Floor Pan Install - 65 Dart Convertible

Next step is to remove the old pan from the car.

I cut across the old floor about an inch back from where I cut the new floor. This will give me an overlap to start with until I can set the new floor in place use it as a pattern to mark the real cut line. I'm going for a butt joint and I plan to grind the welds smooth. I want the repair to be as undetectable as possible.

When removing the new pan it was important to preserve the pan, but OK to trash the rockers and rear floor section. Now I can trash the pan, but I have to be careful to preserve the rockers rear floor section.

I tried using a bottle jack and a 2x4 to lift up on the pan and put tension on the spot welds. But it didn't work. Screw drivers seem to work best.

You can see that the console mounting bracket is behind my cut line. I took careful measurement before cutting. Hopefull it won't be too hard to get this back in the right place. I also measured the mounting points for the convertible top cylinders and the convertible side panel mounting bracket. All these will have to be transferred to the new floor in addition to the bucket seat mounting reinforcements.

Here's the old pan, half way out. Did I mention this is a lot of work!