cracked floor in a 74
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 26,563
Likes: 29
From: Northridge California
St. Jude Donor '14
cracked floor in a 74
i have a cracked floor underneath the drivers side pedals...about a foot long crack...i would like to repair this myself, since nobody will ever be seeing it anyhow...i don't understand how to "v-groove" the fiberglass there since it's so thin (btw i can stick a finger thru this crack)
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,187
Likes: 4,008
From: Connecticut, USA
Re: cracked floor in a 74 (eleven79)
I have to repair a floorboard too. With the help of a couple of guys here last year I replaced the battery box and front floorbaord as well as some body work. Once you start to use resin and mat it's not too bad. I think you'll be able to do this repair. I would get the Ecklers tape too because it goes over 'glass repairs pretty good.
Use a 4" grinder and bevel out the crack. If it's not sittingflat then use a hack saw blade to run down the crack and open it up. At the end of the crack drill a small hole to help stop it running. Grind both side of the crack then use some resin and mat on the under side. Once it sets up grind it flat to the floor then go inside and grind into the new mat a little. Again use resin and mat and build up the inside section and grind down flat when hard. What you're doing is sandwhiching the crack in between layers of glass to weld then together. Go to a body supply shop and get the mat because they have heavier weight mat then the parts stores usually. Watch the tape and give it a whack :thumbs:
Gary
Use a 4" grinder and bevel out the crack. If it's not sittingflat then use a hack saw blade to run down the crack and open it up. At the end of the crack drill a small hole to help stop it running. Grind both side of the crack then use some resin and mat on the under side. Once it sets up grind it flat to the floor then go inside and grind into the new mat a little. Again use resin and mat and build up the inside section and grind down flat when hard. What you're doing is sandwhiching the crack in between layers of glass to weld then together. Go to a body supply shop and get the mat because they have heavier weight mat then the parts stores usually. Watch the tape and give it a whack :thumbs:
Gary
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
Re: cracked floor in a 74 (gtr1999)
Alternatively, you could use a sanding block and some 60 grit.
Most importantly, you want to scuff at least an inch or so on either side of the
crack - so the glass repairs have a nice clean surface (of fiberglass) to adhere to.
I would use the 'matte' - if available, but the weave type glass (looks like
cloth) would be OK in this application. The random direction of the matte
material is important when it will be eventually covered with a finish coat on
the exterior. The woven glass tends to show through to the surface over time.
:seeya
Most importantly, you want to scuff at least an inch or so on either side of the
crack - so the glass repairs have a nice clean surface (of fiberglass) to adhere to.
I would use the 'matte' - if available, but the weave type glass (looks like
cloth) would be OK in this application. The random direction of the matte
material is important when it will be eventually covered with a finish coat on
the exterior. The woven glass tends to show through to the surface over time.
:seeya
