C6 potential floor damage
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 69
Likes: 8
From: Poland
C6 potential floor damage
Hello everyone, first of all I apologize for any mistakes - English is not my native language.
I'm still looking for a Corvette in Poland (a rarity here, especially in good condition), recently I found an interesting C6 LS3 with a manual gearbox.
After seeing the car on the channel, it turned out that the floor panels (the ones with balsa wood) are stuck on the edges with some "glue". Could be sealing, but I think those panels have been replaced.
Therefore, I have a couple of questions:
1. Are the seats directly mounted on these panels, or are they separated from the seats by some element of the frame, which could also have been damaged in the event of a possible impact with the chassis?
This is the most important question, because I am most afraid of damage to the frame - everything else can be repaired.
2. Are these panels treated as a replaceable element and can they still be purchased (new)?
3. Is damage/replacement of these panels common?
I will be very grateful for your answer and any advice.
I'm still looking for a Corvette in Poland (a rarity here, especially in good condition), recently I found an interesting C6 LS3 with a manual gearbox.
After seeing the car on the channel, it turned out that the floor panels (the ones with balsa wood) are stuck on the edges with some "glue". Could be sealing, but I think those panels have been replaced.
Therefore, I have a couple of questions:
1. Are the seats directly mounted on these panels, or are they separated from the seats by some element of the frame, which could also have been damaged in the event of a possible impact with the chassis?
This is the most important question, because I am most afraid of damage to the frame - everything else can be repaired.
2. Are these panels treated as a replaceable element and can they still be purchased (new)?
3. Is damage/replacement of these panels common?
I will be very grateful for your answer and any advice.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,300
Likes: 1,154
From: Klein TX
2023 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
The floor panels are bonded (glued) to the frame during assembly at the factory. A bit of glue around the edges is normal and nothing to worry about. It does not mean the original panel was replaced.
Answers to your questions:
1) The seats mount to steel (or aluminum on Z06 & ZR1) braces that run under the floor panels.
2) Yes they can be replaced. Replacement panels are available, but may be hard to find.
3) Very rarely. A side impact hard enough to damage the floor panels will usually total the car, and it is not repaired.
Hope this helps, if the car shows no evidence of a severe side impact, it is very unlikely the floor panels were ever damaged or replaced.
Answers to your questions:
1) The seats mount to steel (or aluminum on Z06 & ZR1) braces that run under the floor panels.
2) Yes they can be replaced. Replacement panels are available, but may be hard to find.
3) Very rarely. A side impact hard enough to damage the floor panels will usually total the car, and it is not repaired.
Hope this helps, if the car shows no evidence of a severe side impact, it is very unlikely the floor panels were ever damaged or replaced.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 69
Likes: 8
From: Poland
The floor panels are bonded (glued) to the frame during assembly at the factory. A bit of glue around the edges is normal and nothing to worry about. It does not mean the original panel was replaced.
Answers to your questions:
1) The seats mount to steel (or aluminum on Z06 & ZR1) braces that run under the floor panels.
2) Yes they can be replaced. Replacement panels are available, but may be hard to find.
3) Very rarely. A side impact hard enough to damage the floor panels will usually total the car, and it is not repaired.
Hope this helps, if the car shows no evidence of a severe side impact, it is very unlikely the floor panels were ever damaged or replaced.
Answers to your questions:
1) The seats mount to steel (or aluminum on Z06 & ZR1) braces that run under the floor panels.
2) Yes they can be replaced. Replacement panels are available, but may be hard to find.
3) Very rarely. A side impact hard enough to damage the floor panels will usually total the car, and it is not repaired.
Hope this helps, if the car shows no evidence of a severe side impact, it is very unlikely the floor panels were ever damaged or replaced.
Yesterday, when I was looking at the car, I recorded two short videos of looking at the chassis.
I apologize for their quality, but maybe someone will be able to answer the question of whether this black glue / resin at the gaps of the floor panels can be factory?
I'm especially intrigued by the big blur at the beginning of the second video.
I've never seen a C6 chassis live before, but I've seen a few C5s and don't remember anything like it (and there's a good chance I didn't notice it...).
Here are the links:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,493
Likes: 809
From: West coast CA
Thank you very much for your answer, that cleared things up a bit.
Yesterday, when I was looking at the car, I recorded two short videos of looking at the chassis.
I apologize for their quality, but maybe someone will be able to answer the question of whether this black glue / resin at the gaps of the floor panels can be factory?
I'm especially intrigued by the big blur at the beginning of the second video.
I've never seen a C6 chassis live before, but I've seen a few C5s and don't remember anything like it (and there's a good chance I didn't notice it...).
Yesterday, when I was looking at the car, I recorded two short videos of looking at the chassis.
I apologize for their quality, but maybe someone will be able to answer the question of whether this black glue / resin at the gaps of the floor panels can be factory?
I'm especially intrigued by the big blur at the beginning of the second video.
I've never seen a C6 chassis live before, but I've seen a few C5s and don't remember anything like it (and there's a good chance I didn't notice it...).
However, the adhesive applied along the sides of the floor panels of my car looks nothing like your video. Mine is a tidy and consistent single line. The adhesive in the video is a mess.
I suspect the adhesive on that car was not applied at the factory.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,493
Likes: 809
From: West coast CA
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 69
Likes: 8
From: Poland
My C6, which I've owned since new, has some excess adhesive visible around the intersections of the steel frame members. Some wisps of the cured adhesive even hang down an inch or so.
However, the adhesive applied along the sides of the floor panels of my car looks nothing like your video. Mine is a tidy and consistent single line. The adhesive in the video is a mess.
I suspect the adhesive on that car was not applied at the factory.
However, the adhesive applied along the sides of the floor panels of my car looks nothing like your video. Mine is a tidy and consistent single line. The adhesive in the video is a mess.
I suspect the adhesive on that car was not applied at the factory.
So these panels had to be replaced as a result of a strong impact that could have damaged the structure?
I thought maybe someone sealed them in some way or removed them to get to, for example, some cables?
If the latter option is unlikely in your opinion - I let this car go.
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