OldSlowReliable Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 So looking at adamzan's new pics of his rust repair, it dawned on me... If one was so inclined for a little extra storage space, could they cut out under the rear seats (probably about 10" from front to back total) and insert a box of sorts, weld it in, repairing the rust and creating a storage bin area for things like recovery straps, jacks, fluids, etc... I can't easily go look under my truck, but if I'm not mistaken, the closest thing would probably be the driveshaft and/or parking cables in that area, which could easily be dealt with by separating the box into two sides with a portion of normal depth steel in the middle (also increasing rigidity) Mind you I have a 3" body lift.. This kinda just dawned on me...and it would add a fair bit of space, considering it would basically be enough room to devote it solely to the *safe and secure* relocation of most of the equipment I carry on the trail Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamzan Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 Just to let you know those repairs were not under the rear seats they were where the rear passengers feet go. I would advise everyone who lives in the rust belt to take all the carpet out and check there. All the seams were starting to rust so we cut it all out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSlowReliable Posted December 19, 2010 Author Share Posted December 19, 2010 Just to let you know those repairs were not under the rear seats they were where the rear passengers feet go. I would advise everyone who lives in the rust belt to take all the carpet out and check there. All the seams were starting to rust so we cut it all out. Yeah, nevertheless, they got me thinking again! Oddly enough, the rest of my floors are pristine (save for one corner of my fuel access hatch that has a rust hole) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrimGreg Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 Here is how bad my 88 was: There is a void under there, but you have the exhaust running under the driver's side. I had the same thoughts, to put a deeper storage area there, but ended up just sheeting over the hole and putting a board over the top (removed the seats). Where Adam fixed, mine was bad too (dark pic, but you can see both sides were bad about 12"x3"): Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MY1PATH Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 the rear seat pan has the upper link crossmember and the exhuast right below it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamzan Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 With a body lift there is a lot of room under there. I should take some pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ANDY Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 that would be a really cool idea. the 2nd gen? troopers have a comparment under the rear seats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MY1PATH Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 I hate havin 50/50 seats. stuff is always strapped to the middle (currently baby seat) cause ppl don't wanna sit on the seam. this makes folding one seat to get to a would-be box difficult. If I had 60/40 seats I would certainly consider making a compartment under the 40 side Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unccpathfinder Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 i discussed this previously for the rear section with a BL in getting some storage space....havent done it prob won't for a long time if ever Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSlowReliable Posted December 19, 2010 Author Share Posted December 19, 2010 well I found out I can rent a plasma cutter for 44 bucks a day, or 100 a week.....not bad, meaning I would be making it out of 1/8" steel for rigidity, and making a \__/ shaped pan instead of I__I for the oem look.....and if I'm doing this fix, I may as well build a new rear bumper to match the front! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ANDY Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 you should do it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrimGreg Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 Just be carefull with the cuts, make sure you won't burn through anything you want to keep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unccpathfinder Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 I just did a bunch of stuff out of 1/4" steel and 2" DOM .120 walls and used nothing but an angle grinder with 4" cut off wheels and a sawsall...just saying if you have those available you may not need to rent a plasma cutter b/c it's not gonna make the cleanest cuts... Got my grinder from northern tool years ago for $8 and my sawsall is a ryobi and was like $30 i think from lowes and they're tools you can keep and use for a good time to come Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamzan Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 If you want to cut through the floors in a pathy. A grinder with a zip disc goes through them in about 3 seconds. Ask me how I know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrimGreg Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 Hell, I cut the rust holes out under the seats of my 93 with aviation snips. It is not thick stuff there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ANDY Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 (edited) man it looks like your sockets are rusty too glad i live in cali lol jk Edited December 20, 2010 by ANDY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrimGreg Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 man it looks like your sockets are rusty too glad i live in cali lol jk Nah, they were just covered in dust. Only rusty tools I have are a couple cheap tools I left out in the rain one time....when I lived in Cali. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ANDY Posted December 21, 2010 Share Posted December 21, 2010 oh yeah my cheap stuff gets surface rust too but man those holes are crazy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrimGreg Posted December 21, 2010 Share Posted December 21, 2010 That was my 88, the frame is still solid on it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSlowReliable Posted December 22, 2010 Author Share Posted December 22, 2010 The plasma cutter would be because I'd have to buy a 4x8 sheet of 1/8" steel, and would rather tack on angle iron and run the plasma cutter down for a nice straight edge, than go through 5 4" disks and have a saw blade shape The plasma cutter would also be more useful for the bumper which I would be doing at the same time, as it would cut a well shaped receiver hole as well as for turn signals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrimGreg Posted December 22, 2010 Share Posted December 22, 2010 Sometimes it is easier to just cut it smooth and straight with a disk, then cutting it quick with the plasma cuter and having to clean up the little waves with a grinder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSlowReliable Posted December 22, 2010 Author Share Posted December 22, 2010 Sometimes it is easier to just cut it smooth and straight with a disk, then cutting it quick with the plasma cuter and having to clean up the little waves with a grinder. I'm willing to admit that I am shotty with a grinder....lol....i start off good, but then end up veering one way or the other and making a mess! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrimGreg Posted December 22, 2010 Share Posted December 22, 2010 I'm willing to admit that I am shotty with a grinder....lol....i start off good, but then end up veering one way or the other and making a mess! Then you'll probably be even worse with plasma . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldSlowReliable Posted December 23, 2010 Author Share Posted December 23, 2010 Then you'll probably be even worse with plasma . It will probably be easier to do the thin stuff on the body with the disk lol, but if I need to cut a 60" straight edge, I trust my hand against a tacked on rail alot more than nothing anyone else have any ideas/improvements? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrimGreg Posted December 23, 2010 Share Posted December 23, 2010 If you insist on plasma, that should give you a straighter line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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