Boot Floor Missing Bracket

[Dwaynem884]

Decided to do a bit of work in the boot. As with the recurring theme.. the existing is in awful shape.



The bracket in the middle, I noticed something is missing. Trawling the internet, I found this image.



I presume it's for the tool kit/roll.

I have no tool kit with the car. I've also noted that there have been at least 2 different designs in the Excel life span. Early cars not having this strap??

Question is does this determine that my car came with a tool roll as opposed to the plastic tool kit.

and also can the strap be got? I see no reference at all in the parts book.

[Hawaiis0]

My MY87 does not have that item and has the plastic tool box mounted on the back wall.

I have also never seen that before.

[Excel SA]

That looks exactly like my boot board - also a 1987 car....I can take pics if you need.

I don't think I have the metal strip on the one edge that is on both those pics - will need to explore if that was ever there.

I do not have the tool roll that I think was originally fastened there.

Neil.

[Dwaynem884]

I don't think I have the metal strip on the one edge that is on both those pics - will need to explore if that was ever there.

Apparently the strip only featured in later cars, on my car and in the parts list it's PVC angle

So you have the bracket/strap in the middle of the board Neil?

[rbgosling]

I have exactly that clip in my '90 Excel SE, both parts are present. I never use it for anything, and I'm not as obsessive as Dwayne about originality and perfection, so if it helps you in your quest for perfection it's yours, it'll have a better home in your car than mine. The rubber isn't even perished! No idea what it is supposed to hold, there was nothing in it when I got the car, the only tools were the jack and wheel brace in the other pocket on the left side of the boot (which embarrassingly I only discovered after about 8 years of owning the car!)

I do want to re-do that floor part in my car too, it looks in similar condition around the corners, but there are so many other fixes ahead of that in the list that it's unlikely ever to happen.

[rbgosling]

That looks exactly like my boot board - also a 1987 car....I can take pics if you need.

I don't think I have the metal strip on the one edge that is on both those pics - will need to explore if that was ever there.

I do not have the tool roll that I think was originally fastened there.

Neil.

The metal strip along the rear edge should be there, it helps hold the floor panel in position under the bottom edge of the rear trim panel.

[Dwaynem884]

I have exactly that clip in my '90 Excel SE, both parts are present. I never use it for anything, and I'm not as obsessive as Dwayne about originality and perfection, so if it helps you in your quest for perfection it's yours, it'll have a better home in your car than mine. The rubber isn't even perished! No idea what it is supposed to hold, there was nothing in it when I got the car, the only tools were the jack and wheel brace in the other pocket on the left side of the boot (which embarrassingly I only discovered after about 8 years of owning the car!)

I do want to re-do that floor part in my car too, it looks in similar condition around the corners, but there are so many other fixes ahead of that in the list that it's unlikely ever to happen.

It's a curse and a blessing But whatever it originally held, I endeavour to find out and to fill it. Very generous of you Richard, I'll send you a pm.

I'm going with 6mm MDF, may be slight overkill, but the original masonite clearly wasn't up to the job. Re-doing the LH pocket as well. A good sign that you never needed the jack & brace in those 8 years.

[Marten]

I'm going with 6mm MDF, may be slight overkill, but the original masonite clearly wasn't up to the job

Don't, it will go wobbly pretty quick, it just isn't dimensionally stable if not perfectly dry.

[Dwaynem884]

Don't, it will go wobbly pretty quick, it just isn't dimensionally stable if not perfectly dry.

What would you recommend Marten?

[Lotus520]

I would go with either furniture grade birch faced ply ( tends to have more laminated layers for strength and would help it keep flat) or a marine grade wbp ply, either way I would also varnish them. Firstly to keep them from getting damp and secondly, some of the glues can really stink ( animal bi-products)
And as mentioned above, definitely not MDF

[AndrewWebber]

You could also look into 'phenolic' board. This is used on trailer beds that are exposed to damp over long periods of time, also in the light commercial van conversion business for false floors, shelving etc, again because it is stable and resistant to moisture warping / delamination.

Andy

[Dwaynem884]

Great points men. Although you don't have much faith in me for making the boot watertight (Joking ofcourse)

I'll look into those options. At the end of the day, it'll be what is most readily available local to me.

Dwayne

[Excel SA]

The masonite and MDF are basically made up of the same stuff, both will suffer if they get wet. If you go for a thicker board, then the boot floor won't be flat. The board is pretty well supported by the sides of the boot floor and the tyre - assuming your tyres are the "right" width.

I will probably just go with the masonite again - it did survive 30+ years - probably with some varnish on the top side before carpeting, and then a layer of fiberglass cloth on the bottom to help stiffen it all up - it can change shape quite easily if not stored flat.....

I'm not sure it is the best idea to hang a tool roll under the center though - there are a few other ways/places to store stuff.

Neil.

[DavidOliver]

While in the boot, for my 85 LC I understand there was no under boot strengthening bracket and the rear suspension mountings to the fibreglass were originally horizontal, creating cracks in the bolt and fuel pump fixing. I have reinforced the fibreglass but as yet no underboot bracket. So I got to thinking about installing a Slim Spare, mainly to reduce weight while retaining the rear crash impact strength. This would require replacing the boot boarding with plywood.
It appears that the steel strap indicated at the beginning of this thread may have been to provide support to the centre of the boot boarding.

Dave the cog.

[MetBlue]

The bracket and strap are for holding the tool kit Dwayne.
Picture below of the underside when I did exactly the same job to remake the base board out of Marine ply.


I put a couple of strips of rubber under the tool kit to add a bit more tension to the strap. I have the occasional "clunk" noise from the boot area, and I suspect sometimes it can be the tool kit bouncing over a bump and knocking the board.
My car also had the plastic angle along the rear, but it had "bent" and with the stronger board I now have, it wasn't needed.

I'll take some pictures of the tool kit later and post so you know what you're looking for. Lotus bits have them, but they are a pretty penny
Have been known to show on Fleabay occasionally.

Tony