Hat Channel Material Question

I am considering two options for what to make my hat channels out of. I was thinking about either bending up a set out of 14ga. with a metal brake like the original, or using a combination of 2x1 and 3x1 11ga. rectangular tubing.

I'm planning on making rocker guards and one of my ideas involves mounting it to the hat channels with bushings between. I dont really want to add gussets to the frame. I'm not planning to do any off roading that desperately requires full protection for that spot.

If anybody has some input about the methods I'd appreciate it.

 

The floors on my mongrel were completely gone. Used heavy gauge steel for the floor boards, with 1-1/2" x 3/4" steel channel for the hat portion. Doesn't even remotely appear to be stock. Gosh darn sturdy thou, much like the ones in the "Wayward JEEP".

 

Ithink the originals were about 16ga, I like your idea of 14ga. bigger is better.

 

Any thoughts on how I plan on mounting the rocker guards?

 

Has anyone used angle iron in replacement of rectangle tubing?

 

I've seen it used for patch work.. Do you mean to put it like

____
V

?

The first problem that comes to mind is body mounts. With some ingenuity you could probably do it

 

I used the 1X2 and 1X3 tubing to repair floor just cut angles in them to make the bends . the only thing I left in was the middle crossover . and the 1X3 is welded to it. 1X2 was used to make the forward braces and the rear floor supports . and 16Ga sheet metal . on the front floors .for the rear I bought the rear floor section . without the rear . made that part

 

Cool. Got any pictures?

 

Found these on a different forum...I might try to duplicate it.

 

These are on a couple CJ2a's




I think that's my answer.

 

sorry I don't have any restoration pictures , they were only on computer , and it got fried during thunder storm . I couldn't believe . that happen . pictures you posted is pretty much what I did . be out in garage this weekend . will try to get a picture . if you want

 

pictures

 

picture

 

Looks good, thanks for the pictures

 

I have a 74 cj6 and the entire rear floor and almost all the hat channels are gone. Any thoughts about using diamond plate for the rear floor? I have to repair/ make quarter panels and wheel boxes too.

 

Well the thinnest rectangle tubing my steel supply has is 11 ga. (1/8"). Do y'all think that's going to be too rigid for the body and possibly cause structural issues? I'm going to be using polyurethane mounts.

 

The problem with going too heavy on a floor panel like that is you may end up fighting cracks and stress problems where the body metal attaches to it. The tub is designed to flex on a jeep, and areas that do not flex with the tub will cause problems. Diamond plate floors tend to be too heavy.... unless you can get pretty thin diamond plate I wouldn't do it..

The 11 gage tubing shouldn't be too heavy for hat channels.. Don't weld them in solid, use spaced apart welds about a half inch long and maybe an inch or so apart.

 

Twin2, do you remember what gauge tubing you used?

 

went out to garage . I measured wall thickness .090 . ordered steel through work . hope this helps