Floor Panel Replacement

Sure, it'd be ok. A few words of warning, though. I borrowed a buddy's cheapo HF chop saw to cut the tubes. It didn't have enough power to cut through the 11 gauge tube, let alone the 3/16" thick stuff. I ended up using my HF 4 1/2" side grinder and their cutoff wheels. It took a while, but I got very accurate cuts. (even the one on the back of my middle finger. Didn't go through to the bone, but it took a long time to heal.) Anyway, since i finished building it my buddy across the street got a Dewalt chop saw. Man, that thing cut right through some 2" diameter barstock that I used to make some punches and dies for making my bodymount cup washers. I'm still looking for a source of scrap tubing for jobs like this. The last time I went to DenCol they told me that they didn't sell their cutoff ends at a reduced price. They charged new steel price for everything.

tommy b

 

Good looking job. You can also make the holes square with an electronics chassis nibbler after drilling the 3/8" hole. Either way works, though.

tommy b

 

Hmmmm. Wondered about that. My bro has dad's old bandsaw in Oklahoma, maybe I'll buy the steel and cut it in OK, then bring it home.

 

Tommy...I called JC Whitney as soon as mine came in and told them I wanted a refund. They gave me a hard time but after I chewed on them for a few minutes they made the refund. I don't know what the floor panel they sent me was for but it didn't even resemble my '73 CJ5. Some of the panels in this thread look pretty good though. I'll probably stick with fabbing my own. Bought the HF 14" cutoff saw on sale for $49.99 and it works great. Used it to cut structural grade 2"X5" channel iron (1/4" thick?) and it did well. Used the channel to build a bumper and to replace my traverse ledge. Got one heavy duty traverse ledge now.

Tommy - Just noticed your comments on the HF cutoff saw. If it's not working well I'd take it back and swap it. Like I said mine is working great. It's obviously a cheapo but it's worked on everything I've tried. I didn't really expect it to handle the heavy channel iron but it went through it pretty well. Lot's of sparks, noise and vibration but made a good cut.

 

Dave,

I bought the JCW parts Because their prices were going up. I wasn't ready for them at the time, so I put them on the shelf for 3 years. So, I guess half the fault was mine but I was really upset that they didn't fit. Oh well, chalk it up to experience, I guess. Somebody once said, "Good judgement comes from experience. And a lot of that comes from bad judgement." I can't really say what the problem was with the cutoff saw. My buddy said that he had cut 16 gauge stainless exhaust tubing with no trouble. At first I thought it was the fact that I was on an extension cord, but then I plugged it directly into the wall with the same results. I'll check with him and suggest he return it if he has any problems with it. Thanks for the haeds up.

tommy b

 

There are (at least) two different harbor freight chop saws. One is pretty decent and the other is a complete "tool". I think the better one they call "Professionsal"?

Either way, the are loud and messy. Get a little bandsaw and never look back! Several different sites on the 'net and how to tune up the harbor freight bandsaw for optimum results.

 

Will Rogers, I believe.