rear hatch spare tire well fabrication

[steeda50]

planning on doing some cutting/welding on my hatch where the rear spare tire would sit ( well )...I just plan on fabb'n a metal piece over the rear spare tire well and having it welded in by my bud....

? is can I cut out the "well" and weld in a piece without hurting rigidity of car?

maybe weld it in first, then cut out the bottom part..tank is out..

thanks

[dentboy]

you can just cut it out, right to the frame rails, then decide if you want your fuel cell directly on the flat metal with the sump out the bottom or if you want to make a pocket for the sump and pump

[steeda50]

so what gauge metal is sufficient to put over that area? want it sturdy enough to be able to hold a jack, tires, etc if need be. may even find someone to bead roll it for extra strength.

anyone in Northern Ohio have any access to some sheet metal?

[dahmer]

You can use thin aluminum if you want. But you will need to make supports for the battery, cell and bottle.

[steeda50]

You can use thin aluminum if you want. But you will need to make supports for the battery, cell and bottle.

uh...how do you weld aluminum to steel?:confused:

[silver408coupe]

Why do you want to cut the welll out of it in the first place? Are you planning on making the well bigger to carry your tires and jack as you mentioned? If all you are going to do is put a flat piece of metal across it, you are actually going to cut down your space. If you enlarge the area, you will have to go with a fuel cell which will probably take up more space in the trunk than it did on the bottom of the car. If you are thinking of weight savings it's probably more trouble than it is worth. You will take weight off the back of the car where you want it most. Just my 2 cents.

[steeda50]

Why do you want to cut the welll out of it in the first place? Are you planning on making the well bigger to carry your tires and jack as you mentioned? If all you are going to do is put a flat piece of metal across it, you are actually going to cut down your space. If you enlarge the area, you will have to go with a fuel cell which will probably take up more space in the trunk than it did on the bottom of the car. If you are thinking of weight savings it's probably more trouble than it is worth. You will take weight off the back of the car where you want it most. Just my 2 cents.

just asking! not gonna cut out the "well" just gonna weld a piece of metal over it so it's flat and when I carpet the rear it looks nicer and has some strength to hold stuff if I decide to put anything back there. :p