Started the Saga YIKES
 

So the ole 450 SEL is in the garage on axle stands. Removed seats and other interior components and looking at the floor. Actually looking at the garage floor through the 450 floor. Was that a standard feature on 76's :D .

More rust than I thought. Main frame still solid...

Will post some progress pics...

Look forward to asking you guys a ton of Q's and also maybe looking for some reassurances along the way that I am not totally insane.

Thannks

Mike

When my Dad's 71 280SE got repainted decades ago, one of the bad rust spots was the rear wheelwell...you could look at the pavement from the trunk if you peeled off the rubber trunk mat!

The bodyshop fix was welding a thick slab of galvanized sheetmetal onto the body and further "rustproofing" with roofing tar! To this day, it's still solid!

Not a "concours" way of doing it, but this was a driver at the time, and the car was already heavily undercoated to protect it from the salty roads during those harsh Illinois winters...

Back then, my trusted mechanic showed me a 280Z where the floorboard was nonexistent...so he riveted road signs onto the good metal...imagine what the other mechanics would see when they put that car on lifts!:p ;)

Drivers side floor pan
 

Well removed all the interior and fancy mats and the floor is basically gone from the fender/rocker side, to the housing...part way up the firewall...and back to the feet area of the back seat.

Passenger side is awesome. No rust. Thrunk floor no rust.

I am going to need to buy some floor p[an material. Any good suggestions...

Thanks

Mike

When I was thinking about replacing footwells in my now departed '74 240D, Randy Steele at European Parts Specialists www.epsparts.com could get them - not too expensive either from what I remember.

Good luck Mike, I always enjoy hearing of de-rusting and re-painting of good cars like these. Something almost spiritually rejuvinating about extending their life in such a dramatic way :)

Looking forward to hearing about the progress.

Regards,
- Ryan

Thanks for the tip
 

This is a bigger job then i thoought but i think its worth it. My wife is likely to disagree.

This site has been especially helpful to me for repairs to date and also to ad some confidence to what I can and can't do....
Thanks

Mike