floor pan rails/stiffeners removal and replacement.

Bwarp · Post by **Bwarp** » Tue Feb 05, 2013 5:03 pm

So I know people get these 'flyin miata' frame rail kits, right.

Now in my opinion, shipping these from the states ends up being too expensive when I could just get some made up here myself. And drill my own holes etc.

My actual "frame rails" are pretty beat up, instead of bolting something in over top of them, I'm considering just cutting them out entirely, and welding in some thicker non tissue paper spec crap metal in their place in the same shape, and getting it painted up.

Can anyone see any negative effects from doing such a thing? Seems so much easier than drilling a million holes and hammering to original rails back into shape to get the FM ones to fit.

Is there a reason I cant find any info on people doing what im thinking of doing?

Im gonna do it anyway, so I'll be the guinea pig, but im interested to hear your thoughts.

tomtikki · Post by **tomtikki** » Tue Feb 05, 2013 5:41 pm

I got some frame rails made up last year out of 2mm stainless steel. (same as the FM ones)
Cost me $120 i think, plus another $30ish for the bolts, washers & a cpl of drill bits.

Baring in mind i dont have a hoist, it took me at least 4hrs!
(God a hoist would have been bloody awesome for that job!!!)

Also factor in my normal WOF inspector wouldn't give me a WOF because "he couldn't see the condition of the factory rails" and reckoned i need a cert.
I just went to someone else who does builds race cars and got a WOF from him but its something to bare in mind if you go that direction.

Now my rails were only a little dinged and scraped so i didn't get my hopes up and im glad i didn't - Personally, i can't feel any change.

Which is a shame. I can however jack my car off them which is handy...

Next step is a butterfly brace, which everyone says is the noticeable item.

So that's my story. Bwarp if you are able to replace your existing frame rails with something better, it wont hurt but don't expect to much.
Now if you knock together a butterfly brace, let me know!

Bwarp · Post by **Bwarp** » Tue Feb 05, 2013 5:53 pm

Yeah dont really care for performance just wanna tidy up the rails cos they're getting a bit haggard. Thats weird that they wont wof you due to the condition of a non important pieceof metal being non visible. Its not like they're actual chassis rails.

Car is going for cert, so provided the stupid tissue paper rails dont stop me getting cert, I'll have a jam at cutting them out and getting new bits welded in.

tomtikki · Post by **tomtikki** » Tue Feb 05, 2013 6:00 pm

Bwarp wrote:Yeah dont really care for performance just wanna tidy up the rails cos they're getting a bit haggard. Thats weird that they wont wof you due to the condition of a non important piece of metal being non visible. Its not like they're actual chassis rails.

Don't get me started on what "they" wouldn't give me a WOF for so far. My own fault really for being lazy and going to the closest place

That said, anyone who has looked under the car thinks my frame rails look great!

Bwarp · Post by **Bwarp** » Tue Feb 05, 2013 6:10 pm

Its almost like saying "there's paint on this metal. i can't see if it's rusted underneath this paint. FAILED WOF"

must be damn frustrating

Angreal · Post by **Angreal** » Tue Feb 05, 2013 7:40 pm

tomtikki wrote:Also factor in my normal WOF inspector wouldn't give me a WOF because "he couldn't see the condition of the factory rails" and reckoned i need a cert.

<-- Last wof I got the guy was impressed with the amount of bracing underneath the car

tomtikki wrote:Now my rails were only a little dinged and scraped so i didn't get my hopes up and im glad i didn't - Personally, i can't feel any change.

<-- Strange because I noticed straight away as soon as it was in. Everything just felt tighter but it could be the effect of the butterfly brace.

Toolbox · Post by **Toolbox** » Wed Feb 06, 2013 8:34 am

I have a set of FM braces including the Butterfly on one of my cars was really impressed so had a set made here for my other car saved $400.00 shipping is a killer. The biggest thing by you welding on new rails is RUST, it doesnt matter how good you are with rust treatment afterwards there is a piece you will miss ( Trust me ). The most strenght in your car come from your sills.

tomtikki · Post by **tomtikki** » Wed Feb 06, 2013 9:05 pm

Toolbox wrote:I have a set of FM braces including the Butterfly on one of my cars was really impressed so had a set made here for my other car saved $400.00 shipping is a killer.

You had a butterfly brace made?! Please tell me more as that's my next step for my car i reckon. How much? Do you still have design etc?

Toolbox · Post by **Toolbox** » Wed Feb 06, 2013 10:15 pm

Tomtikki wrote

You had a butterfly brace made?! Please tell me more as that's my next step for my car i reckon. How much? Do you still have design etc?

I have PM you

ross · Post by **ross** » Sun Feb 10, 2013 12:48 pm

The floor stiffeners are not chassis rails as lots of people think.
I get this problem certifing damaged cars as all salvage people love to pick them up with forklifts and crush the stiffeners.

Ive had compliancers say,oh the chassis rails are crushed,they need replacing. there not chassis rails,the strength is in the sill sections.

The stiffeners are not to badly priced and not a major to replace.

Cutting holes in the floor and hammering them down can be done also.

Id be wary of covering them up as WOF people dont like things they cant see.

This is a NA sill section.

Bwarp · Post by **Bwarp** » Sun Feb 10, 2013 4:40 pm

Good info. thanks ross

floor pan rails/stiffeners removal and replacement.

floor pan rails/stiffeners removal and replacement.

floor stiffners.

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