Lower inner Panels

[AJ AKL]

Hi I'm not from the US so English is not my main language I'll try to not make mistakes.

I bought a bus to travel around the US with my wife. I am in the process of stripping down the bus. I already took the roof inner panels, the floor and the panels below the windows.

However there is a lower sheath of metal or rectangular panel all welded together and attached with rivets that goes from one end to the other and it seems to be folded on the floor along with the exterior wall going out and down.

I want to cut this part with a cut-off tool but a mechanic said to me that I will destroy the integrity of this bus and that my walls where going to fall out lol. I want to cut it because there is a lot of rust "****" in there that I cannot reach to properly repair the rust on the floor.

I read on other forums that this part is meant to hold the seats to the frame and protect the passengers if the bus rolls over.

Can someone tell me if they have done it and if they have notice anything different with the bus when driving? Are the walls going to fall out?

[o1marc]

The lip is dual purpose, adding horizontal strength to the panel and also a place to mount seats to. It is a structural design of the bus and should not be removed. This is why we search for buses with minimal rust.