Floor Question

[BigDave LM6174]

We have the seats out of the 52 Henry J and have a question and need advice.
Any one have a idea why I have a 1 inch diameter hole in the center of the floor under the rear seat?  (See photo)
The car is rust free.  Before putting down the new floor mat from manufacturing fund should I treat the floor in anyway?  My neighbor suggests coating floor with POR15 or at least paint.  Floor looks great as is so not sure if I should do something before laying the mats.

[joefrazer]

I would do nothing....they are only original once. If you don't plan to drive the car in a snow or wet climate, then there's no need to do anything to it. As for the hole, the 53 Allstate I cleaned up had a metal snap in plug filling the hole.

[Fid]

My '53 J has been in the family 40+ years. We've done nothing and it's fine. The car is stored inside and that's a big plus. Henry Js (especially '51s) leak big time and if they sit outside for extended periods, the floors rust out which is pretty typical for them. If the car is stored inside you're fine. My '52 Vagabond has original floors in it too. I put new mats in it in 2001 and there have been no problems. I agree with Jim, it's only original once and if it is to be stored inside, you won't have any problems.

[51HJ]

The 1 inch hole you say is under the rear seat. There is also 2 1 inch holes at the rear pan area at the very back of the body and there is one at the transmission tunnel. When you removed the insulation  ( tar paper) from the floor under the rear seat,  the plug might be stuck to it. All holes had snap plugs.

[BigDave LM6174]

Old flooring and insulation was removed long ago when the car was painted.  I will get a 1 inch snap cover for the hole.  I will also look for addititional holes in the trunk.  Car has the original trunk mat in the trunk.  I don't recall seeing any holes when I looked in the trucnk, but I will recheck when I get home from work.  Thanks guys for the input so far.  I will just put the flooring on top of it.

Now for the next Question.  How do the rubber sill plates attach?  Looks like maybe it was nailed in?  Whats best way to attach them?

[Fid]

The parts book, and one service bulletin, lists "nails" but I've never seen them. I used rubber cement and it works fine. I've heard others say they used weatherstrip adhesive. Gluing them seems to be the best solution.

[BigDave LM6174]

I have the nail heads still sticking up in floor.  Probably just grind them off with dremel tool and then use weatherstrip adhesive then