Floorboard Repair or coating to use ?? (pic included)

[mcintyrederek]

I bought this abandoned '86 C10 for dirt cheap.  Turns out it has been leaking for years and years while parked.  I finally cut the rotten carpet out of the driver's side to inspect the floor board.  See attached photo.  I was not sure if this subject went into body or interior category.

I am not trying to restore this to "stock" condition, but rather trying to clean it up nicely and use as a service vehicle.  I'd like to take all the carpet out and do --something--  with the floor board.  The question is, what.  I am conservative on the cash but I don't mind spending it on something DURABLE.  Durability is what I am most concerned about.

Looking for some opinions on what to do.  Something like textured "Rhino Liner" would be awesome, but is it practical?  Any ideas?  Does anyone make an aftermarket vinyl "drop in" mold for the entire cab floor?

Thanks.

[mcintyrederek]

Forgot the pic.

[zieg85]

Click on the banner above, Chris sells them and from what I've heard they are great.  As far as what you have, scrape the loose paint off with a putty knife, wire wheel the rusted area's and use POR15 or like product.  You could use a roll on bed liner material but you will have a lot of road noise.  The vinyl mat is the way to go IMO

[Captkaos]

You really need to fix the rust even if you cut out the bad and rivet something in there and seam seal it and then under coat it. 

For covering the floor, look here on the site:
http://store.73-87chevytrucks.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=7&Product_Code=ACC-VNL&Category_Code=FLRNG

[mcintyrederek]

Thanks much for the replies.

Yes I do plan on cutting out and patching the really bad rusty spots.  I have cut 1/32" metal and braised it with oxy/acet torch on several other projects and that seems to work well.  I'll check out the links.

[mcintyrederek]

Alright, I see that the vinyl mat and padding material is the way to go.  I am hesitant about putting the padding material back down because I will be using this as a service vehicle and might want to do a floorboard washout occasionally with provisions made for floorboard drain holes with plugs.  I know it might sound strange, but....

I am sanding down and removing loose paint from the floor now.  I have taken the seat out and below the seat is all OK.  It's just the lower part especially under the pedals that is so bad.  I have patches braised in and ready to do something.  Before I took the seat out, I drove the truck a little ways, and WOW, it sounds like a race car engine half tin can and half subwoofer.  Yuck.  Obviously all that old padding was there for a reason.  I need some sort of sound deadening.

I have searched for different coatings, like Flex Seal, Rust-Oleum's Leak Seal, and finally, "Boom Mat" spray on material.  The "Boom Mat" spray claims it is best for deadening sound.  If I coat the floorboard with this material, any chance it will do any good?  The reviews are mixed, but not all reviews are rating vehicles.  Everyone says to spray it on thick, and it is extremely durable.

Any thoughts, please?

[Captkaos]

Have you considered Rhino lining?  Several off roaders use it and it can be sprayed pretty thick.  Lizard skin is another option but I don't think it was designed to be sprayed thick.

Chris Lucas
73-87chevytrucks.com
captkaoscustoms.com
squarebody.biz

[Displaced_Txn]

There is also monstaliner bedcoating, I went with it because its not jagged like some of the other bedliners so it wont hold on to dirt or grime easily either.