Cutting a belly pan inspection hole?

[boatbuilder]

OK.....curiosity has got the better of me.

I've decided that I'm going to cut a small hole in my belly pan to see whats (not) underneath.

I'll post pictures of whats underneath when I find out!
I'm intending to remove the pans totally at some stage, but at the moment I just wanna see whats in there.

My question is....is it reasonably safe to cut say a 1 foot square hole right in the centre with a mini angle grinder, considering the sparks and stuff?
(i.e. should the petrol tank be ok)?

Thanks,
David

 

[lobus]

Realising that it your bus so you can do as you please.
I must ask "Why bother?" It is only held on by 3 or 4 bolts and takes moments to remove or replace.
Isn't that a lot more sustainable than cutting holes?

David

 

[Loxy]

I thought that all early bays had them welded on?
Mine certainly are and it was done at the factory because the welds have factory paint over them.
my old 78 had bolt on pans, so I always assumed that the went from welded - bolt-on sometime between 72 & 78.

Can you not drill a small hole and push a mini camera up through it, might save the pans if theres nothing weong under them?

 

[boatbuilder]

Yes the middle pan is welded all the way around. The outer ones are only riveted on so they're easy to get off.

Realistically, theres gonna be rust in there! So the pans are going to have to come off completely at some stage. Even if its just surface rust, its better to do something about it now!

Unfortunately I don't have a camera small enough to do the job. Also, it would be hard to get a decent picture cos its really darkk in there!

 

[lobus]

OOOps, I got belly pan mixed up with the pan under the front floor.
The only belly pans I have seen are aon double doors, 23 window splits and factory sunroof splits.
My bus hasn't got one.

 

[user 422]

I say go for it, i'm intending to remove mine wuite soon, and i'm gonna start in the middle and work out to the edges of each belly pan.

I'd rather get them off, and the chassis+floor repaired (If needed) and rustproofed and sealed and then run with no belly pans (mainly cos i want to put a radiator in there too, but i'd prefer it in terms of rust traps etc anyway)

good luck! oh and dont cut too deep with the grinder...

 

[boatbuilder]

Might try it tomorrow evening if I feel brave enough.

 

[speedwell68]

Yes the middle pan is welded all the way around. The outer ones are only riveted on so they're easy to get off.

Realistically, theres gonna be rust in there! So the pans are going to have to come off completely at some stage. Even if its just surface rust, its better to do something about it now!

Unfortunately I don't have a camera small enough to do the job. Also, it would be hard to get a decent picture cos its really darkk in there!

My '68 pans were welded on, thousands of factory spot welds.

 

[aggri1]

Yes the middle pan is welded all the way around. The outer ones are only riveted on so they're easy to get off.

On both my '67 and my '69 the belly pans are all welded: no rivets. These are both doubledoors.

Cheers, A.