welding / not welding floor pans

[Fahntastic Life]

i have a spot on the floor that needs to be cut out and replaced. do i have to have the new pan welded in. could i overlap the new metal patch, add adhesive between layer and screw down.

also, what guage is the floor or floor gauge should i use.

[Jolly Roger bus 223]

please fill out your profile so we know what bus you are asking questions about.
they dont have to be welded.
your choice?
they can be primed and lapped with sealant if you need.

[musigenesis]

Originally Posted by Fahntastic Life

could i overlap the new metal patch, add adhesive between layer and screw down.

That would work fine. You don't have to weld anything like this.

Originally Posted by Fahntastic Life

what guage is the floor or floor gauge should i use.

Your floor is probably 16 gauge, but your patch can be whatever material you happen to have handy.

[doncobb]

I have two holes in my floor that needed patches, both from heater removal. I just cut a patch from some thin steel and screwed them into place. I did this knowing that I would be putting insulation and plywood over the floor in the near future.

[HamSkoolie]

Rather than screwing patch plates down I'd suggest using blind rivets.

Cut the patch larger than the hole by an inch or inch and a half on all edges.
Hold the patch in place and drill the appropriate size and number of rivet holes. CLECO's work great to hold it in place after the first and second holes are drilled.

Apply polyurethane sealant like Locktite PL-3, and install the rivets. You can use a hand, air, or cordless electric riveter. I recommend the air rivit gun sold by Harbor Freight though if your budget allows there are better (and more expensive) rivit guns out there. Also, go with zinc coated steel blind rivits NOT STAINLESS as your floor is galvanized (your patch should be as well) and I've been told that stainless doesn't play well with galvanized.
In fact, any time you have dissimilar metals (even different alloys with the same base metal) you will have galvanic corrosion. The closer the two are to the same material, the less galvanic action there will be.