kn1ghtblade Posted October 19, 2006 Report Share Posted October 19, 2006 What is an exceptable thickness for the sheetmetal for the rear firewall on Road Runner Car?? I was given some slightly bent 18 Wheeler wall skins from work and I know they will work for the dash but not sure about the rear firewall.... They are about a 1/16" thick maybe a hair less than that... Our computers here at work don't give us a gauge size for these skins so I am not sure what gauge they are... I am hopeing its thick enough for the rear firewall and also to close up the engine firewall were the a/c was removed from.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProTree Posted October 19, 2006 Report Share Posted October 19, 2006 Read their rules,it says min 24 gauge steel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kn1ghtblade Posted October 19, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2006 I know the rules say that, I was hopeing someone could translate 24 gauge into a measurement in inches/ fraction of inches... I have no idea what the guage of it is, I just know its between 1/32 of an inch and a 1/16 of an inch... I dont have a micro meter to this is rough measurements from a tape measure on its thickness... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProTree Posted October 19, 2006 Report Share Posted October 19, 2006 google efunda sheet metal calcutator see if that helps.you can enter some #'s and see Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truck99 Posted October 19, 2006 Report Share Posted October 19, 2006 I know the rules say that, I was hopeing someone could translate 24 gauge into a measurement in inches/ fraction of inches... I have no idea what the guage of it is, I just know its between 1/32 of an inch and a 1/16 of an inch... I dont have a micro meter to this is rough measurements from a tape measure on its thickness... Here are several of the more common thicknesses: 24 ga. = .0276 in 22 ga. = .0336 in 20 ga = .0396 18 ga = .0516 16 ga = .0635 Your 1/16 stuff is around 16 ga and 1/32 is around 22 ga. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kn1ghtblade Posted October 19, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2006 Thanks SS99 thats what I needed... Cool it will work... I was given 2 4x8 sheets of the stuff so I didnt want any of it to go to waste... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soaker Posted October 19, 2006 Report Share Posted October 19, 2006 3/16 is 3 times as thick as you need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kn1ghtblade Posted October 19, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2006 You know I was thinking on the driver's side door bars you need to plate them with 12ga sheet metal... Wouldnt I be able to double up the sheets I have to make basically more than a 12ga sheet on the door???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soaker Posted October 19, 2006 Report Share Posted October 19, 2006 kblade, 1/8 inch plate is all u need on the driver door bars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kn1ghtblade Posted October 19, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2006 So if my stuff is 1/16" then I can double it up right to make 1/8" correct? Or does it have to be single 1/8" plate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soaker Posted October 19, 2006 Report Share Posted October 19, 2006 It may work better if you weld 1/16 on inside and outside of the bars instead of trying to double it. If you try to double it you will need to drill a lot of holes in the outer one to weld it to the inner one for more strength. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kn1ghtblade Posted October 19, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2006 Cool, thanks for the tip.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rookie49 Posted October 19, 2006 Report Share Posted October 19, 2006 (edited) The wall sheet metal on most metal buildings is 24 gauge if that helps. If you are that thick that's what you have. Soaker will the 2 plates thing you are talking about fly under the rules. K-Blade. I may have several pieces of 12 gauge plate at my office. Call me tomorrow. They are small because I had gotten them originally for door bar plates. I know I have some 22g also. Edited October 19, 2006 by Rookie49 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soaker Posted October 19, 2006 Report Share Posted October 19, 2006 Rookie im not sure about the legal standpoint but some cars are thinner than the rules allow. Kn1, you may want to ask Mr. Day if he could use an inside and an outside plate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kn1ghtblade Posted October 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 Yeah someone mentioned an inside and outside plate... I measured my sheets yesterday after work and they are 1/16" thick... Based on above post that would put my sheets at the 16ga size according to someone who posted above... As posted then those should be ok for firewalls, I just need to check on door plates inside and out to make sure thats ok now... Thanks guys for all your help, and sorry to keep bugging everyone with newby dumb questions but I want to make sure I have a safe and legal car, and also that it will still be in one peice when I pull it off the trailer the first time.. LoL Thanks again knightblade Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HiTech Posted October 20, 2006 Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 say dummie this is dummer .is that car going tobe safe . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kn1ghtblade Posted October 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 Thats the plan anyway... LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truck99 Posted October 20, 2006 Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 Yeah someone mentioned an inside and outside plate... I measured my sheets yesterday after work and they are 1/16" thick... Based on above post that would put my sheets at the 16ga size according to someone who posted above... As posted then those should be ok for firewalls, I just need to check on door plates inside and out to make sure thats ok now... Thanks guys for all your help, and sorry to keep bugging everyone with newby dumb questions but I want to make sure I have a safe and legal car, and also that it will still be in one peice when I pull it off the trailer the first time.. LoL Thanks again knightblade Just keep in mind that using 16ga metal for your firewalls is going to add alot of weight to the car in a less than desireable area as opposed to using 24 ga. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kn1ghtblade Posted October 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2006 True it is thicker and heavier, but this stuff really isnt that heavy.... I mean the whole 4x8 sheet might weight about 10 - 20 lbs if that... I know its really really easy to lift and carry..... These are slightly damaged 18 wheeler truck body skins, so they are not like building sheet metal... These are the outter back skins of a freightliner truck which are designed to be light weight and strong cabs.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rookie49 Posted November 2, 2006 Report Share Posted November 2, 2006 (edited) I have a piece of 12 gauge and a piece of 1/8" plate-practically the same thing if anyone needs it. Both need to be hit with a wire brush, but they are good. one piece is about 2'x5' and the other is just about door plate size. Edited November 2, 2006 by Rookie49 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rookie49 Posted November 2, 2006 Report Share Posted November 2, 2006 True it is thicker and heavier, but this stuff really isnt that heavy.... I mean the whole 4x8 sheet might weight about 10 - 20 lbs if that... I know its really really easy to lift and carry These are slightly damaged 18 wheeler truck body skins, so they are not like building sheet metal... These are the outter back skins of a freightliner truck which are designed to be light weight and strong cabs......... Blade just remember that the whole idea is to strip every bit of weight off the car and then put it back at the locations that you need it. Also if that material is that light you made need to check the gauge on it. Also it could be aluminum and I don't know if that is allowed for firewalls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kn1ghtblade Posted November 2, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2006 Its sheet metal definately not alluminum... I just know its 1/16" thick... It is light though but not as light as what I have seen in most of the cars I have looked at up close... I am sure its actually more thick than I need, I just dont think it will make too big of a weight difference since the rear firewall really wont be too much of this metal... I know I still have alot more to cut out of the car as far as its stock reinforcements and floor sheet metal which I know is very heavy compared to this metal I have.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kn1ghtblade Posted November 2, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2006 I know I will know more about it after my cage comes in and arron comes and looks at my car for me... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rookie49 Posted November 2, 2006 Report Share Posted November 2, 2006 you need that door plate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rookie49 Posted November 3, 2006 Report Share Posted November 3, 2006 Why would you want to double it when i can give you the right plate. I'm sure aaron will tell you to come get it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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