Pics from floor replacement on M1009

[ida34]

When I got this thing from Columbus the rear window was broken out. The floor was soaked. The rest of the truck is great rust wise but the wet floor mats really did a number on the floor.

I uses LMC truck replacement panels and never will again. They are similar but not quite right. The biggest thing is the lack of a bump out for the frame at the rear of the floor right in front of the rear seat. The stock panel does not bend 90 like the replacement. The 90 is rounded for the stock floor. The cut out is needed to clear the frame. The frame bends upward and without the bump it the floor would hit the frame. I had to cut them out of my old panel and weld it in. I was thinking about trying to roll the back 90 to round it out but the way the panel was made did not allow it. The LMC front and rear floor panels do not even mate to each other. At least the transition will be covered by the sill plate.

I was planning to not put in another mat but I may if I can't make the seams disapear. I will make the seals look as good as possible. I may even take it to have bed liner sparyed on if they can get close to carc green. I have already replaced the inner rocker and rear cab support. The front support was OK. I plan to finish welding the rear panel in tomorrow and start grinding the welds. When that is done I will put some bondo on the seams to clean them up and apply seam sealer to the places sealer was used from the factory. Next time I will look for panels of better quality. I have learned my lesson. After all this I will need to start on the outer rocker panel. Then the driver's side will be done except for paint.

I had already replaced the radiator support. The old one was OK but was starting to go. I had a good one on the shelf so I put it in. I have not been taking pictures but will try to do better. I have one more question. Why do I always run out of shielding gas on a Sunday in the morning?

The dog and cat were of no help.

 

[Armada]

Looking good Chuck! Love the pic of your dog and cat.

 

[acmunro]

Shielding gas ? Must be too much welding on Saturday. I always run into that problem, the gas supply stores here are closed on Saturday as well as Sunday. Must be time for a back-up tank. M1009 looks good. -Al

 

[mangus580]

I am lucky... my local NAPA carries the gas needed Open both saturday and sunday!

As to making your seems disappear... Try herculiner. Its rough texture will hide alot... especially with a few coats. Look at the pic I attached. That fender on the trailer is dented (its a shame, was BRAND NEW when I did it) you can hardly even tell with the herc on it.

 

[dmc-4359]

Looks real good. What do you plan to do for an undercoat?

I'm also glad to know that somebody else runs into the 'no gas' situations on a weekend. Misery with guests and all that. Happened to me twice and then I bought a 155 cf bottle (largest they'd let me have). If it gets below 500 psi on the gauge, I set aside a lunch hour that week to go replace it. I figure the $10-15 I'm throwing out every year or so is worth the peace of mind.

 

[TedG]

Nice work Chuck! I agree, either welding gas or welding wire gets depleted when the stores close!

 

[ida34]

I need to get a tank for my tig welder plasma cutter combination so I might just go ahead and get it willed with 75/25 for right now then get 100 argon when I am done with the project. I was going to get a larger tank but they want $225 deposit and for that I could get another 40 tank and get it filled. I noticed that the Tractor Supply catalog lists welding gas for sale. It just said they have an exchange service. I am going to have to check on it. This would solve my problems on Saturday and Sunday. I just may end up using the herculiner on the floor.

 

[jeepin]

Tractor Supply does have exchange deal at the store, you do have to pay for the "first" tank then from there you just pay for the gas.
Good thing about that is that the TSC here is open till 5 Saturday and on Sunday too, helps avoid the painful wait until Monday AM to swap tanks.

 

[ida34]

I just called and the local Tractor Supply does carry shielding gas for exchange and it is about $14 cheaper then where I was getting it. The place I was exchanging is about 1000 feet from TSC. Now I will have no excuse to quit working on Sunday.

 

[Martin T.]

Nice work.

 

[corelokt]

Hope someday mine turns out as nice as that. Mine has the new york 20 year blues.

 

[ida34]

I finished the welding on the floor and started cleaning the welds. They cleaned up real well. I may not have to do much except a thick layer of bondo. It may end up presentable with no herculiner or floor mat. No pics. I hope to get the grinding from the top done tomorrow. I then need to grind down the bottom then prime and paint it. I was looking at the passengers side and it looks great from below. It is really sad how it basically rusted out from the inside out just because of the mat not being removed and window broken out.

 

[ramtoughM880]

That TSC is turning out to be a real good thing! It's about a 20 minute hike for us, but we end up there alot!

I saw earlier this week that LMC offers parts for "late model" (94-0 Dodges, and I was thinking of ordering a catalog. I might pass and just go with the Raybuck parts... and the ones from you Ida34.

JK

 

[ida34]

I have gotten a lot of stuff from LMC but I will not get weld in panels from them again. I would get bolt on panels though. I think people have had good luck with Goodrich panels.

 

[corelokt]

I think the blazers are a beast all onto them selves, especially the floors and from behind the doors back.

 

[ida34]

They are different but I bought blazer panels not truck panels and they still were hard to use. The trucks have a riser for the seat that goes to all the way back. You can use a truck front floor panel in a blazer but you have to cut out part that starts the up sweep for the seat riser.

 

[vtdeucedriver]

Tractor Supply does have exchange deal at the store, you do have to pay for the "first" tank then from there you just pay for the gas.
Good thing about that is that the TSC here is open till 5 Saturday and on Sunday too, helps avoid the painful wait until Monday AM to swap tanks.

Thanks for the info on that!!!!!! Jason, which TSC do you go to?????? I know of only one in VT and that is up by me!!!!

 

[jeepin]

Thanks for the info on that!!!!!! Jason, which TSC do you go to?????? I know of only one in VT and that is up by me!!!!

VTDeuce - there is one in Bennington and Montpelier too.

 

[ida34]

Got more work done. I was able to get the welds to look pretty good on the inside and was able to make the bottom of the welds presentable. They will still be visible from underneath but on the top I think I will be able to get the seams to look good enough to paint and leave alone. After getting the welds ground down I was able to remove the rocker and get the new one fitted. I dressed the edges and painted the edges with weld through primer. When the primer is dry I will paint the inside of the rocker and inner rocker with some spray paint for rust protection. Hopefully I will get a chance to start the welding tomorrow before work. I will then need to grind down those welds and start the bondo. When the bondo is done I will need to turn the thing around and start on the passengers side. With what I learned on the driver's side I should be able to get the passenger's side done faster. The plasma cutter really made quick work of removing the panel. I use a respirator when doing all the grinding and cutting due to the carc.

 

[stampy]

Is ther an easy way to remove the rubberized coating on thr floorboard? Mine is worn and I want to Herculine the whole thing. Nice Dog! I have a 100lb German Shepard too!