Removing boot / trunk bottom floor panel?

[LukasM]

Hello all,

I have a rusty old longhood chassis - at least the part that remains of it - with the original papers. Apparently it was rusty before, acid dipped at some point, and then not treated properly, so it rusted pretty much everywhere.

I'd like to split apart, so I can sell the roof section to somebody that rollled his racecar, or wants to do a convertible of targa to coupe conversion (hopefully backed up with a strong rollbar or cage...). I will keep the panel with the chassis number, as I know of a bare blank shell sitting in a back yard somewhere, which I might use as a base for a street legal project car one day..

How do I best go about removing the boot panel in one piece, so that it comes out like the picture below? I looked under the scuttle panel and couldn't see the spot welds, just some weld beads where the master cylinder refenforcement plate sits. Would be very hard to remove those anyway, since you don't have access from above with my spot weld drill, with the dash and scuttle panel in the way...

Cheers,
Lukas

Screenshot 2025-12-10 at 13.57.22 by lukas.matzinger, on Flickr

IMG_0503 by lukas.matzinger, on Flickr

[SeanP]

Er
That’s known as ringing……Where you change the identity of a car with another.
And is illegal
Just saying

[LukasM]

Hi Sean,

That is not correct, if you use a blank chassis, which never had a VIN to begin with. Also known as "body in white" if you order it from the dealer. Here is an example for a 964, they had them for the old cars as well. The one I found is for a G-body but I'm sure they also sold them for the longhoods.

https://www.design911.com/diagrams/d/40595/0

Not sure about the UK but in Germany and Austria you rebuild the entire car and then need to get the entire thing completely checked by a qualified engineer (e.g. TÜV), and then you can stamp the new chassis with the old number.

But thanks for keeping me honest.

Cheers,
Lukas

[SeanP]

Its completely illegal in the UK
If you buy a new chasis or body shell it should be stamped with a VIN at the factory
If you change a body shell then the car should be inspected and registered with the new VIN number

[LukasM]

Its completely illegal in the UK
If you buy a new chasis or body shell it should be stamped with a VIN at the factory
If you change a body shell then the car should be inspected and registered with the new VIN number

Are you speaking from experience or is this an assumption? As far as I am aware, neither Porsche nor any other manufacturer, will sell you an empty replacement shell with a new VIN, and certainly not with the right paperwork title/V5/Fahrzeugbrief etc, they only sell those with complete cars. If you buy a shell from them it will come blank, just like the other metal panels you can buy.

I don't know about the UK but a quick search at the DVLA found this:

"After you tell DVLA about a repair or restoration
DVLA will send you a letter to confirm that the original VIN shown on the vehicle record can be stamped onto the replacement chassis, monocoque bodyshell or frame.

A new V5C will be sent after you confirm that the vehicle has been restamped.

The vehicle will usually keep the original VIN. DVLA will tell you if there’s a reason it cannot."


Getting back on topic, any input on how to separate the boot floor from the firewall/dash structure?

[911hillclimber]

The shell is spot welded everywhere, a dab or 3 brazed joints in places.

I would think it is a matter of drilling out a lot of factory spot welds, some in very awkward places.
Even then, some light sharp chisel work will be needed I would think.

Not sure I have ever seen a YouTube etc video of a full bulkhead being taken out.

[coomo]

Why not get the rusty shell dipped again?
To remove and refit that panel is a big undertaking.Unless you are really skilled with cutting/welding and hammer work, it would be visible to someone who knows.
IRe dipping the shell would make more economical sense.
Perhaps its just my suspicious nature,but this post just sounds like "How do I ring a Porsche please?"