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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Half or full floor pan?

Good evening everyone,

I have tipped my midget on its side to start repairs. Both sides of the floor are past it. My dilemma is whether to use to two half floor pan panels or a full floor? Any wise suggestions would be appreciated. I've already started drilling out the spot welds which is a joyful experience.

Thanks

Richard
R J Price

Richard,
My preference is to do 2 half floors. The reason is just me being cautions. My logic is that the central strip, being the base of the well oiled floor tunnel doesn't really rust. I prefer to leave well alone as it keeps some of the rigidity and dimension of the floor. I then do the two sides separately, replacing one before starting to cut out the other, for the same reason. Even fairly well rusted floors still provide some support whilst the first 1/2 floor is removed and replaced.

Remember to keep measuring the diagonals, especially if you are working on the floors with the car propped up on its side. And position a jack under/ in line with the middle cross rail to keep this supported and avoid getting a banana shaped car !

Good opportunity to clean and paint the insides of those chassis rails too !
Guy W

As Guy says, I replaced the rotten floor with two halves and kept the centre section in place.

A.
Andrew McGee

As Guy says, caution and keeping enough of the original to work to is the best approach. I would go for the two halves. (If the doors fit properly and the sills are OK don't remove them).

Measure, check, adjust, repeat and don't final weld until you are certain it all lines up with everything else.

The less you take apart in one go the easier it is to line up. The larger the mistake the more effort it takes to take it apart and put right.
Dave Squire (1500)

Likewise, but that is only because I was given two halves with the car!

I have thought that if I were doing things again and had the space I would start with a full floor pan and cross member, then sills and build up from there. As I have had to replace all these bits piecemeal anyway.

But yeah, it is all dependent on the state of everything else and 2 halves are probably best.

Malcolm
Malcolm Le Chevalier

As Guy says, I would also replace the floor in 2 half sections. Make sure that you get a decent spot weld drill bit, not ruining the original car.

Micharl
MJ Jones

Thanks chaps. Looks like I will do it in two halves then. I was worried about taking a lot of rigidity out of the body as I have already removed the outer sill, a post, door etc on one side.

I'm just drilling out the spot welds with cobalt drill bits as I will be plug welding the new panels in. I'll also need the holes for skin pins too which hold the new panel in nicely while I weld.

Thanks again

Richard

R J Price

This thread was discussed between 05/07/2013 and 06/07/2013

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