Le Mans Floor Boards

[casadecabra]

I've reached the stage on my 1934 Le Mans 9 where I am trying to make the floorboards and toe board using the remenants of what are probably (or possibly) the originals as patterns. I have a few queries that I hope other forum members can help with.

I can think of several possible alternatives for the junction of the toe and floor boards, see sketches - A: The toe board sat at the edge of the front of the floor boards with cross members on the seat side of the car, B: The toe board sat on the chassis with the floor boards abutting it, again with the cross members on the seat side of the car, or C: The floor boards were extended forwards and the cross members were on the engine side of the car. Any ideas anyone?

On my toe board there is a large circular cut out about 7 3/4" diameter (see photo). While providing useful access to the cover plate on the clutch housing it seems excessively large. Is this original, and if so, what covered it (surely not just carpet)?

Did the right hand floorboard have an opening for access to the battery. Mine has a rather crude rectangle cut out but I'm not sure if it is original.

David B.

[mikeC]

I don't have intimate knowledge of Singer's methods, but logically I would suggest Option B is the the best solution: this is the only one that doesn't allow water to be driven into the joint and into the cockpit. I have owned several cars (non Singer) over the years with timber floorboards, and they have all had a solid face to the front of the car.

[Peter McKercher]

David
Option B is correct with the exception of the cross piece. A bent metal bracket is used on the underside to support the floor board. It is bolted in two places on the toe board. See photos. WRT the gear box cover, it is made in two pieces. One covers the box itself, while the other seals a piece of leather/rubber against the large circular opening on the toe board. Pictures of everything include an original Le Mans and my Le mans nearing completion.

[Peter McKercher]

One additional shot - the finished gearbox cover on my car. I brought the rubber right up around the top of the cover. Everything is carpeted over the rubber leaving only the top of the gear box remote exposed as shown in the photo. Note also weather stripping between the cover and the prop tunnel.

[Peter McKercher]

You will also discover that a notch is required to allow clearance for your speedometer cable connection.

[casadecabra]

Thanks for the feedback and thank you Peter for pointing out that a cut out is required for the speedo connection. I was puzzled by this anomoly and had even thought of increasing the height of the front engine mount so as to lower the gearbox, although this probably would have caused problems with the starting handle alignment.

Do you know if there was originally a removable panel in the right hand floorboard for access to the battery?

David B

[Peter McKercher]

The panel over the battery is secured by toggles so it can be easily removed.

[Peter McKercher]

David
I have an excel file that shows the overall dimensions of the floor boards if that is of interest. It is not a pattern, but the patterns are easy to figure out. If you want it, give me your email address. I can't attach it in the private message feature.