SS deal may be a poss. future project.
Yes, you are right on the money in that the stainless would be harder to form in presses than regular mild steel. Another factor aside from the additional cost is the additional weight, Stainless Steel is a bit heavier material than regular steel.
After giving this some thought, I'm going to have to work on some plans for a stainless tub next year, I do have some understructure beneath the driver side floor that will need some attention, I had planned on replacing the outer skin (1/4's and rockers) in the spring, my tub was refabricated by a PO many years ago replacing the rear floor from the seat attachments back to the sill. Large diameter square tubing was used along the rear of the seats, and flat sheet on top of square tube structure, the wheel houses are still original, with a rusty rear sill.
I do think the replacements done by the po where pretty decent, I can only assume the 1/4'd where replaced as well but, I've not gone past the paint to see if they has been repaired or replaced. I'm thinking of using a similiar stucture or one of formed SS panels as structural supports very similiar to the original, the biggest task would be to try and replicate the original formed sheet metal for the rear floor, done in one piece with a beadroller this would be a task if not impossible. I think a few passes will a bead roller and done with two individual peices would be easier to do. I'm not a puriest but it is nice to try and stay true to the original design. I have been watching others here on this site and misc links to land crusier builds trying to learn as much as possible through others and their trial and errors. I hope with in two years to have a truck that will really be something to be proud of, not to mention done completely by my hands and no one else's.
Soul_Man said:
Yes, you are right on the money in that the stainless would be harder to form in presses than regular mild steel. Another factor aside from the additional cost is the additional weight, Stainless Steel is a bit heavier material than regular steel.
After giving this some thought, I'm going to have to work on some plans for a stainless tub next year, I do have some understructure beneath the driver side floor that will need some attention, I had planned on replacing the outer skin (1/4's and rockers) in the spring, my tub was refabricated by a PO many years ago replacing the rear floor from the seat attachments back to the sill. Large diameter square tubing was used along the rear of the seats, and flat sheet on top of square tube structure, the wheel houses are still original, with a rusty rear sill.
I do think the replacements done by the po where pretty decent, I can only assume the 1/4'd where replaced as well but, I've not gone past the paint to see if they has been repaired or replaced. I'm thinking of using a similiar stucture or one of formed SS panels as structural supports very similiar to the original, the biggest task would be to try and replicate the original formed sheet metal for the rear floor, done in one piece with a beadroller this would be a task if not impossible. I think a few passes will a bead roller and done with two individual peices would be easier to do. I'm not a puriest but it is nice to try and stay true to the original design. I have been watching others here on this site and misc links to land crusier builds trying to learn as much as possible through others and their trial and errors. I hope with in two years to have a truck that will really be something to be proud of, not to mention done completely by my hands and no one else's.
