Floorboard and firewall metal size?

I was wondering what size metal yall have been using on your floorboards and firewalls? What worked best for yall. Fixing to start my floorboard on my Coupe. Thanks

 

I used 18 gauge for the floors in my wagon,,,,,,I use 20 gauge for body panels,,,,,,,,,It wouldn't hurt to roll some beads in the floors to keep them from oil canning(flexing up and down) HRP

 

start with 4x8 and trim to fit

 

What 60's said. You won't believe how fast it will go and you will be looking for more.

Frank

 

Thank yall so much. When you get down there the metal looks so thin (18 gauge or 20) but if you say it is thick enough and worked great for yall then i will use it to. Thanks for the help.

 

before you go to buy it study up on the difference between the words size and gauge

 

18ga. can become very strong with the right re-
enforcement. Read that as ribs, folded edges or beads
rolled into the center or perimeter.

As far as size, I try to make most of my templates then
arrange them on the sheet to get the best use of the
material. My jig saw cut lines are not always the
straightest so I try to use the factory sheared and
straight edges as much as possible.

TZ

 

Be sure you know EXACTLY what you want, because steel prices have gone through the roof. I up graded my mig gas bottle and they raised the price on the bottles just because of the price increases. I DIDN'T EVEN GET A NEW BOTTLE... the fuckers.

Oh yeah, back to question at hand. 18 is great for floors, although I use 20 ga on almost everything. Bead rolling is the way to go for structural intergrity. Good luck.

Reverend Jake

 

I bought 2 2x4 pieces of 20GA CRS, $24 each!!!!

 

I used 20 GA on the floor for my car but it has alot of bead rolls and under floor braces that run from rocker to rocker and then are connected together. I also used some strap steel 1"-3" and bent to fit the form under the floor and welded it to the bottom to help the floor from flexing. The body of the car is on four jackstands right now and is very stiff. It will lift one corner of the car off the stand if the stand next to it is only slightly higher. The center hump is also fully rounded and ads alot of strength.

 

back seat area

 

used 16 guage myself, someone on here recommended it. i don't have the ability to roll beads into it, so i used some small box tubing for reinforcement. kinda looks shitty (a little too much heat, she wavy, boys) but it is strong as hell, and will be under carpet for body metal, i use 18 guage, because that's what the original metal in the old pontiac is.

i hit the MOTHERLODE as far as steel goes, though. i have been working with my grandpa and am helping him to remodel an old school into a firehouse for a local FD. we had to tear down blackboards in some of the rooms, and lo and behold, they're 18 guage steel with the chalkboard crap painted on! i got 9 3'x7' sheets, and 6 3'x10' sheets! enough metal for a lifetime, i think.

 

i always try to use 20 for panels and work that has to be worked,ie shrinker/streatcher or english wheel. and 16 for stuff like floors and fire walls.

 

Hey dirty here is the pic I told you I would post for you to see. Fastcat

 

Man that is sweet. Great looking work. I hope mine goes that easy.