transferred (use your convertible only back seat springs to make sure they are welded in the right place on the new floor pan
- The new floor pan does not come with the drain holes cut out (6 of them). I insist that these 6 drain holes are cut out so the floor pan looks original from the bottom of the car. I pick out cars all the time that are for sale that had partial or full floor pan replacements all the time because the drain holes are not cut out. I reuse the drain hole covers (or buy the new correct ones) and zinc plate the original mounting screws and drill new mounting holes for the drain hole covers in the new floor pan - they only mount one way on all 6 drain holes.
- Mark you convertible top rack mounting brackets locations on the top supports so when you do have to remove the top rack it can be mounted back in the same place (this assumes that the support braces (2 of them go back on the floor and wheel well in the same place they are now). The two braces that support the convertible floor to the interior side panel have to be removed and replaced to get the full floor pan installed (the new full floor pan flange has to be bent up on one or both sides to get the floor pan installed on the top of the rockers)
- drill out spot welds on the old floor pan -all 4 sides for the new floor pan to sit over and weld in like the old floor pan. The front flange on the new floor pan fits on the old floor pan in the same place
- The only place we had trouble in fit of the full floor pan was over the center hump on the front of the floor pan
- The upper back seat brace for the back seat springs does not have to be removed.
- The floor pan goes in from the bottom (takes 4 or more guys to lift it...)
Save your plastic wiring covers by both doors and reuse them. You do not have to cover the mounting holes in the floor pan by the rockers to mount the plastic covers when you replace the floor pan.
Also the factory sill plate mounting screw locations can be saved assuming you are not replacing the top of the rockers
All off this full floor pan replacement was done by our local body shop guy who restores classic cars. He is still doing cars today and into the future.
Paul