Steel floor thickness question.

[CTWV50]

Going to be fitting a steel floor but want to keep the weight down. What are peoples opinions on the minimum thicknesses you can get away with. I will also be fitting a steel rear panel and tunnel pieces and was thinking of using 0.5mm steel. Would that be maybe too thin?

[Talonmotorsport]

I'd go with 2mm - 14gauge for the floor and either 1-0.8mm 20-22gauge for the panels. You want a little strength to the body work otherwise it will be covered in dents before you've even finished it.

[Tilly819]

Originally Posted by CTWV50

but want to keep the weight down.

make it from aluminium

[Wynand]

Originally I would have made my car's floor from 3mm ally, but decided on 1.6mm steel plate space welded to the chassis and sealed with SikaFlex all round the seams.
This gave me a very strong chassis (and floor) without the big number of holes drilled into the chassis bottom for the pop rivets that may cause rust problems later. Btw, pop rivets have no structural benefits.
The difference of weight from 3mm ally to 1.6mm steel was only 3.7kg...

However, for the rear bulkhead and tunnel 1.2mm aluminum was used.

[Jimmyd]

I used 2mm steel floor which I'm really happy with. The choice boiled down to the fact I had the steel costing me nothing.

J

[Deanno]

i'm using 2mm as it is what was left over from making a bombing target in work, well it was free

Dean

[Trophy Blue]

I used 1.2mm (18g) on mine, been on the road 7 years now with no ill effects, no corrosion etc.

[CTWV50]

Originally Posted by Wynand

Originally I would have made my car's floor from 3mm ally, but decided on 1.6mm steel plate space welded to the chassis and sealed with SikaFlex all round the seams.
This gave me a very strong chassis (and floor) without the big number of holes drilled into the chassis bottom for the pop rivets that may cause rust problems later. Btw, pop rivets have no structural benefits.
The difference of weight from 3mm ally to 1.6mm steel was only 3.7kg...

However, for the rear bulkhead and tunnel 1.2mm aluminum was used.

This is what i wanted to hear. Thank you!

And Thanks for the other replies too, most welcome.

Cheers

Chris

[danilo]

Lotus and Caterham use Ali as the floor 16 ga I believe? For 50 YEARS! Why do some have this insatiable need to 'improve' on what clearly doesn't require it?

[Not Anumber]

what's 16 gauge in mm please ?