Junkman, you make a good point.
Out here there is no MOT but I can guarantee that the car wouldn't have passed if there was one.
I'm trying to completely rebuild the car, so it will last me for a few years. I didn't need to pull the bitumen as there is no MOT, but I wanted to see how good or bad the floor is. I'm glad I did as it's in the early stages of becoming a basket case. Light rust starting and a couple of minor holes.
My aim is to turn it back around and have something that can last another 30+ years and have some fun while I'm doing it.

To completely redo the floor, I need to pull the pedal box. The bushings in it needed to be fixed anyway for the clutch pedal, so out it came. (Bushings on order). To get the pedal box out, you have to get to the other side of the floor, as the bolts are welded to the assembly and the nuts are on the outside.
Cars built after 73 have a skid plate underneath to stop damage and corrosion to the brake master cylinder and some of the steering components. The pedal box is linked to the brake master cylinder and share the bolts and nuts.
It does feel a little like falling down the rabbit hole as to move one thing, another thing has to be fixed. I'm hoping that if I get to the end of this, it will be a keeper, so I want it to be pretty reasonably sorted and I can't afford to buy what I would like, so I'm trying to make it. Not only that, but playing on a car that doesn't have a deadline (I don't need to finish it to drive to work on Monday) is a great break from the routine and stresses of everyday life
The Universe is under no obligation to make sense to you.