TheSamba.com :: View topic

Thu May 07, 2015 8:53 pm

Hello again, The Samba! Okay, I need your help now more than ever, as I'm on a deadline. This Beetle has to be running and legal by the end of the month, and I'm down to the nitpicking. So for this post, I need help with my floor pans. I only need a Band-Aid right now, so any suggestions are welcome. I have quarter-to-dime-sized holes in my floor pans near the front of the car, so tell me; how do I plug 'em up? Expansion foam? Flex-Seal? I want something that looks not-super trashy. I plan on replacing them once my wallet allows for it. So, how do I do it?

Thu May 07, 2015 9:04 pm

Do you have a welder? if so you could get some sheet metal and weld in a few patches in places. If you have a ton of them, it's kinda pointless and not time efficient. Some people use a panel of metal and pop rivets to secure it. you then would want to seal it so you don't' get water or dirt kicked up into your cabin. In my opinion if you need it done quick and cheap, then I would say the pop rivet idea. the floors are covered by carpet and aren't seen unless you get underneath it. Welding in patches looks better if done correctly. I saw a car at a junkyard that had taken an old cookie sheet and siliconed it to the floor. Looked like a turd, but it probably didn't leak.

Could we see some pics? I'm curious how many pan holes you have

Bret

Thu May 07, 2015 11:32 pm

If it's just temporary, you could get a fiberglass kit at the local auto-paint store. It comes with resin, hardener, and fiberglass matting.

This will work to plug up the hole, but welding in new sections is the final solution.

Tim

Fri May 08, 2015 3:59 am

Tim Donahoe wrote: If it's just temporary, you could get a fiberglass kit at the local auto-paint store. It comes with resin, hardener, and fiberglass matting.

This will work to plug up the hole, but welding in new sections is the final solution.

I agree...

Fri May 08, 2015 4:29 am

I understand everyone has a different level of income, but I've seen replacement pans for $50. I'd do that. Be about the same price as buying fiberglass or a bunch of flex seal. Besides, your seat bolts to that. Do you really want wants holding you off the asphalt to be sketchy and held together with foam?

Fri May 08, 2015 5:31 am

really? metal (old traffic signs work well) and welder or pop rivet gun for a temporary fix :wink:

Fri May 08, 2015 6:42 am

If you put some copper behind the hole, you can fill them in with just welding wire. It doesn't stick to copper.

Fri May 08, 2015 8:32 am

Before I had the time to cut them out and replace them, that got my wife's thing past a safety inspection.

In the end I replaced them. Do not use spray foam. It'll only make it worse.

Fri May 08, 2015 8:54 am

With expanding foam, depends how long you plan to leave it there.
I used a can of Great Stuff to seal up my floor pans for a few months. Bit of an ugly hack, fiberglass would probably look cleaner, but it worked fine.
Covered up the front with a pair of cheap universal floor mats cut to fit.

The previous owner used caulk, rivets, and steel plates

Was glad when I had time to plop those out and weld in a new pair (pic).

This will somewhat depend on if your state requires an inspection for vehicles this old, NC does not (emissions or safety).
I understand some places may frown on such patches.

Fri May 08, 2015 11:34 am

I'm on a very limited amount of cash, as I also have to get a new tire, Master cylinder, brake work, electric, carb, studs, horn, speedo, gas gauge, and door panel work all for about $200. I do not have a welder, and I need to plug it for well under $20. It only needs to hold for MAYBE 2 months. My phone was stolen, so I'll get pics when I can.

Fri May 08, 2015 11:48 am

Flex seal is like $12 a can. So I doubt you're going to fix it with that for under $20. Are you doing this for a state inspection to get it registered?

Fri May 08, 2015 11:48 am

Do what I showed you on that Thing then. Cut a nice clean hole so there are no jagged edges. Get some cheap ac duct tin. Bend to shape, and pop rivet it in.

Autozone sells rebuilt Master Cylinders with lifetime warranties for $20 all day.

Fri May 08, 2015 12:27 pm

i have used old license plates as temporary and not so temporary fixes for floors in vw's and chevys

Fri May 08, 2015 12:30 pm

i have used old license plates as temporary and not so temporary fixes for floors in vw's and chevys

Fri May 08, 2015 1:29 pm

If I understand correctly :? Dime size hole or holes or is it like Swiss Cheese?

For a small hole use a bolt, nut and two washers to sandwich two rubber tap washers between washers to block hole, won't let water in and easy to rectify properly later. Better still use stainless bold washers and nut.

Sorry if I underestimate the size of hole or holes.

Fri May 08, 2015 2:44 pm

I will second the fiberglass idea.

When I got my '74 Super in 1995 I discovered some cancer aft of the left front tire. This is the vertical "wall" of metal that separates the wheel area from the void down under and behind the brake fluid reservoir.

I sanded it down to bare steel and applied a carefully cut piece of fiberglass and epoxied it just as per instructions. I then primed and painted it. Nearly 20 years later it's still intact!

I'll see if I can get you pictures.

Regards,
Mike

Fri May 08, 2015 6:28 pm

If you're dealing with dime sized holes in the middle of the pans (not in the heater channel), then I'd get a floor pan section, cut out the dimension you need, cut out a slightly smaller section of the rotted pan, pop rivet in place, and seam seal around the perimeter. It won't look as nice as brand new floor pans, but it'll be just as strong and weatherproof. The heater channels and center tunnel provide the rigidity in the chassis; pans were only tack welded on at the factory. Unless those pans are really bad I would just patch 'em up.

Fri May 08, 2015 7:24 pm

Although maybe it won't help Dustman's situation, but for 1-5 small or a few minimum pin sized holes, JB Weld could work..

Sat May 09, 2015 7:02 am

Am I the only one who wonders how it got holes at the front of the pan, and where? Shouldn't the battery tray(s) be trashed?
Dustman, are you talking inside the car, or up front by the M/C?

Sat May 09, 2015 7:23 am

Pretty common here in the NE. Get in the car with snow on your shoes, wet floor, rust.