In the first picture,we used a 3/16 90 degree angle iron that is 3.5”x 3.5”, that is alternately rosette welded all the way down to the inner rocker. The inner rocker, which we fabricated, is 18 gauge sheet metal with vertical ribs to enhance strength on a vertical plane.
The inner rocker was welded to the outer rocker, quarter panel, A pillar, and B pillar
The main floor pieces are 3/16 plate. They sit underneath the angle iron.
The floor pieces are welded to the frame and then completely welded to the angle iron. They are then connected to the firewall and rear floor of the body. The rear floor of the body is welded to the tubs, etc.
The 2nd picture shows the floor UNDERNEATH the angle iron from the rocker.
The 3rd picture then shows a strip that bridges over the outer rocker, the inner rocker, and the angle iron on the scuff plate area of the car.
The other 2 pictures show how it connects to the firewall and quarter.
Picture the weight of the body pushing down on the rockers. The rockers, welded to the angle iron, pushes down, but since it is on TOP of the floor, it has to push down on the floor to be able to move. The rear crossmember goes completely to the inner rocker area. Therefore it sits under the angle iron by over 3 inches as seen in the 5th picture. You can see the evidence of the angle iron to floor weld in the primer and see that it sits 3” PAST that. So now the rocker is pushing down on the frame. 3/16 plate is VERY difficult to flex .The distance between that and the front crossmember where it’s welded to the floor is approximately 5”. So therefore it has only 5 inches to flex that 3/16 plate, but in order to do so, it would have to flex the firewall. And since the firewall is vertical, it’s not very capable of flexing that way.
Also, by doing this we are able to weld the cage directly to the frame making it impossible to flex the car.
I hope this makes sense through my explanation. Because of the questions, we’ll cap the rear crossmember and put a spacer in between the front one and the floor. As you can see in the picture, that will eliminate any possible flex in that 5” area (even though it wouldn’t) and you can also see that the spacer will also be sitting under the angle iron.Oh,the reason the front member has a dip/notch is because it was going to be a body on frame car.
