[WV junkman]

I am putting my '55 150 on a '80 Malibu floor pan and chassis. Wondering if I should lap and spot weld where possible or should I trim it in and butt weld it.Or do I need to use both methods depending on area?

 

[MARTINSR]

You are attempting such a GINORMOUS undertaking you need to be telling US what you are going not asking questions!

But to answer your question most certainly you need to use a combination of the two. What ever you see fit in the particular area.

Brian

 

[WV junkman]

You are attempting such a GINORMOUS undertaking you need to be telling US what you are going not asking questions!

But to answer your question most certainly you need to use a combination of the two. What ever you see fit in the particular area.

Brian

I'm just an ole hill billy that's crazy enough to tackle a project but not dumb enough,or too proud to ask advice when I have a question. But I appreciate your reply. Shane

 

[John long]

I put a '49 mercury body on a '69 Buick Skylark Chassis, floor pan, and firewall. My "system" was to lift the body off of the Merc chassis with a series of all-thread rods on all for corners. I then rolled the Buick chassis and floor pan assembly under it. I could lower the Merc body down over it keeping every thing level and trimming the 2 as I went so they mated. Brian is right. It is a big job but really worked well. The car drove like a dream. I personally like to butt weld. There are lots of people who disagree with me but it is my preferred method. With a butt weld there are no hidden areas to catch water. When I was done I unbolted the assembly from the Buick chassis. Picked it back up and WALLA, there it was swinging from the shop ceiling waiting to have the bottom painted and reattached to the painted Skylark chassis.

Good luck to you. I know I would like to see pictures as you go. Surely others would too.

John L

 

[WV junkman]

Thanks John, I have a build journal with pics of my progress. But it is good to hear from someone who has done a similar job. And thanks for your input.

 

[John long]

Is your journal public? I don't find it.

John L.

 

[WV junkman]

Is your journal public? I don't find it.

John L.

I thought it was, I'll check it out if its not I'll fix it.

 

[John long]

My bad. Found it. One thing I might add. in retrospect, If I was going to do the Merc again, I would have channelled it a couple of inches. While you are transplanting the Chevy is the perfect time to consider it if you want the car to sit lower.

John L.

 

[WV junkman]

Gonna drop the body while I'm able. Don't want to see frame from side of car. I realize I have a lot of work ahead of me but it will be worth it.

 

[mike the painter]

Basically,a butt weld is for cosmetic work( like splicing 1/4 panels) but there are exceptions,like when a seam runs the entire length of a 1/4, then it might be better to lap weld you'll get less warping... and lap welds are structural,floors and such...You'll definitely need to know both and when to use them...
That said...
cutting and welding and making a floor fit to a completely different car is a ton of extra work that will never look quite right,and fabricating a floor pan and all the braces is fairly easy and will look awesome with all new metal.
Plus you "will" want to channel or (drop the body) so I say cut out the whole floor and toss it. you can build a new one in half the time and drop the body anywhere you want it...