John P
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| posted on 6/2/08 at 09:24 PM |
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Using 4mm Aluminium for Floor
Sorry if this has been done to death before but at work there are some largish off-cuts of 4mm aluminium sheet which would be big enough for the
floor.
I intend to have the chassis powder coated and the possibly rivet this sheet on using a suitable sealant / adhesive.
The car will be for road / track days not racing so I’m not too worried about the weight but would this thickness be suitable or is it really too
thick?
I’m also concerned over comments that chassis stiffness is much better with a welded steel floor and that there could be problems fixing the alloy to
the chassis without creating the conditions for electrolytic corrosion.
My reasons for considering alloy are that it will probably be free, it’s very stiff and I won’t have any distortion problems which would probably be
the case with say 16 SWG steel.
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jambojeef
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| posted on 6/2/08 at 09:33 PM |
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I think its too thick.
I know you say weight isnt a factor but it surely is to some extent and that is a lot of weight to add - albeit very low down.
Opinion is divided as to the merits of "shear plates" within the chassis which is effectively what a steel welded floor is in a locost
chassis.
Some are of the opinion that replacing them with diagonal cross braces and having a non-structural floor panel is better since there should be less
deformation on appllication of the load in this case and you avoid the locost "twanging floor".
Others consider it to add considerable structural rigidity and the deformation to be acceptable / minimal depending on chassis design.
I consider the former to be better but my car has the latter!
In my opinion I would leave it well alone - I know its free and all but that shouldnt be the overriding factor in the decision.
Personally I would weld some choice diagonals in to direct the loads within the spaceframe and bond a 1mm ish aluminium floor onto the chassis to keep
the water out.
[Edited on 6/2/08 by jambojeef]
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BenB
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| posted on 6/2/08 at 10:08 PM |
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Way too thick!! 1.5mm is more than enough for an ali floor....
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Isaback
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| posted on 6/2/08 at 11:03 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by BenB
Way too thick!! 1.5mm is more than enough for an ali floor....
agree totally, 3mm is like armor
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Avoneer
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| posted on 7/2/08 at 07:17 AM |
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And 4mm, you might as well have a welded steel floor.
Pat...
No trees were killed in the sending of this message.
However a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.
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procomp
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| posted on 7/2/08 at 07:59 AM |
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Hi an 18G floor is fine for racing and 16G is fine for road/trackday. It helps if you can weld an extra chassis member in across the car midway
between the rear bulkhead and the cross member below you knee area ( just in front of your backside  ). Putting one across there supports you weight
and it still allows easy fitment of a seat.
The big problem with the welded steel floor is that you can not get the powder coating to seal the gaps. And also leaves the whole lower face of the
chassis rail bare and open to the elements. Now i know that most are not going to be driving in the wet as a habit but on the race cars where they
have no choice. The floors have been seen to have very badly rusted away after 2-3 yeas. Hence it was allowed that the floor could be riveted after
powder coating/painting ec.
Cheers Matt
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