<VV> Floor Pans

[vairologist at juno.com]

> From: <mhicks130 at cox.net>
> Subject: Re: <VV> re;floor patch
> I can't believe that anyone who is really worried about crash safety 
> is driving around in a 40 year old car.  The cars of today are so 
> much safer in so many ways  - no matter how heavy the old ones are.  
> If I get hit hard enough to start crumpling floors in my convertible 
> with or without welded in floor panels I'm in  world of hurt.  
> Panels that are properly riveted and with structural adhesive can't 
> be that much weeker than welded in panels.  I suppose it's OK to try 
> to maximize your car's ability to stay intact in an accident but if 
> safety is your main concern you should be in a different vehicle.
------------------------------------
Smitty says:   You are entitled to your "Can't Believe" and welcome to it
Mike, but you are wrong.  Me?  I will have my floors welded in and with
doublers installed at the seat and belt mounting points.  Improperly
welded in floor panels do not have the capability of resisting the
diamond stress on the floor pan in a collision.  Seats rely on the
strength of the floor to stay in place.  As an old aircraft structures
mechanic I disagree with your term "properly riveted".  There is no
"properly riveted when putting a steel panel in place with pop rivets
spaced an inch apart.  When you speak of using adhesive you do realize
the it must be applied on bare clean steel and not on top of POR-15 or
Rustolium  or any other paint of choice.  Otherwise its bonding strength
is no better than the paint it is stuck to.  How many rusted out floors 
do you think have had their edges cleaned to bare clean steel before
being repaired?  (if that is what you call a pop riveted, glued in
floor).  It ought to be obvious that safety is not the main concern of
any of us.  otherwise we would be riding around in a main battle tank
with a 30 hp motor and a 6 point racing harness.