What gauge metal for the floor patching

[customandsound]

I pulled my Iroc out of the barn after a 10 year snooze. It did not start so i towed it to my shop figured that was no problem seeing how i am going to install a new motor..

Now here is were the fun begins. I have t-tops and the seals are 21 years old.
Well needless to say they don't hold water back after that long.

What gauge metal are the floors. I got 1 section that i need to cut what is left and weld in new. i was going to use 18ga but i think that is a little to much.

The car dose have frame rail connectors and i plan on running out riggers to the rockers. so will 16 gauge be fine? i got a small 8''x8" patch i need to place on the pass side.

there is a 12 point cage all bent waiting to get planted in to the body. I plan on media blasting it to see what other hiddens spots there is .
the good part is where the sub frame mount it is solid. the section is 18" by 18" and the front seat mount got to get replaced.

I was going to use a alumin. kit from jegs but i want to go with the steel seeing how 85% of the floor is still good ...

any input? I can weld.. it is the forming i can't do..

Thanks
Chuck

[mike@af]

18Gage for all body panels, and most likely 18gage for the floor pans, 16 at the most. Im guessing its 18gage steel. Rarely do I ever see 16gage on floor pans.

How do you plan to attach the cage?

[customandsound]

Originally Posted by GTmike400

18Gage for all body panels, and most likely 18gage for the floor pans, 16 at the most. Im guessing its 18gage steel. Rarely do I ever see 16gage on floor pans.

How do you plan to attach the cage?

i am tig welding the cage i got the out riggers welded to the connectors and to a channel i welded in to the rockers .

at the 10 points where it makes contact to the body. i am going to weld plates to it 0.188 and weld that to the body and out riggers the 2 in the engine bay will be through to holes and welded near the core supports
Now where the t tops are this may be over kill but on the halo i cut 1.750 dom tube to form a * to provent the removal of the driver in case of roll over.

The rear is is a ladder bar set up i think i should of went with the 4 link so in turn i need to remove the rear section and weld in the tubs and patch it back together

That there is the next project.. the cage is over kill but it is not your every day driver.

[customandsound]

I got a 350 4 bolt main stock 4 barrel and 700r tranny forsale if any of yens are in looking you got to pick up $ 200 for them both

The new motor is going to be a 502 looking for 1000+ hp for a 2500 pound car ...

[mike@af]

Finally, somebody that actually knows what they are doing when it comes to roll cage safety. Im glad to see you are TIG welding it, and are also using heavy brackets for the mounting points. A lot of people just bolt it to the floor pan sheet metal which is the WRONG WAY.

Glad to see you've done you reasearch, you sound well on your way. If you need any help let us know.

You said you'll be implanting a 502? Im assuming this is the Chevy 502 with a Gen V-VI block? Im going to be machining one of these, full detail, for my model. Do you have any pictures of the motor? Please PM me.

[customandsound]

Originally Posted by GTmike400

Finally, somebody that actually knows what they are doing when it comes to roll cage safety. Im glad to see you are TIG welding it, and are also using heavy brackets for the mounting points. A lot of people just bolt it to the floor pan sheet metal which is the WRONG WAY.

Glad to see you've done you reasearch, you sound well on your way. If you need any help let us know.

You said you'll be implanting a 502? Im assuming this is the Chevy 502 with a Gen V-VI block? Im going to be machining one of these, full detail, for my model. Do you have any pictures of the motor? Please PM me.

I need to get the motor. I researched a few others but the 502 is my choice.

I looked in to build a 454 with dual turbos but that is not my style. my goal is to do the 1/4 on the rear wheels in under 9

As for the cage mounting sheetmetal mount is not good it will tear away with the anchor points and welded the right was it will be like a tank. if you look on the underside it look's like step ladders . I will get some pics of it this week.

I had to put it in the corner for a while. I got a few new contracts with a local cycle shops so that has been taking alot of my time .. with that and the custom coatings + i been going from pa to tampa every 2 weeks

Now i need to either buy a bead roller or have some one roll me a sheet.
Gm messed up on this car the pass is dam near flat while the driver is recessed ..

I need to get this one done i got another project i want to get to small block honda swap.. kind of a funny idea but i don't like jap cars as much as i use to.. i may drop a 302 in it instead.. who knows 1 project at a time .. i got a bunch of them

[customandsound]

Now back to the camaro. I want to keep the body stock looking but the hood will have a little shape to it .. i raped a 92 took the effects and the high rise wing off of it .. raped a bronco of it rear end i need to narrow it. the rest of the parts are either hand built or came from summit or jegs.

for the interior i am going with the alum panels powder coated to match.
This car will not be on the road so i am not sure what will happen to the interior. but the outside will be custom painted in a peral black the tails.. purpose race and show more race than anything else ... i only got a 5 gallon fuel cell so that would take me around 10 or 15 miles from home if i am lucky

[customandsound]

Mike here are a few pics :
My small block project: yes i am keeping that custom paint ..



my daily driver acura:


one of the shop protectors : 45 pounds i was standing on a chair to take this


my 2 other rats : no i don't like honda i own 14 of them


my other toy... like my office :

that car there has a gm 60degree motor it is a mix of 3.1 3.4 3100 3400 small block chevy bearings and rod's forged pistons and there is a bottle on the rear floor

this is my toy here a 50's wards lawn car : in the back ground you will see yet another honda ... yes i do own a honda bike a 2006 cbr 600 black and silver :

[customandsound]

And here is what living in a barn dose to a car: