Floor Pan Replacement

[Fergusminto]

The passenger side floor of my ‘72 Spit was worse than I expected when I took the old sill and strengthener off so have bought a complete floor pan from Chic Doig. Also have a new inner sill so a total renewal of passenger side floor and sill! The Body is in situ as is the hard top to help secure structural integrity as well as a door “stay”. 
Most of the old flooring is out but I have found that the full new unit is longer and exceedingly difficult to manipulate. Would it be wrong to cut the new floor into two and seam weld the cut when floor is in place?

Also will have to disconnect and blow through the fuel line which lies right along a proposed welding route.

At the front more rust appears and the bottom of the bulkhead plate needs new metal as well as the lower “A” post panel so a lot of MiG welding reqd. But, firstly, the halving of the floor panel is concerning me but would make the job a bit “easier”. Any words of wisdom gratefully received. Bruce

[DaveH]

I don’t believe the floor pans are structural, so welding them in as two pieces seems a reasonable approach as long as the rest of the tub is properly braced.  You could always weld some angle iron across the door gaps and cross brace, then remove the hard top, which might make access easier?  Decent welds & use of seam sealer.

Edited August 7 by DaveH