MOT putting a new floor in

[Shedendman]

Hi folks,just put the following in another forum site and like to see what you think,as you see i did get a reply but only half of what i expected,was wondering if anyone could point me in more positive direction?

Just a queery really,i've up nearly all the floor(rear floor) in my Mk5 transit to have war with the dreaded tin worm as you all know it didnt come out in one peice,now i might and i say MIGHT have the chance of getting some 6mm ali chequered plate enough to do the whole floor with extra,theres no way i can weld this back in just haven't got the gear for it(ali to steel dont weld well).
The questions are will i get away with the MOT if i rivet it down with stainless steel rivets or bolt it down with SS countersunk bolts,can rivets or bolts be used to put any main floor back in?
cheers

The reply i got back as follows.

Are the new floor sections welded to the chassis sections underneath floor?
6mm ally all round is pretty heavy? why not brushpaint floor with a couple of coats of white from a litre of one pack polyurethane on top of primer and fit plywood/laminate flooring/WHY.

Now i know what he's means but doesn't really answer the main question.
How do i stand when Mr MOT looks at it?
Cheers

 

[Shedendman]

Just like to add,the ali plate is for free but i have to lift it........................dont ask,lol
yes it is legal,lol

 

[malcolm]

That's one heck of a botch - you'll get no real strength from riveting some ally in. The body is structural in those dudes (don't crash or put anything heavy in) and the MOT folk won't like it if they can see any evidence of what you've done.

Are you asking about what might be a sensible repair or about how to hide things from the MOT man?

 

[rhubarb7]

nope, its a bodge..the original floor is welded in..chop out the grot and repair the original floor

 

[Shedendman]

Thats a 100% better reply i got from the other chap
yes wanting a sensible repair by all means not a botch job,it was just a thought seeing as the ali plate was free in a way.
So even bolting it down would be a No No to?

From what i've seen for repairs/replacements to rear floors on transits from that site everythings been used from bits of washing machine panels to 3mm steel plate(which i have around)

Any way watch the for sale thread for ali plate if i can get it up,looks to me its stuck down cant see me keeping it flat as poss

 

[Shedendman]

oooooooooooooo not u guys,i meant from the other forum

 

[rhubarb7]

Thats a 100% better reply i got from the other chap
yes wanting a sensible repair by all means not a botch job,it was just a thought seeing as the ali plate was free in a way.
So even bolting it down would be a No No to?

From what i've seen for repairs/replacements to rear floors on transits from that site everythings been used from bits of washing machine panels to 3mm steel plate(which i have around)

Any way watch the for sale thread for ali plate if i can get it up,looks to me its stuck down cant see me keeping it flat as poss

Bolting down is a no no too, I'm afraid...Got to be welded in, needs to be steel too

 

[Chickenjohn]

Rivetted aluminium floor- Not only a bodge, but also an MOT failure and very dangerous as well! The guy on the other forum must have been pulling your chain!

You need to either weld in a new floor pan, or cut the rust out and weld in patches, and they must be steel and they must be continuously welded (i.e. no gaps between the welds) to pass the MOT.

 

[mike os]

as above.. & if it is as extensive as it seems it will need to be stiffened correctly too

best bet is to see if a replacement floor pan is available form a factors & replace in larger sections rather than lots of small patches.

I dont think you can remove teh whole floor on one go as it is structural.

 

[Chickenjohn]

You can often get half floor pans for cars- don't know if this is available for the transit. There was a project on this site last year where someone was welding up a Transit, have a look at it!

 

[gavuk]

I have replaced the rear half on a "v" reg transit ,rear panel goes from door shut to past the wheel arch's think it was £70....i had to trim the edges, but it is formed for strength with punched holes where original plugs were fitted...When i cut out the old floor,some of the chassis rails needed repairing before floor was relaid,i continuously welded outside edges and drilled and plug welded to chassis rails.. think you can buy another panel which replaces the forward section of the floor as well ,have a look for Hadrian panels on internet for full details ..i still have more holes to fill,its a lot of welding and quite time consuming.......good luck....hadrian

 

[Shedendman]

My MOT is not till March 2011 reason i'm sorting it out now is just in case we get a winter like last one and the vans outside so may as well do it now while the weathers at it best.

I'm gonna take the advice and replace the floor with sheet steel being as i'm skint and out of work it'll have to be anything i can lay my hands on

Time consuming,your not wrong there,cut grind weld,cut grind weld it never ends,trying to get into positions to do a half desent weld is a nightmare pull another bit of underseal off today and there it is,bloody tin worm laughing back at me.

I'll post some pics up but PC is having a blonde day atm