Advice on welding small floor patch (SF Bay Area)

[Luke87gt]

Hi guys, my 69 has solid floors.

However, right over the transmission (just in front of the bench), the floor has 3” x 3” hole that needs to be patched.

I’m looking for someone local that has experience welding sheet metal and can make a house call.

The hole is very accessible with the bench out (I’ll have it out).

Does anyone have a recommendation that I can pursue? Thank you!

[jerry moss]

over the hill from you in brentwood, try Kirk welding. they have a mobile truck and they can weld anything BUT they aint cheap. (925) 634-4250. hope this helps you.

[Hidesertchevy]

Wish I was closer I would do it for you.

[Steeveedee]

Wire brush the snot out of the area on both sides and bond in a patch of metal with J-B Weld. Underneath, you can spot in some paint and maybe some undercoating. You'll have carpet or the standard floor mat covering it, right?

[MySons68C20]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

Wire brush the snot out of the area on both sides and bond in a patch of metal with J-B Weld. Underneath, you can spot in some paint and maybe some undercoating. You'll have carpet or the standard floor mat covering it, right?

I was thinking the body epoxy stuff they use on the newer rigs.....same idea
as Steeveedee

[68 C10 Driver]

Originally Posted by MySons68C20

I was thinking the body epoxy stuff they use on the newer rigs.....same idea
as Steeveedee

I had the same thought, use body panel adhesive, much cheaper than paying someone to come weld it. The metal will rip before that adhesive gives. SEM makes a great product, you can get the specialized caulk gun on Amazon for $40.

https://www.amazon.com/Traktronix-Co.../dp/B0DMWX1QX2

This gun also works with their seam sealer if you need to redo the rain gutters or reseal the seams inside the cab.

[Rust_never_sleeps]

License plate and self-tapping screws? ;-)

[LS short box]

In regards to panel bonding.
Every body shop has a panel bonding gun. Typically battery powered. The panel bonding gun holds two tubes. The material it mixed as it is pushed thru the nozzle.
I would contact a local body shop and maybe for a few bucks you could have one of their techs come over to your shop and apply the panel bond. Could save you some cash?
After application it needs to be clamped really well and set overnight?

[Rust_never_sleeps]

$80 for a stick/tig machine(lift tig, ftr)

https://www.arccaptain.com/products/...l-stick-welder

['68OrangeSunshine]

Might be cheaper to source a new Tunnel Hump and bolt that in. Was your truck a Manual and you're switching to Automatic transmission?

[Luke87gt]

3 OTT currently

Future might get a TKX but not anytime soon

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by Luke87gt

3 OTT currently

Future might get a TKX but not anytime soon

OK. Sounded like a shift stick hole. With a Saginaw 3-speed you shouldn't have one. Sorry for intruding.

[mr48chev]

I'd go with cutting a patch out of some scrap sheet metal the same gauge and cleaning the area around the hole and on the back side of the patch and get the JB weld adhesive that I thought best did the job.

For welding it quite often there are local bodymen who do side jobs but most will hit you for a minimum fee of a couple of hours pay for something that small.

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

I'd go with cutting a patch out of some scrap sheet metal the same gauge and cleaning the area around the hole and on the back side of the patch and get the JB weld adhesive that I thought best did the job.

For welding it quite often there are local bodymen who do side jobs but most will hit you for a minimum fee of a couple of hours pay for something that small.

I have a '72 K/5 Tub, I bought as parts for $200 some 20 years ago. The POs were surfers -- judging by the surf shop decals on the windshield.
Their solution was to flatten Pepsi cans and JB Weld them to the rust holes in the deck. Still there.

[Rust_never_sleeps]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

OK. Sounded like a shift stick hole. With a Saginaw 3-speed you shouldn't have one. Sorry for intruding.

I wondered the same thing. Not a lot of reasons for a hole in the floor

[raggedjim]

Originally Posted by '68OrangeSunshine

Their solution was to flatten Pepsi cans and JB Weld them to the rust holes in the deck. Still there.

I may have worked on that truck...

[my67c20]

Check with local high school or colleges. The hump unbolts so no need to pay house call rates.

[Rust_never_sleeps]

The guy at Minute Muffler in Dublin welded a cast-iron manifold for me years ago, but I doubt he'd make a house call. He might know someone, or maybe just roll over there when she's making smoke and noise again

[68panelman]

Might be an opportunity to learn welding. Get a $89 HF mig, $30 helmet, a sheet of steel, cut an fit, then zap away!

[Luke87gt]

Originally Posted by Rust_never_sleeps

The guy at Minute Muffler in Dublin welded a cast-iron manifold for me years ago, but I doubt he'd make a house call. He might know someone, or maybe just roll over there when she's making smoke and noise again

Great idea, I’ll check with him. He’s actually installed an exhaust on another car I own, did a good job.

I actually have a welding certificate from 15yrs ago but don’t have the equipment and not confident with sheet metal. Since it’s this one small job, prefer to leave it to the pros.

And since it’s a small spot, maybe a JB weld patch wouldn’t be a terrible idea if the house call is too expensive. When I get the through-the-floor manual trans in the future, I’ll probably cut right around that spot anyway.

You guys are all helpful, thank you for the ideas.

[JohnC67]

I live in your area. You can come to my house and use my welder if you want. It might be a challenge getting our schedules to mesh but if you aren’t in a hurry….
I’m not super awesome but welded a lot on my Chevelle and for a floor pan, it’s not like it’s got to be pretty.

Have a picture of the hole?

['68OrangeSunshine]

Originally Posted by raggedjim

I may have worked on that truck...

Nothing is impossible in this Small World/Vast Universe of vintage Chevy Trucks...
Don't know much about that '72 Blazer's backstory. I bought it in Lake Havasu, AZ, in 2002 for $200 as parts. Just a tub, with seats, doors, roll bar, front and rear axles -- and not much else. PO had welded a Kangaroo bar to the front frame ends. Making me think it was used in the Tules as a big go cart, the 'Roo bar to knock down the big cattails as it blew thru the swamps along the lower Colorado River.
Flint plant in the VIN code.
Baby Blue.
Right now it's my ''Spare'' for my '71 Jimmy. But one day I want it to run with a 292 L6, SM465/T221 with a ragtop, as a desert cruiser.