Complete trunk floor HELP!!!

[Firebird-Geek]

I am placing my first “major” panel… “complete trunk floor” (AMD). First time doing this! So I hope to get some advice!

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As you can see I have taken the car down pretty far in the battle against rust… and am finally getting ready to put parts back on!! (exciting time) :twothumbs

With so much of the car gone, I find it a challenge to find places to measure from to make sure everything is true and square with the rest of the car.

What I came up with was:
Clamp 1” square tubing to the back of the trunk pan… (where the tail panel will be attaching) and then using this bar to measure from the front of the quarter panels (right in the middle of the door opening and back to the front of the 1” square tubing. I figured this way I know the trunk is squared up as far as the quarter panels are concerned. Right now it sits 65 1/8” inches back from the front quarter panel lip by the door opening.

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I do have the original inner rear panel in place, but it doesn’t seem to help locate the exact placement of the truck for I can push or pull it in or out a good 1/4 inch also… I did take pictures of the "overhang" of the trunk floor to this panel... but not measurements:hammer:

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I can not test fit the quarter panels right now for if you look at the top of the old quarter panel area, you will see a bit of it still there… it is holding the rear internal bracing from sagging all the way down. Without the inner wheelhousings in place... it is a bit flimsy.

QUESTION: How far forward or backward should I have the trunk floor sit?? I can move it forward or backward a good ½ inch. I don’t want to get it to far either way... figuring it will mess up the tail panel fit, quarter panel fit, trunk lid... and almost everything else… So now I have the “Fear before the welding” setting in… is there some room to play, or do I need to get this EXACT? Is there somewhere else I can measure to get exact placement?

Any advice is welcome… I don’t want to start off with a bad foundation….

[camaro jeff]

The best way I came up with was to use self tapping screws and clamps to line everything up before you start welding

[snappytravis]

Yep, self tapping screws you need 100 of them, I just did this job on a 69, If you set your rear taillight panel in place and clamp the outer edges with vise grips to the quarter edge then get some 1/2 bolts, nuts and flat washers that will line up the back panel, then screw the trunk to the lower piece, I put them aprox 4 inches apart, Then in the front you will want to do the same thing put screws across behind the back seat area, Then I would use a level and put it across your floor pan in the trunk to make sure it is level, I started at the front subframe, then the dash of the car then the rear speaker panel, all was level then put it in the trunk if it is not level put a porta power under the car and jack each side up to where it needs to be, I hope this helps, If you want to be my friend on fb my name is Travis Osback I have a lot of pics you can check out

[Firebird-Geek]

Yes.. I actually have my bag of screws ready to go...

My only concern with this method was I am having to clamp the S@$T out of the panel to get to to lay tight against the rails... not sure if the screws would be up to hold that much pressure... I did think about just tack welding it in a few locations and use screws... this way I would only have to remove some tack welds.

Buy I am also worried that I will be cutting the floor to fit the DSE tubs... not sure if I want to cut the floor until I know exactly where the floor is going to sit.

Is there some play with the back tail panel? My fear is that if I have the trunk to far forward that the tail panel will sit in to far and not meet up with the quarters... or if the pan sits to far back, that it will cause the tail panel to again not meet up with the quarters and everything else.

Just not sure how much play there is with the tail panel fit. Does it have some "give"?

[camaro jeff]

I have done 2 convertibles and I have found that the best way is hang your quarters and that will establish where your tail panel will go. After that then you can install your floor pan. You will use a lot of screws and clamps but is best to get everything lined up so that you do not have to go back and start grinding welds.

[BuzzKillian]

I have done 2 convertibles and I have found that the best way is hang your quarters and that will establish where your tail panel will go. After that then you can install your floor pan. You will use a lot of screws and clamps but is best to get everything lined up so that you do not have to go back and start grinding welds.

This is good advice...use it:smoke: I have been where you are now...