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Fully Welded Floor Pans

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by Flathead, Apr 13, 2020.

  1. Apr 13, 2020
    Flathead

    Flathead New Member

    Kenai, Alaska
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    Apr 26, 2007
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    My floor pans are trashed, I've been rough on them and I've always told myself I will fix them when I get everything dialed in how I want it. Well now I'm close enough that I want to fix up the floor pans and I'm thinking about just fully welding up the floor and all the holes. It's going to be easier then trying to get everything lined up with a removable floor. What's the general consensus on no removable floor pans? This thing is not stock so that's out the window with all the mods I have done to it.

    I'm trying to think about the downsides of not being able to remove them and not coming up with anything major.
     

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  2. Apr 13, 2020
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

    At the foot of...
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    I think it would be very difficult to remove the trans & tcase with the floor being solid.
     
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  3. Apr 13, 2020
    sterlclan

    sterlclan Member 2022 Sponsor

    exploring the...
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    At least the tunnel should be removable
     
  4. Apr 13, 2020
    Dave Deyton

    Dave Deyton Member

    Fuquay-Varina, NC
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  5. Apr 13, 2020
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Jeep gave up on the removable floor panels in 1975, welding-in all but the small cover with the shifter boot. They went to new one-piece stamped floors in 1976, again with only a small panel over the actual shift top.

    I'll be contrary here and say weld them in if you want to. It won't change service much. You just won't be able to remove the transmission through the floor - not much of an advantage IMO.
     
  6. Apr 13, 2020
    Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

    Florida Keys
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    My preference is to keep the bolt-in tunnel/floorplate and the upper firewall panel. Otherwise, It is very difficult the get to the bellhousing bolts without removing the tub. Some of the aftermarket repair pan (like Classic) line up quite well. I have cut out the old pans rocker to rocker, leaving the toolbox attached, and vice-gripped the new pans at the rockers, then assembled the removable floor plates to line up and hold the center area, then when it all fits, start welding. I think it would be a big mistake to just weld them up solid.
    Its so much easier to service the trans/TC on a CJ5 as opposed to a flat-fender, except an M38 which has removable floor plates.
    -Donny
     
  7. Apr 14, 2020
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
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    ‘76 and up had transmissions with removable shifter stick, stalk, lever, whatever you choose to call it. This means there was not such a need to have the larger opening in the floor to clear the shifter when the transmission is removed.
     
  8. Apr 14, 2020
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Hmm. Surprising that Donny's post gets so many likes. This is offered in the spirit of friendly discussion. I spent a few years at the Jeep dealership both hanging out and working, and was good friends with one of the line mechanics (that's what they were called then - "technicians" now). Never did I see them remove the floor pans - it's just too time consuming on flat rate. I have only taken transmissions out from underneath, both back in the day and recently my T-18. The removable floors seem like a nice shade-tree feature that carried over from the military, where labor is plentiful and real expertise is scarce. And I'd think that, once the transmission is out, you could lower the back end of the engine a bit and get some room to remove the bell housing. Not as easy as when the floors are out, but still manageable ... Jeeps are dead easy to work on compared to passenger cars, and work seems to get done on those.
     
  9. Apr 14, 2020
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    Personally, I prefer to remove my transmission from above by hand or with a cherry picker. On my latest build, I went to great lengths to make a huge portion of my floor removable. I’d rather do repair work on my feet than on my back.
     
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  10. Apr 14, 2020
    73 cj5

    73 cj5 Not ready for the junkyard yet

    Clinton, Mississippi
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    o_O What you putting in that vegan jerky? :lol:
     
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  11. Apr 14, 2020
    Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Tantallon, Nova...
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    Had a lift in the shop?

    I pulled Tonk's engine last year, it would have been a lot more no fun if I hadn't been able to pull the floor pans. :rolleyes:
     
  12. Apr 15, 2020
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Falcon, CO
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    I'm building floor pans now in my '62 build. Most of the floor will be solid, but I will make sure to be able to pull a few around the tranny and bell so it's easier to pull for service. Not all like it was, just enough to clear things... and it does have a T18 tranny in it as well.

    Framing it with 1" square and 1x1/8" strapping - those pans not welded with be put on with Zert nuts to be removable.
     
  13. Apr 15, 2020
    timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Medford Mass USA
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    Of course. JMO - you can do everything from underneath with a transmission jack that they could do with a hoist. Faster with a hoist, granted, but not difficult in either case. I have pulled the transmission and transfer case from underneath with only the factory scissor jack provided for tire changing. Not difficult then, I expect it would be harder today at my age.
     
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