62 Ghia floor pan L brackets??

[CanadaGhiadude]

Would anyone have any idea if these undercarriage L channels secured with the panhead Philips screws through the interior floor pans and Philips screws with undercarriage washers and nuts there for a reason? I purchased the 62 Ghia a few months ago so assuming the PO installed these for some reason! The car only has very minor surface rust on the floor pans interior and no rust what so ever on the undercarriage. Basically the floor pans and the rest of the vehicle is extremely solid with zero rust.

I have not seen a photo or recalled any forum mentioning something like this... Very bizarre

[c21darrel]

The underside does not look like a metal ghia floorpan (like the inside pic). Appears someone fiber glassed and added nuts bolts...if not fiberglass, metal ??? Bring a magnet. Either repair is subpar.
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[CanadaGhiadude]

Checked from the start with a magnet and no fiberglass. Took a wire wheel to the inside of the floor pan in a few areas down to bare metal and appears rust free.

Not sure if the PO was paranoid or something and maybe wanted extra support. If you have a rusty floor pan is it possible the rust is only evident on the undercarriage and not on the interior? Was the PO trying to hide something with this metal plate?

Thanks

[anthracitedub]

Pan does look slathered with some fiberglass resin or something.
I can’t think of any reason to bolt angle iron across the pan like that unless it was mounted to a pole and used as a sign for a business.😁
Is there any way to connect with the previous owner? They might be the only one who knows.

[c21darrel]

How about a full pic of the bottom (got a lift?). The back looks like it has slats or something also not original. May lead to clues why. The inside appears og or og profile and good shape.
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GhiaBuild
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=481184
1967 DC build
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Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[CanadaGhiadude]

Unfortunately no lift available in the next while.. but will eventually with a reply to this thread. When I had the vehicle inspected prior to purchase I did check the undercarriage with a mechanic and we couldn't find any rust other than the surface stuff.

The PO I believe has passed away so no chance there!

Thanks for your help guys..

[c21darrel]

[Onceler]

Any pics. Of underneath the rear seat?
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1972 Karmann Ghia

[CanadaGhiadude]

Pulled the rear seat and all looks fairly decent for a 57 year old car. Appears to be very marginal pitting but overall very solid. Wire brushed a few spots as shown in the photo and again only surface rust and exposed bare metal. (no evidence of any fiberglass used) The drivers side under the rear seat is near identical.

Once all this business is sorted out my plan was applying POR-15 and Dynamat to the floor pans.

Still very confused why the steel plates were attached to the underside..the PO babied this car (virtually zero rust) so maybe he assumed this would strengthened the floor pans??

Thanks for your replies..

[Onceler]

My non-expert opinion is that the pans rusted out underneath the rear seat and the PO repaired it back in the day before cheaply available mig welders,using bolts and whatnot and bracing for strength. Did a pretty good job really
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1972 Karmann Ghia

[TDCTDI]

Perhaps someone was preparing it for rally car status. Reinforcing the pans where they were most likely to be struck & mounts for mud flaps?



Or, they reinforced the pan & installed the brackets with the intent of installing U clamps over the lower seat tubes like it was done in some Beetles to keep the seat in place during a rear end accident & then realized that a Ghia does not have these like a Beetle.
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Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

[CanadaGhiadude]

Thanks for all the valued replies.. Its concerning when you find something like this modification that isn't stock, my original thought when i saw this was a cover-up for sure! Checking with a magnet at all points on the floor pans doesn't appear to change with the pull and know its not the best determination but again the pans seem solid. Minor pitting and surface rust...

Assuming best to just leave it the way it is or should I remove that bottom plate and fill in the holes?

[TDCTDI]

Reinforcements so they could lift it with a forklift?
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

[Onceler]

Do early Ghias have that center stamping recess in the middle? Referring to the under the rear seat picture.
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1972 Karmann Ghia

[CanadaGhiadude]

Yes the VIN number is stamped on the tunnel (center on vehicle)under the rear seat matches the VIN plate under the front bonnet

[Onceler]

I wasn’t sure if this is original or not. My 72 isn’t like that, but it has replacement pans and a different year altogether.

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1972 Karmann Ghia

[CanadaGhiadude]

Was thinking the same about a cut/chop out on the floor pan and a new piece of sheet metal welded in. Confirmed no weld seams on the floor pans whatsoever