Replacing floor and side panels

I have a few questions about replacing floor panels and side body panels in my 1970 CJ5. I need to replace both front floor panels as well as the supports and the rear floor and supports. Also, the side panels have some areas that will need to be replaced. I know how to weld and I have done body work before but have never had to replace both the floor and the side panels both. What is generally the best area to start? The floor or the side panels? This is my first Jeep and I plan to restomod it so it is a solid fun driver that, while I want to have it look nice I plan to offroad here and there. I am in Nebraska so it is not like I will be tackling rocky trails lol. Thanks for any advice you can give.

Rog

 

I started on the rockers first where the floorboards are spot welded to the side. This helped with the removal of the floorboards when I was ready for them since I had to cut out half of the spot welds already. With the floorboards, do one side at a time and constantly check the levelness of the transmission tunnel. That will help you gauge exactly where the panels need to be in order to be level. You can see my build thread here to see how I did my hat channels. Just my .02

 

I also have a '70 that I was going to replace the floors & side panels. Also was a bodyman early in my life & dad was a bodyman. I bought replacement floors & braces before I found a replacement tub so I had already worked this one out. Only do one side as you will need to lower the tub back on the frame to position the new brace. You have to support the tub above the frame in a manner that lets you cut out the floor & side panel in a single removal. First tack wield (only in a couple of places as you will be cutting these out to wield the braces on the floor) the new floor in place. Lower the tub back on the frame putting the frame bolts back in place, if you put nuts back on the bolts leave them very loose. Lift the frame just enough to slide the new brace under so you can trim & align the bolt hole with the frame. Tack wield the brace in a couple of places. Lift the tub back off the frame. Cut the tack wields on the new floor panel. After removing turn the panel over and wield the the brace in place. Tack wield the floor back in place and lower the tub back onto the frame. Reinstall the bolts to check alignment. If you have to you can cut a tack wield or two to make sure the floor is aligned correctly. After you are sure everything is correct add a few more tack wields. Now you can do the side panel but you have to support the tub until the side panel is at a min firmly tack wield in place. Now do the other side the same way. AFTER and ONLY after you have TACK WIELD everything in place to assure everything is aligned correct do you completely wield the panels in. ONLY after the panels are fully wield can you assume the tub can support it's weight when you lower it on the frame. Once everything is tacked in place you could remove the tub and turn it over to wield the bottom should you want to wield the bottom but wield fully FIRST. This is how I was going to do it but I was lucky enough to find an AZ tub instead. I am also sending you a PM.

rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

 

Brett and Roc, thanks for the advice, This is going to be a fun project, slow but fun. right now I am developing a game plan and hope to get started on it soon after Christmas.