This should be a easy one, what is the correct way to put in the drain cover plates on a 69 camaro repro. floor pan? I have been told to just set them in with some seam sealer. I was thinking maybe tacking them with my MIG , and then sealing them up to be weathertite. Thanks in advance!

i used windshield urethane it is waterproof and fills in gaps .

Seam sealer should be fine. I was thinking of putting two small plug welds in mine then adding the seam sealer.

I ran a bead of either seam sealer or RTV (can't remember now), then pop-riveted the plates in place.

*edit*- if you meant "correct" as in factory correct, then I have no idea, it's just how i did mine.

The factory used a bead of seam sealer--no mechanical fasteners. And remember, the hump goes up.

I used Urethane (Solar Seal) to seal the 4 on my floor pan in my 67.
It is amazing that todays Urethane is way better than the glue they used back then. It takes a little longer to dry, but when it does you will be dead before it goes bad. And, if you ever have to remove them you can.
In the trunk, I spot welded them, then seam sealer. If you do it right, no one will know that you welded it.

Can not tell you why I did them both different, this just how I liked it done on mine.

Welding these covers seems like overkill to me, plus they are galvanized. Since the floor oval is not uniform, the seam sealer does a fine job. I painted mine silver, ran a BIG bead of seam sealer and squish it down like the factory. Came out fine!

Sorry, but I think spot welding is unneccessary as well. Today's adhesives are sufficient. Glass is not spot welded. Considering the use and exposure these cars will receive; how would the plate become dislodged? And the plate's raised portion faces up. I've seen many installed incorrectly.

Where does one get the seam sealer?

Regular 3m seam sealer from a body shop. Fast and firm works well.

Just curious what the purpose of these drains were to begin with?

Jim

I think that they were used for alignment jigs during assembly... maybe...I think that the floor was the first part that everthing else was built around... although I know that some others here know better than I do, Please correct me if I am wrong...

I always figured they were to drain if it got wet. All the cars I have had have had some sort of drain on the floors. I've had to open them before when a seal leaks during a storm.

Back in the day i would guess they were used to drain the washing process before prime and paint. Today same but with e-coat added.

Ed is right. Take a look at post #5 in this thread. http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=90145&highlight=floor+plugs

Just curious what the purpose of these drains were to begin with?

Jim

They were there to drain the hot-degreasing chemicals, the hot iron phosphate chemicals, and the rinse water at the end of the pre-cleaning process prior to prime; they also served as rough locators for the floor pan on the body build truck.

In the plant, they ran a bead of sealer on the flange around the hole, and pushed the plug in place; the sealer set up in the sealer oven prior to color.

:beers: