Just thinking aloud, how thick would a steel floor have to be to be thick enough for on road use? 0.7mm steel is the same weight as 2.0mm aluminium, 1.0mm steel weighs the same as 2.9mm aluminium. Stitch welded steel would add more triangulation strength to the floor than glued in aluminium but is thin stuff strong enough to keep your feet in and road debris out?

How thick is a production car floor? 0.7-0.8

Personally I'd like 2mm aluminium as it won't rust (shoes rub off paint in no time) and feels more solid that a thin steel floor

production car floors although thin sheet are stamped complex shapes with ribs and curves, done with a plain shee of thin guage steel it will pop like a buscuit tin lid. then of course corrosion resistance

probably aluminium is better

ever been in the back f a renault 9 or 11 ?? poorly designed rear floor panels popped up n down like drum skins

aitch

quote:

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Originally posted by aitch

ever been in the back f a renault 9 or 11 ?? poorly designed rear floor panels popped up n down like drum skins

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I used 2 sheets (open prop tunnel) of 1.2mm mild steel with a pair of swage lines down each one to prevent 'popping'.

I fully welded it (perhaps unnecessarily).

As Whippy says, the paint has seriously worn off where my heels go.

But atleast it doesn't pop!

I would advise to stick with aluminium actually!


Cheers,
James

This comes up once in awhile, it steel was in vogue on hear about 3 years ago.. It seems it's now aluminum alloy is in..

The steel floor might be better from the point of view of ripping holes in it, but I have not heard any one have this problem with Aluminum. Nasty idea mind having a bit of something on the road getting flicked up and ripping though floor!! Never heard of this happening...

All the major kit manufacture seem to go for 2mm ali sheet, I have as well and I am happy..

Having said this my dad had a nasty incident of driving over a 110V transformer once in a volvo, hate to think what that would do in a 7!!

Dan


[Edited on 4/12/09 by Bluemoon]

I ran over a brick in my Vortx and it put quite a dent in the aluminium floor. Didn't puncture it though.

I have used an old house radiator as a floor in the past but recently noticed an ideal thing to use. The back panel of the sierra fold down seats looks to be nicely ribbed so I will be giving that a try.

My early MK had a welded in steel floor, works fine...not sure how thick it is.