Hello guys.
I need your help. I'm currently working on a 1969 z28 x-77 car. I have replaced the full floor pan. This car being a hard top the only way I could figure getting the full pan in I cut off the frame rails. They were rusty anyway. I am also going to replace the full trunk pan which includes the shock towers and replace the rear tail pan and two new frame rails. As noted above I have already install the new floor pan. I'm ready to cut out the trunk pan all the way to where it joins the new floor pan. My thoughts are cutting it out with a Plasma cutter. I havent replaced a full trunk pan so my question to you guys. Is there anything I need to be aware of prior to cutting out the trunk pan and tail pan. I cannot put the car on a rotersie because where I'm cutting actually supports the body. My thoughts are two jack stands at the end of the rocker to support the car. I beleive the top will help hold everything together in the right place. The quarters were replaced by the previous owner. Is there anything I need to know thats going to bite me in the butt that I should know prior to cutting the tail pan and trunk pan out. I am planning on cutting it all out as one piece. Please let me know. I'm going to start cutting this Wednesday July 11, 2007. Any help you can give me would be appreciated.

I'd replace the frame rails first,since the full trunk rests on them. Coincidentally,I am also installing a full one piece pan. My rails were perfect- no rot. Its a bear breaking what seems like hundreds of spot welds. I used a drill,spot weld cutter,and an air chisel (gently) It all came out over the course of a weekend. Very little damage to the rails....If you are using a plasma cutter,as a safety precaution, remove the fuel line, not just the tank. Many a guy has caused a fire or explosion by leaving the line installed,only to find it still had fuel in it. :) Put those new rails in first- thats the support your car will need. Yes, the ends of the rockers supply enough support to install the rails.

Thank you for the tips. I have removed the fuel line and the brake lines as well. Good idea about the frame rails. Can I assume the tail pan will line up exactly using Goodmark pans?
Thanks again.

Thank you for the tips. I have removed the fuel line and the brake lines as well. Good idea about the frame rails. Can I assume the tail pan will line up exactly using Goodmark pans?
Thanks again.

It might but I wouldnt count on it. When I replaced the complete trunk in my 67 the rear lip where the tailpanel gets welded to the trunk was stamped crooked so the drivers side was longer than the passenger side. This caused my tailpanel to stick out on the passengers side where it met the quarter. I had to cut the rear lip off, then weld it back in straight. Just something to consider even 67s and 69s have different trunk pans. Most repro stuff requires some tweaking, but other than that the oan was good.

I cut out the rails and whole trunk floor together, it saves a lot
of time. My car is sitting on a frame I made. I bolted my new frame
rails to the floor piece, then measured diagonally to square them up.
I used my new quarters and measurements from fisher book to see
where the rear frame rail height should be. Just clamp and screw it
together till it fits right, may take a few times.