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Once the carpet was removed the full story could be seen.

The beer bottle is there for reasons of scale only.

I have seen worse but there were several places were you could see the road through the floor.

First step is to remove the fuel tank..  Obviously it makes sense to run it down to empty first

This is the view of the chassis once the tank is removed.  Luckily it was in pretty good condition. 

 I was trying to keep as much structure as possible so I drilled up from below to mark around the structure and then used a cutting disc between the holes. 

Eventually the  whole rotten floor panel was removed.  Unfortunately this revealed that the edges of the sides were rotten as well.

The edges were then trimmed away because I decided to rivet new panels on the top.  Everything was then wire brushed and sprayed with zinc primer. 

The replacement panels were acquired from paddocks.  However the edge lips needed to be removed so that they could lay flat on the sides which remained.  

The new replacement panels were then offered up to make sure they all fitted. 

Once aligned the side panels were drilled and secured in place using 2 nuts and bolts 

I sprayed the old side panels with hammerite and then coated them with waxoyl so that a good layer was sandwiched between the two.

Just a view of the sides in place. 

You can also see here how I have hammerited the chassis where ever I could reach with a brush. 

Whilst the panels were held by the bolts they were drilled and riveted in place.  Once each hole was drilled I sprayed it with zinc primer.  You can also see here how the waxoyl has squeezed out the sides.

Each panel was secured by several rivets to give maximum strength. 

I used 4mm x 14mm blind rivets as you need the extra length.

A view of the other side. 

Once secured they were given yet another coat of hammerite.

The car then sat for several months due to severe attack of apathy and a big dose of working abroad.

It was after a trip to Billing and a decision to go to Morocco that spurred me into action.  Well actually, spurred Alan into action.  From this point Alan did all the work as I was away in Holland 5 days a week.  The tank was replaced but not before every bit of chassis I could reach was covered with underseal. 

The original supports were cleaned up, sprayed and then fitted in place using rivets again.  The extended brake pipes were fitted whilst it was easy.

The tank guard was fitted and... 

The fuel sender, suction and return fitted 

Then using marks on the side panels the centre section of the boot was drilled carefully avoiding the tank and riveted in place. 

A hefty coat of underseal was applied underneath before it was fitted.

Many rivets later (approx 130) the whole floor was given a final coat of hammerite.