FLOOR BOARDS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 296, 9 August 1932, Page 7

FLOOR BOARDS

WEAK POINTS IN BODYWORK. A weak point on the bodywork of a great number of cars, which bodymakers have been slow to correct, is the method of constructing and fitting the floor-boards. Some cars, of eourse, have well-designed boards fitted with j aluminium or otlier meital framfcs, I and provided with sturdy and positive [ catches for holding them in place, but ! a great many other floor-boards are • of ordinary soft wood, generally too light for the purpose, secured in plaee with screws. When it is necessary to remove the floor-boards to gain access to units, such as the battery or the gear-box filler, it is diificult to imagin's a less convenient arrangement. The removal of the screws, especially on the front corners of the floor, where one must work in the restricted space under th'e dash, is difficult, and the operation is so long that battery "topping" is generally undertaken far less frequently than it should be. Moreover, when the seews are removed, it is practically impossible to prevent grit from working into the screw holes. This impedes the repQacement of the screws, and ultimately breaks away the wood, so that the screws will no longer grip.

ihe difhculty can he overcome permanently by fitting small brass screw buttons, of the type used as catches on safes and small doors, to the sides of the body, so that they can be used to hold the floor-boards in position When these buttons are fitted, it will probably be found that the board lies loosely in position — a certain source of rattle. To correct, this, strips of rubber cut from an old inner tube, or, better still, strips of sponge rubber cut from a cheap rubber sponge, should he fastened with small screws to the underside edges of th'e board. This rubbed will then compress when the board is in place, and will make a thoroughly rattle-proof job.