Twenty-seven years ago I did a temporary patch on the TR3A - still going
strong, used fiberglass cloth and then resin on both sides - the
underside was a pain as I remember, but still doing a great job - maybe
one day I'll replace the floors, don't know yet. But I'll certainly
watch out for Texas sized downpours and huge puddles.
Tom
DeBary, FL\
61TR3A
62TR4
Bob Kramer wrote:
>
> Once upon a time I was a New Yorker, born and raised. In 1978 I bought my
> 3rd TR6, and repaired the rusty floorboards with a temporary fiberglas patch
> job. I used the rust converter and sealed up it up tight. That car stayed
> with me for many years and I never thought about the floors again. I towed
> that car behind the U-Haul in 1984 when we moved to Texas, and sometime in
> 1992, while on a TR club trip, we hit a Texas sized downpour. At speed, I
> hit a section with about 6 inches of floodwater which turned the TR6 into an
> Amphicar, and I felt the floor rise up under my feet. 14 years for that
> temporary patch.
>
> Bob Kramer
> rgk@flash.net
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Bill Miller <millerb@netusa1.net>
> To: Jeff McNeal <jmcneal@ohms.com>; Spitfire List <spitfires@autox.team.net>
> Cc: Triumph List <triumphs@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Friday, February 04, 2000 7:48 PM
> Subject: RE: Temporary Fiberglass Footwells?
>
> >
> > Jeff,
> >
> > Back in 1984 I "boat glassed" the floor board of my '76 vega GT. I first
> > treated it with some "magic" German chemical that changed rusty metal into
> > some inert black epoxy stuff. Then I glassed both front floorboards (only
> > the drivers side needed it) When I parked the vega out in the barn
> several
> > years ago, I pulled the carpet to check the floorboards, "just for fun"
> > Still looked like the day when I did it back in 84. And very solid. As
> far
> > as adhering to the metal, who cares if your going to cut the pans out and
> > replace them anyway :) If they do adhere well (and I don't think they
> will
> > that well, except where the epoxy actually goes through the floor) it will
> > probably add to the structural stability as well :)
> >
> > Bill
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-spitfires@autox.team.net
> > [mailto:owner-spitfires@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Jeff McNeal
> > Sent: Friday, February 04, 2000 2:59 PM
> > To: Spitfire List
> > Cc: Triumph List
> > Subject: Temporary Fiberglass Footwells?
> >
> >
> >
> > Hi everyone. Once I get started on one thing (like getting my seats
> > reupholstered), I can't stand to just let the car sit there without
> > embarking on another project. So here I go.
> >
> > I've removed my carpets to deal with the rotting floorpans that I've known
> > about since buying the car. For reference and a look-see at what I'm
> > dealing with, see:
> >
> > http://www.ohms.com/spitfire/seats_floors.shtml
> >
> >
> > The good news is, the passenger side isn't nearly as bad as I thought. In
> > fact, it looks pretty good with the exception of a small area of
> > rust-through in the footwell that I'm going to patch with fiberglass until
> I
> > have both floorpans removed and replaced. I really don't have to replace
> > the passenger side, but I think that I would be better served in the long
> > run by doing both.
> >
> > In the meantime, the driver's side footwell is a real fright. Lots of
> decay
> > and I'm not even sure what's holding up what's left of the rusted metal
> > besides the undercoating beneath it. I know that I could cut out some
> sheet
> > metal and pop rivet around the sides as a temporary fix until my body man
> > has the time to do the job, but I think I'd rather apply fiberglass in the
> > well itself, up over the lip in front and over the lip of the transmission
> > hump and to really seal things and provide a strong footwell in the
> > meantime. I DON'T want to make it difficult for the body man to remove it
> > when it comes time to replace the floors, however.
> >
> > I'm really afraid to drive the car even temporarily the way it is. I'm
> > afraid my foot could go right through that brittle, crumbling mess. So
> > here's my question: Is it possible to line the footwell area with a
> > substance that the fiberglass resin will dry against, but not adhere to?
> > Sort of like greasing the cake pan, if you will. Or using wax paper. I'd
> > like to create a snug fiberglass "insert" that I can use, but easily
> remove
> > when the time comes.
> >
> > Best wishes,
> >
> > Jeff in San Diego
> > '67 RHD Spitfire Mk3
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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