The entire floor of the "front" trunk is rusted out on my 914-0. There is solid metal around the edges, but there is nothing in the center where the spare tire used to mount. How do you replace this?

Like this...


I got a patch piece from the classifieds cut it to fit, and MIG welded it in to place.

That looks exactly like the size/shape of my (missing) pan! I guess this is common, huh?

Do they make a new patch panel? I notice there are replacement panels for just about every other area.

Nope. Gotta get a used one. They were cut out for dealer installed AC. You probably have a hacked up passenger's side engine shelf as well.

No, engine shelf is fine. What does that area have to do with the front trunk?

I plan on installing a front-mount oil cooler eventually. Can I use the new hole in my floor for this? I don't want to make the effort of patching, only to find out I have to cut again.

If you decide to replace the trunk floor, here's a write up from my web site...

-- Rob

"rusted out". you need a new/used trunk floor. post a pic or 2. hopefully the cancer isn't into the front pickups for the front control arms. post a want to buy in the classifieds. show a picture and the demensions of the size required.

k

1) look at what you got. If it looks like this, time to get some cutting done.


2)Drill the spot welds to your front trunk, and cut it away from the rise up to the gas tank area.


3)Buy a front trunk floor in good shape from someone here, and spend an afternoon cleaning it up.


4) Get welding! Soon, you will have this:


5) Grab a cold one. You have earned it!

Zach

The first pic on your website is almost exactly how my trunk looks. The cut-out is the same width, but not quite as deep (toward the fuel tank). I noticed you only replaced the missing section, while Mr. "Vacca Rabite" cut out his entire floor and replaced. Will either method be acceptable? My car is far from concours.

I intended to do mine the way Mark did.

But, when I was stripping the crap out of the front trunk, I found a lot of rust in the front suspension points. So, I treated it like I treated all the other rust on my car - cut it out and have no mercy.

If you can just fill the small hole, do it. Way easier. But don't be afraid to go big if it needs it.

And go ahead and call me Zach.

Zach

Here's mine. Surrounding metal is solid (as tested with an ice pick). 2nd question: Must I replace with another trunk floor? Would a welded piece of appropriate gauge sheetmetal be adequate?

It's your car, fix it how you want. But welding in hardware store sheet metal will take just as long as welding in original metal, and the original metal will look better when you're done.

I asked about the engine shelf, because when they installed AC (which is what your hole appears to be from) the compressor was mounted on the passenger side and didn't really fit well, so they cut the engine shelf to make room.

Ah-ha...I'll take a closer look, but I didn't notice anything out of place. Any other clues as to added A/C?

You will have several holes to weld closed in the passenger wheel well, probably. This is assuming that they routed the A/C hoses along the passenger side long, into the wheel well, and then into the front trunk. Mine had 3 one inch holes, and lots of sheet metal screw holes to fill.

Unless they mounted a non-standard pump, you will find that the engine shelf was cut. If you are lucky, they just cut it and bent the metal in the way down, if you are unlucky, they cut it all out and you will need to source new metal to weld in. If you are really lucky they did not cut the shelf at all.

Zach

a car cut for ac will usually have a 1"+ hole drilled in each triangular sill support on the pass side too. with real hack installs the supports are removed completely. like on my car. why? i don't know. yours turned out swell zack.

k

find a used good trunk piece and weld it in..takes some time but its worth it.