The rocker panels were swelling, and like most old cars, any sign of rust
indicates more rust was probably hiding, particularly in a car’s floors.
The support brace beneath the floor also had to be replaced, due to
an inadequate repair job to the area. (A previous restorer had
simply welded a new patch over the original rusted piece — not
good in any aspect of restoration).“Before the driver who delivered the car left, we had it on a hoist,”
Kopecky said. After scraping the undercoating off, it was clear the floors
had already been replaced, but with incorrect flat metal, rather than the
correct ribbed material. Using flat metal to repair cheese grater-like
floors was once common, but the material flexes when stress is applied,
even from the light touch of a passenger’s feet. Flat metal also lacks the
correct rib marks, which manufacturers added for strength and to
prevent flexing.