Body question .

Two questions, I need to replace the Hat Channel on my 66 Tux, I was thinking of using Rectangle steel tubing instead. Should provide more strength.
Also both frount flor pannels could use replacement. Also thinking of using something like 12 gauge flat steel and making my own ratherr than ordering the replacement pannels fron JC Whitney, unless there's a better source.
I would like some opions from anyone with a thought. Thanks for your time. Doug

 

First off...avoid J.C. Worthless at all cost!!! Run, don't walk away. I'm in the same boat with the hat channels and floors, and I've heard great things about Classic Enterprises (www.classicent.com) and Jeep Pannels Plus (www.jeepanelsplus.com/index.htm). The Jeep Pannels people are a small place, and their website doesn't have much on it, but I got a pretty quick response by e-mail. I think their hat channels run $40 a side. Search this forum for "hat channel" and you'll see some other solutions people have come up with for fixing them. Also check the "where to find parts" thread at the top of this forum...tons of places to shop for this stuff.

The original floors were probably closer to 18 gauge, so 12 will be pretty thick. If you're going for a factory look, it might be hard to get it match up right with the different thickness metal. OTOH, if you just want new floors 12 gauge would be quite a bit more solid than the originals. Depends on how you want it to look I suppose.

I recently pulled the tub off my '55, and I'm going to be doing the same types of repairs...front hat channels, and sections of the front floors. My floors are just going to be patched...there's enough of the originals worth saving that I'm not going to do the whole thing.
Anyway, I'm sure others will chime in as well.

 

I don't see a lot of benefit in the thicker steel in the floors, esp. considering the added expense and difficulty working with heavy steel. Dragging around the extra weight of heavy steel is kind of pointless too.