[Viper]

Drivers floor has a big rectanglular panel about where the heel would go.

It doesn't follow the contours of the pressed floor. Looks like the floor might have rotted and someone stuck the metal over the rot.

Is this standard by any chance????? Please.

 

[bentleyman22]

your not suppose to look there
send a photo

 

[Viper]

Michael...........There must be someone on here with the knowledge. :?

 

[eurofreddy]

Viper..

Sounds like a repair to me.. What does it look like from under the car?

Send pictures

 

[Viper]

Thanks for the reply.

Cant really see anything from under the car since the cover that protects the brake bits is there.

The plate looks as though its an after thought. There are bolts going through it in places probably to mount the brake bits (sorry not very mechanically minded)

 

[eurofreddy]

What is the year and model of your car Viper?

 

[guyslp]

Thanks for the reply.

The plate looks as though its an after thought. There are bolts going through it in places probably to mount the brake bits (sorry not very mechanically minded)

I'd have to presume this was either a repair or revision by some previous owner to allow access from above to the "rat trap". Yes, that's the common colloquialism for the brake actuation mechanism (and once you see it in all its Rube Goldbergian glory you'll know why).

These cars were notorious for rust and the floor pans were one of the areas quite prone to it.

 

[Viper]

Oh....That's a pity. Seems strange that it would have rusted to the extent that it would need such a repair as the rest of the car is very good.

Mind you if water sat all year round then it does lots of damage.

I'd prefer to think of it as an "access to the rat" mod. 8)

 

[guyslp]

Viper,

Think of it as whatever you like, since it's never going away!! ;-)

I have seen at least one original series Shadow that was a "fish tank." The seals on it had gotten so bad that if it was left outside in the rain puddles would form in the rear footwells behind the front seat.

Of course, given how these cars were made and the amount of padding beneath the carpeting you know that this stuff stayed quite wet long after the surface carpeting was dry as a bone.

If these cars could talk. . .

 

[Viper]

Indeed.

Costly to put back to original I would imagine.

The car is a total. :?

 

[bentleyman22]

I would say it is there for easy access as the cover under the car would stop water getting to the floor pan and looking at the car it isn’t a rust box and it is bolted not welded

If the plate is tatty have a nice one made and paint it gloss Black
Will look ok then

 

[Viper]

Yes...might make more of a feature of it.

Failing that I might go buy a gallon of fuel and a box of matches. :lol:

 

[bentleyman22]

 

[Paul Yorke]

Shadows and Spirits are notorious for the foot wells completely rusting out.

Many were actually replaced by main agents when the cars went in for servicing . . . . without informing the owners!

You would need to post a photo to be sure, but normally there is no accress plates there.

The do indeed rust from the inside outwards. All owners should check them annually and prime/paint them as necessary.

 

[Viper]

Yes this is a plate that shouldn't be there I'm sure.

Its a solid plate but a plate none the less.

I don't like plates......has put me off the car TBH

How much of a job is replacing said floor panel?

 

[Paul Yorke]

It depends how much you want to replace.

Drivers side is trickier because of the pipes etc running underneath,

If it only the front that's gone (it usually is) you can replace the front foot or so without taking the seat out, otherwise it is much more work.

With patience you can cut out the whole panel which is spot welded every inch or so. UK MOT regulations say that it has to be continuously welded when carrying out repairs, so can be tedious although the repair should not be viable if done correctly.

Sometimes the repair sections are galvanised so there's lots of grinding back to be done and respiration masks needed while welding.

 

[Viper]

Well to cut and replace from the front of the seat forward.........is that something you can do and what sort of cost?

Might be worth doing passenger side while we're there.

Then stop the leak :lol:

 

[Paul Yorke]

Yes it is something that we do fairly regularly. Each job is different so tricky to price without seeing it. Can you send or post a picture of what is there.

Certainly worth checking the other side and rustproofing it now if it isn't rusted!

Regards, Paul.

 

[Gremlin]

Replacing the floor panel wouldnt make it any better.....