Mon, you never heard of the Jamacian Bobsled Team??

But you have same problem, just salt from beach and surf covered roadways; rather than snow plow.

 

She probably started rusting in the snow and salt and finished off here with the sand. But she's looking pretty good now. Need a little time and supplies to take her to the next level. Floor looks so good I may have to change my strategy for the seats, mon.

 

As far as the seat mounts, there is no need to reuse the original. Those are just bolts going into captive fasteners mounted under the floor pan. They rust anyway and are one more spot for corrosion to attack. I would leave the p[late solid except for a cutout for the gas pump access plate.

You could get nut plates or similar captive fasteners to mount on your new plate floor.

Looking good my friend.

 

yeh im not going to reuse the seat holes mainly because I want to make a sort of quickish release system where I can remove or replace seats with relative ease. So I'm going to drill the holes and have bolts welded to the plate from below so they don't move. i can then use some sort of low profile nut cap like i think you suggest. i'm working on that now.

 

That would be one good way to do it.

 

DiscoBlanco was not right. He jinxed me. I should have cut the front well wrap around an inch wider. No worries. I'm making a change of design.

I'm finishing the seat and belt components now. I need to finish cutting the sheet metal, drill the bolt holes and fit and weld bolts, paint and attach. First left rear seats and then jumps. I'll post some pics at days end.

 

When do you ever sleep?

 

Does it seem like I'm doing a lot....i feel so slow. I started this project 1st of June but had to rely on my mechanic and taking care of business, wife, kids, etc. I sleep well...don't worry Savannah.

 

So, I've made some midstream design changes because I somewhat buggered the diamond plate (like DB said) and I've been in a learning as I go process. Or a going with the flow process.

It's all gonna work nice I bet, but basically:
1. The diamond plate will end under the seats and will connect to two pieces of treated galvanized sheet that will continue to butt up against the front seats. See pic. I primed them but will paint the visible bits black like the the rest of the floor....except for the diamond plate which I will leave in it's original finish.
2. The diamond plate and galvanized will have insulation under it to quell some of my deafening road noise. Although, I enjoyed the hour long trip I just took with my mother more than usual.
3. I will rivet, instead of panel adhesive the metal to the floors due to the insulation.
4. I am patching the corrosion holes (and leaving some drainage plugs in their spots) with fiberglass to insure that water, sand and other grime does not work it's way up in between the new floor and old.
5. After a bit of back and forth, I will use the original fasteners holes for seats and belts as they are in perfectly fine condition and attaching them to the new floor seemed flimsy. I am currently devising some sort of quick release system which hasn't been entirely worked out as of yet. I did reverse the main seat belt bolts which attached the frame to the body as well. I plan on leaving the double seat part of the rear seats only...so my truck will mostly run as an SE6.
6. I'm going to shore up the rear a bit with some strong tubing attached to the truck and the new floor. Might not do much but at least it will all be tight.

I have everything in place now as I finally just received the insulation product. I'm doing the rear floor first and then I will treat the other problem areas after on a case by case. Primed metals yesterday. Fiberglass today I hope.

Stay tuned. Major progress forthcoming.

Finished up this project: https://landroverforums.com/forum/di...14/#post287729