E M Floor pan modification

hdheritage97 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-14-2001, 12:24 AM

I am planning to "modify" the drivers side floor pan to increase the room around the pedal area. I have my own ideas but I'm wondering if anyone has any factual experience with this ? I'm very open to suggestions....lol.

Thanks,
Cliff

Dan Heck · #2 (**permalink**) 10-14-2001, 10:02 AM

Cliff,

An E-M builder described his footbox modifications- similar to those you describe- on this website maybe a year ago & posted some pix. I have done something similar in my Midstates build with a dropped footbox floor attached to frame instead of floorboard and a bit of added room around the gas pedal. I know of another Midstates builder who is doing something similar. Since many of the cars are set up to take almost any engine/trans combo I would guess that an owner could probably gain a couple inches the critical footbox space on many replica makes as long as the biggest and widest powertrain on the list isn't being used.

Dan

hdheritage97 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-14-2001, 01:21 PM

Dan,

I'm running a 427. I have a friend that is amazing with a torch and welding rig....lol. I plan on removing the bracing under the floor pan and building a pan from Balsa with a fiberglass mat attached. I would be able to bend in to any shape I want and then epoxy it to maintain that shape. I figure after I get the pan the way I want it, I can attach it, fiberglass over it, and have my friend take over from there with some new bracing. I was just wondering what others have done. The guy that I bought the car from made a half assed tub type of thing and I think it's more uncomfortable than if he had just left it alone. Anyhow, thanks for the reply and I hope to hear from you again with some of my other troubles...lol.

Thanks,

Cliff

427sharpe · #4 (**permalink**) 10-14-2001, 07:00 PM

On my EM I removed the bracing under the cabin and relocated it to the bottom edges of the main tube rails. This gave me about 2.5--3" extra clearance for passengers. I did have to cut the passenger cabin all the way around to base and add the extra room, bot I glassed it back to EM's thickness--about 1/4--1/2" or so with a metal mesh reinforcement. This adds a lot of room to the footboxes on both sides, and significantly reduces the amount of wind buffetting @ speed. The lower footbox is still mostly hidden under car, and what isn't I hid with the aluminum panels I made for the underside. Most knowledgeable riders comment on the more comfortable cabin, but don't really know why until they are told.

hdheritage97 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-14-2001, 08:28 PM

sharpe,

Thanks, I'll have to take a look under there tomorrow and see what you're talking about but I'm more interested in the drivers side than the passenger. Anyhow, thanks for the good info and I'll let you know what I think.

Thanks,

Cliff

Mike Braddock · #6 (**permalink**) 10-17-2001, 05:40 PM

Cliff,

We installed dropped footboxes for both the driver and passenger on our EM. Big job, but it's the best improvement we have made to the car! When we bought it it had an MG pedal assembly and enough room for about a 12 year old. Now after dropping the floor 3-1/2" and building a new pedal assembly using externally mounted Wilwood cylinders, the difference is like night and day!! I totally got the idea from Dan who did something very similar on his Midstates. Thanks again Dan!

Here are a few photos of what it looks like, although they are pretty old. Ignore the gas pedal, as that's the crap the previous owner installed and we've since replace with a custom one. We also built a steel pan underneath the footboxes for extra safety. If the pics don't show up for some reason, email me and when I return home from my business trip in a few weeks I'll email them to you.

Mike