Im welding the floor on my ford sierra. Im starting off with the seat mounts. Im cutting pieces right out and replacing them. What thickness should the body tin be for this? Would tin from an old door or bonnet be thick enough?

 

http://www.weldfabulous.com/Mig-Weld...orLanding/true

 

How thick is the metal you are replacing??

My advice for a good welding site, where I learned welding www.mig-welding.co.uk

There is a great forum there where all your questions will be answered.

 

i think he needed advice not actual welding tips lol!!!

 

I have recently done this.

I approached in in two ways. My seats mounts were rotten. Right through. So I cut a corresponding piece of 18 gauge and slipped it in the hole from the top. Tacked it on then welded it in nicely from the top.

I drilled some small holes (3/16) in the new metal.

Jacked the car up and welded the bottom of the new pieces and ground them as flat as possible. Then I added another skin of 18 gauge from the bottom. Went back up top and welded the drilled holes up. Therefore mating the top and bottom plates as a laminate.

Painted, undersealed then painted again.

Understand that in a crash your seat will be taking a bit of the hit with your ass in it. the seat belt is attached to the seat. If the seat is not attached neither is your seatbelt.

Overbuild this fix but make sure you grind it flat inside so that the seat will mate nicely to the floor. Paint it, seal it, paint is again top and bottom to make sure there is no rot and to ensure ant seat movement with not chafe the metal and allow moisture in. Fix it ONCE.

 

I would not use anything less than 16 gauge(2mm), but best bet would most likely be a scrappy car where they are intact, if you can find one that is.
I have seen a "pro" shop weld a seat using round tube as the only support between seat and floor on a track car, no reinforcing or anything, then the first time a fat c**t sat in the seat it broke through the floor, but I promised I would say it was ROOSIE, shit too late!!
tabetha
nb roosie did not have anything to do with the welding

 

Ive nothing to measure the thickness. My local parts place has only 20 gauge. Is that to thin?

 

20 gauge is 0.9mm which is fine for panels n stuff. Isn't there an extra piece of tin around the seat bolts to double the thickness & give it some strength ?

 

yip your right, theirs an extra bit spot welded underneath it for strength. once i replace the upper floor piece ill spot weld that back up to it.

 

i use 1.6mm steel and 0.8 welding wire

 

Hi as per youre add one of the best tips are make sure someone is watching with a water spray can in case of any misaps as this does happen very easy were youre welding as the seam sealer is very close and underseal aswell hope this helps.

 

Thanks for all the tips, i got started on it yesterday, what do you think? Takes longer than i thought to try and get it tidy. I could have grinded more off but i like to keep it strong.

 

Hi as another tip you can use seam sealer after all the welds have cooled down so you seam the floor from getting any water in but i would say keep the good work going that looks very good for a 1st time cheers.

 

 

This is why no-one in the trade wants to do it anymore im just doing it to the roof of mine always have water ready.