79 Dodge w200 cab floor 2

fixerupper · Jan 7, 2015

OK, after the holidays I got busy on the Dodge cab, or as busy as I can be. Seems like I can get the most uninterrupted work done after supper. I am not an experienced body man by any means so I have to go slow so and learn as I go. Every replacement panel I got for it has had to be modified except for the cab corner. So far the only mistake I've made that I know of is cutting out too much of the hump beside the gear shift. A piece of filler tin will have to cover the gap. Thank goodness it will be covered with carpet when I'm done.

As you can see the two floor panels are held in with sheet metal screws for fitting purposes. How should I weld it? Stitch? Drill holes and imitate spot welding? Weld solid?
Whadda ya say?

This will be a work pickup when I'm done but I'm a bit of a perfectionist so I want it looking as close to unaltered as it can be.

GregCO · Jan 7, 2015

Looks like you are doing ok to me. Always weld up body panels solid. The gaps just give water and dirt a place to get in and start the rusting process all over again. Also use plenty of under coating on the unpainted side. You can get a undercoating gun and body shcutz in spin on cans allot cheaper than using rattle cans.

Greg

G1355 · Jan 7, 2015

Looks good, what did you cut pieces out with, plasma cutter? I think I'm gonna buy a spot welder when I do mine and I'm gonna use "seam sealer" like used on dodge cabs like that from factory holds up really good for many years and keeps the water and debris out.

markct · Jan 7, 2015

Looks pretty good, but way too much metal cut out at once without any temporary struts tacked in place etc. Anytime you cut apart a large weldment tacking a few struts in can save hours of tweaking and forcing later.

fixerupper · Jan 7, 2015

Did most of the cutting with a cutting wheel on a grinder. In places where I couldn't get the grinder to work I used an air chisel with a sheet metal bit. This thing was so rusted out there was no structural integrity to it the door wasn't closing right because the cab was shifting. I put the door back on when I reassembled and I used it as my alignment tool. I made tons of measurements beforehand. The passenger side is rusted out worse than the driver's side. It's too late to give it up and throw another cab on so I keep slogging through.

79 Dodge w200 cab floor 2

fixerupper

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GregCO

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G1355

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markct

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fixerupper

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