subfloors

[kdubya]

I have seen several builds on here with amazing subfloors built underneath the floorpans. Some of them put some frames i've seen to shame. I was wondering if a subfloor is necessary, could you just go with a slightly heavier gauge metal for the floorpan?

 

[cornfield customs]

it depends on what kind of car you are building. say if you are building a steel t roadster you can build a floor out of 16 gauge and roll some beads, with one or two sub frame rails where the body mounts are, i have seen and worked on some that dont even have sub frames in them and they are fine, i just like the extra reassurance. truck cabs are about the same. but on a sedan, coupe or later model full size a floor skeleton is a must in my book if you are cutting it all out for a channel or a custom floor. if you are just replacing floor pans just leave the original sub braces in and you will be fine

hope that helps

 

[kdubya]

Hey thanks for the advice. It's actually a shortened two door heavily channeled. I also am thinking of not flooring the trunk area and just filling it with fuel tank, battery etc.
May just use sheet metal w/out the subfloor. I think the tranny and driveline tunnel would stiffen it considerably.