Floor pan

[shaystreetman]

I'm new to this forum but have been a member of some other similar sites. I recently purchased a jeep CJ, the PO cut out a 5" or so piece of the floor. Does anyone know what gauge metal the OEM floor is made of so I can try to find some new metal locally? Or does anyone have a jeep CJ they are parting out with a good piece of floor pan ( I can send measurements?

 

[72rtchallenger]

I'm new to this forum but have been a member of some other similar sites. I recently purchased a jeep CJ, the PO cut out a 5" or so piece of the floor. Does anyone know what gauge metal the OEM floor is made of so I can try to find some new metal locally? Or does anyone have a jeep CJ they are parting out with a good piece of floor pan ( I can send measurements?

18ga or 16ga will work but the 16ga is stronger

 

[shaystreetman]

What is the thickness difference between 18 and 16 gauge or would you not be able to tell the difference once it is patched in?

 

[72rtchallenger]

What is the thickness difference between 18 and 16 gauge or would you not be able to tell the difference once it is patched in?

if done right you probably couldn't tell when done , and if its a pretty smooth spot no contours or anything I would use the 16ga if it needs to be shaped some what then the 18ga would be easier to work with , now I dont know what the original gauge was but these would work or you could buy this tool and check

 

[mtnwhlr]

You can go to places like Quadratec and get any floor pan you need and cut it to fit.

 

[shaystreetman]

That is a sweet gauge tool. I will look around for one of those as that would be handy to have around. I thought about a new floor pan but it is just such a small piece so I was exploring other options first. Luckily it is on a flat surface so it doesnt have to be "formed". Thanks everyone.

 

[PaRenegade]

Careful of those tools, not all are the same, but do look the same. Wire ga., sheetmetal ga., galvanized ga., and aluminum gauges are all different but only slightly. It is enough to give a wrong reading from one gauge to another. Here's 2 links that may help:
Online Conversion - Sheet metal Conversions
Sheet Metal & Wire Gauge Sizes Data Chart - Engineers Edge
That being said, the amounts are miniscule but always err to the thicker. Rust has a way of thinning metal!

I got floor panels from Classic Enterprises Classic Enterprises - Restoration, Reproduction Parts for Studebaker, Jeep & Ford and they were 18ga. but if your just patching a relatively flat area, you can readily buy smaller pieces of 16ga at Lowe's and Tractor Supply, or just about any hardware type store. It seems 16, 22, and 26 are common gauges carried by these stores. Going thicker (from 18 to 16) will not hurt. If your welding, just make the top side flush. It's much easier to weld the thicker stuff. Careful with burn thru on the original metal. Use copper backer if you can.