trunk pan questions

[cudadave72]

The next big project for the Cuda is to replace the trunk pan. The car is super solid and this is the only area that need attention. That being said I am going to do this with the car intact. Only the center of the pan is weak, so what are my options. A one piece pan seams like a waste of money since it appears that I'll have to cut it up just to get it in. Should I buy a two piece or buy the one piece and cut it into sections. Also what removes the incorrect speckle paint that someone used to "cover up" the rust??

[hemiken]

It is pysically impossabile to fit a full pan like you may already know, the two piece would be the better solution unless your welding skills are good then i would suggest the mothod of cutting in half like you also mentioned.  No overlap of the panels this way, that is if you are after a 100% factory look of course.

The speckled paint may have to be ground off using a paint stripping abrassive wheel.

Post a picture of your trunk area if you do not mind so we can determine what would be the best methodology.

[Chryco Psycho]

I would buy the 1 piece pan ,trim it down to the size of the area that really needs replacing , slide it in from the back seat even if you have to remove the X bracing & reweld it
just my 

[hemiken]

Hey CP,

Good idea............. The X-brace would have the least amount of spot welds to drill out.

[Chryco Psycho]

exactly

[cudadave72]

I'll post a pic tommorrow. Not much to look at. Its not horrible but not great either. The speckle paint is the biggest pain that I see as I would like to paint the trunk back to factory color when its finished. I thought about paint stipper (aircraft stripper) however one screw up and there goes my paint job!!!

[cudagirl4406pk]

Yes do the 2 pans the one piece is a pain in the butt to fit my husband put one into a challnger this week and what a pain.


michele

[DMZ73]

I used the complete pan and trimmed it to fit, only cutting along the edge of the frame rail.


I cut from the tangent of the frame rail to the forward edge lapp-joint:
< http://www.pbase.com/dmz73/image/88616958 >

Heres how I trimmed my trunk pan:
< http://www.pbase.com/dmz73/image/88616960 >

I managed to find a way to get the rearward edge flange under the tail panel, since I had rust really close to the seam, it warranted replacement.
< http://www.pbase.com/dmz73/image/88616965 >

It was pretty easy overall. i definitely did not need to go all the way our to the trunk extensions.

hope this helps.

Dan

[72hemi]

I would buy the one piece and trim it to fit. The two piece from what I have heard doesn't fit and the lines are wrong. Long term I think you would be happier if you spent the extra money. I know I am.

[Lunchbox]

Isn't the seam for the two piece pan go right through a formed rib in the middle? That would be a pan to grind the welds down. I like the idea of if you do cut a one piece you can put the seam right over the fram rail, then you would only have to grind the weld on one side of the panel.

Lunch

[FY1Cuda]

I would do a two-piece.  I welded and grinded mine to the point where people think I installed a 1-piece.  Had I known they even offered a one-piece I would have gone that route since I had my tail panel out.   

[cudadave72]

Removing the x brace is a great idea but a little beyond what I intended on doing. Honestly the pan could wait untill I do a full restoration which I'm planning on doing in the next 3 to 5 years (its in great driver shape right now). What I am tring to do is a little project here and there keeping the car drivable that way when it comes time to paint it all I have to do is break it down and put it right back together. My fear is tearing the car apart and getting too busy or something happen where I never get it back together. I've been there before, had a car 95% done and got too busy to finish it and took a beating when I sold it. Luckly that was just a Camaro!