Diamond Plate in footwell

[Jibha]

Hey guys,

This seems a little weird to me. I test drove a '75 911 a few days ago. The car ran very well, nice tight suspension, though a small vibration at speeds in excess of the legal limit.

Anyway, what was weird was the polished diamond plate welded in to the passenger side footwell, where the pedal cluster would be if it were an english car. She was told they added it for strength. Has anybody ever heard of this, or is this possibly some kind of rust or accident repair? Other than that, I'd like to make an offer on the car pending a PPI, but I'm not sure if the PPI would be a waste of money. Should I just walk away?

Thanks, Joe

[Dantilla]

I wouldn't neccessarely walk away, but I would sure investigate further.

[Zeke]

Are you sure it's welded in?

[project911]

Sounds to me like it's a dead pedal for passengers while on the track.

[Jibha]

No, I'm not sure it was welded in, I guess I just assumed it was since she said it was added for strength. I know that some people say targas flex more (this was a targa) but this would sure seem a strange place to put some kind of torsion strengthener.

I like the idea of it being a dead pedal pedal, since these cars do lack an "oh s**t! " bar on the dashboard

[Chuck Moreland]

cars with AC have a big hole hacked through that wall into the smuggler's box.

Perhaps this car had the AC removed, and the plate installed to cover the hole. Look in the smuggler's box at the back side of this area. I bet you see the diamond plate through a rough-cut square hole.

nothing wrong with this type patch. It doesn't add or detract from stiffness/strength measurably.

[Flying Toaster]

Originally posted by Chuck Moreland
cars with AC have a big hole hacked through that wall into the smuggler's box. Perhaps this car had the AC removed,......a rough-cut square hole.

You mean to say that abortion looking mess is from the factory a/c install? I was mortified when I pulled my 74 apart to find this massacre of the sheet metal. Wow.

[azasadny]

When I bought my '74, the wooden floorboards were shot so I replaced them with aluminum, diamondplate pattern footboards, maybe that's what you are looking at.

[Joe Bob]

Originally posted by Flying Toaster
You mean to say that abortion looking mess is from the factory a/c install? I was mortified when I pulled my 74 apart to find this massacre of the sheet metal. Wow.

The abortions are most likely dealer installs.