chiefymcpots

So i have made a couple previous post mainly asking questions about getting my car starting. but i have gotten it in to a reliable driver to get to and from work. I am mostly posting for support from any and all people who would like to give advice or just subscribe to see the pics of my progress, but my first question is that my floor pans are pretty well rusted through on my driver side, (Detroit car, now in FL), and was curious if i really needed to order the factory pans or can i just weld in my own stainless steel panels, because im a pretty skilled TIG, MIG, Stick and mostly all other types. Any suggestions, ill post pics shortly

chiefymcpots

chiefymcpots

mjr46

personally, I'm all about looks, so factory style gets my vote

Jfsram

Unless you are emotionally attached to that particular 83. Find another body. In Florida a rust free pre 93 could be had for probably less than it would cost you to fix that rust properly.

If it's strictly a daily driver. Just cover some of that ugliness with sheet metal. Throw some undercoating over it and drive that it.

chiefymcpots

it wont only be a daily driver but for now it has to be ( its my only car for now at least). but heres kind of a stupid question if you look at the first pic i posted you can see two of my radiator hoses that are just put together with an elbow, looks like the guy pulled out the a/c and heat and just spliced the lines together, should i trace these down and pull them/ plug them?

Tony71502

Those two lines connected with an elbow feed and return coolant from your heater core. It look like it is still in the car as you can see a hose nipple behind the elbow.

There's no guarantee that it is not corroded and will not leak when you try to hook it up. It could have been bypassed because the previous owner did not want to remove the dash and replace the heater core.

kweb288

wow the underside looks rough man! good luck with the build!