Hey guys, it won't be long now before I can go to work on the floor pans. Whats some tips on getting the old ones out and putting the new ones in. I figured somebody would know from experience. thanks
3 posters
Floor pans for the 51
Darkside Dave- Admin
- Posts : 1018
Join date : 2009-04-21
Age : 78
Location : Marietta, Ohio
- Post n°2
Re: Floor pans for the 51
jayboy3 wrote:Hey guys, it won't be long now before I can go to work on the floor pans. Whats some tips on getting the old ones out and putting the new ones in. I figured somebody would know from experience. thanks
Plasma cutter
wafer disc cutting wheels
Sawzall and lots of blades
Cutting torch, (last resort)
You can make a lot of your own pieces ans save a ton of money. The bulk of the stuff out there is poorly made Asian import stuff that is over priced.
Later Man...
charger- Posts : 148
Join date : 2009-06-15
Age : 49
Location : manitoba
- Post n°3
Re: Floor pans for the 51
exactly what Dave said!,one thing you should do before cutting is run braces in the cab side to side,front to back to keep the cab all ligned up
jayboy3- Posts : 17
Join date : 2009-06-22
Location : North Carolina
- Post n°4
Re: Floor pans for the 51
What gauge metal is good for the floors. Also I am not familar with a plasma cutter. It sounds expensive, but I have seen them used but never really inquired about how it works or the cost in having one.
Can the braces be out of just angle iron or something. I seen pics somewhere of what you where speaking off and it looked like tubing was used. I didnt think it would matter
Can the braces be out of just angle iron or something. I seen pics somewhere of what you where speaking off and it looked like tubing was used. I didnt think it would matter
Darkside Dave- Admin
- Posts : 1018
Join date : 2009-04-21
Age : 78
Location : Marietta, Ohio
- Post n°5
Re: Floor pans for the 51
charger wrote:exactly what Dave said!,one thing you should do before cutting is run braces in the cab side to side,front to back to keep the cab all ligned up
And a few other things come to mind... BTW, the braces charger mentioned are an absolute necessity. HOWEVER, be sure things are right before you put in the braces by doing lots of diagonal measurements and making sure everything is fitting right to start with. You would be surprised how bad some of the old cabs can be out to start with.
On the subject of material, (steel), you may not be able to get the exact thickness you want either because suppliers don't stock it or they don't want to order it. Don't sweat it... Just get as close as you can without going thinner. Sometimes I go thicker just because I don't want to bother with tying to put the rib creases in that were used to strengthen the thin metal. the weight gain will not be noticable unless you go way over in thickness. Yoy may laugh at this, but old appliances such as ranges, washers and dryers are an excelent source of flat sheet metal. Also old bed frame rails make really good bracing stock because they are usually tougher than the steel stock you get from suppliers.
I bring all this up simply because it is a part of the main theme of this board and that is the goal of doing it cheap but still doing it right.
OH, something else. Use a small MIG machine to weld the stuff back in with. If you look around here and on the web you will probably find a lot of info on the techniques involved. Maybe someone here already has pics up you can look at.
Later Folks...
charger- Posts : 148
Join date : 2009-06-15
Age : 49
Location : manitoba
- Post n°6
Re: Floor pans for the 51
(old appliances such as ranges, washers and dryers are an excelent source of flat sheet metal. Also old bed frame rails make really good bracing stock because they are usually tougher than the steel stock you get from suppliers)
Dave your so cheap!!!I like it!!!
Dave your so cheap!!!I like it!!!
Darkside Dave- Admin
- Posts : 1018
Join date : 2009-04-21
Age : 78
Location : Marietta, Ohio
- Post n°7
Re: Floor pans for the 51
Charger,
I'm not cheap. I'm thrifty...
Later Man...
I'm not cheap. I'm thrifty...
Later Man...
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