Master Cylinder Access Plate?

Pictured above is the driver's side floor panel on my recently purchased 1974 CJ5. As you can see it is in pretty rough shape. The holes let in quite a bit of heat, so I'd like to cut this mess out and weld a new floor panel in. I'm confused as to the purpose of the panel shown lifted. Looking at replacement floor panels I don't see anything like this. The closest thing I've seen is this Master Cylinder Access Plate for an M38:



Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Master Cylinder on a 74 CJ5 (AMC 232) is located on the driver side in front of the firewall. Do I need an access plate (if that is what it is) for any reason? Or can I just replace the floor and be done with it?

I appreciate any comments.

 

That's what the cover is for. I can't think of anything else that you can access through that. My vote is cover it up. Could it be that your tub isn't a '74?

 

I've got the same "access" and was wondering what it was for ('73 CJ-5), and finally decided maybe there was some factory option the original purchaser didn't get. There's nothing under mine either so its getting covered.

 

The plate is correct, and the master cylinder is under the hood, on the firewall. Jeep used the existing floor design for the intermediates, retaining a few archaic bits. In '75 they used the same design but started welding the "removable" floors in instead of using the previous year's screws and weld-nuts. The floors were changed in '76 with the complete redesign of the vehicles, eliminating access covers except over the shift tower.

You can remove the cover, or keep it - I think it adds interest.

 

Thanks for your input. I found a replacement plate at 4wd Hardware for 6.99. I'll replace it first and see if that stops all the heat.

 

Just to follow up, the plate from 4wd was a perfect fit. Here it is after being Herculined in my Jeep.