Is this piece structurally important?, Question for the pros Options

[Matt914MI]

Alright guys, I'm finally getting more of the rusted through floorpan cut out, but I need to know it this piece is structurally significant.

(IMG:http://mcchicken.homeip.net:2080/pics/2003-04-26/CNXT0009.JPG)

It's almost rusted through, and I'd like to cut it out, but I don't know. If it is important, can I weld in some tubing a little in front of it and cut out what's there? All I know is that this is a huge project, and I'm really sick of scraping out all that tar shit.

[Zeke]

As you already can see, it holds the seat adjustment ratchet, so it is important for that alone. I left the ones in my race car because I bolted the race seat to it. If it weren't there, the front of the seat would deflect the floor pan in hard acceleration and braking situations. Other than the comfort and safety of the seats, I don't think it does anything for the chasis as a whole.

[rick 918-S]

I would think without the cross member the floor pan would droop from the weight of the driver and passanger over time. Also any bolting of the seats through the pan would eventually cause stress cracks in the pan. That's the reason for the little stampings and the hinge on the rear of the seat. It spreads the load.

[Gint]

I don't think that cross piece has any structural significance to the chassis itself. I wouldn't remove it though for the same reasons that have already been mentioned.

BTW - I removed half of the tar from my floor pans today. Get a heat gun. Heat that stuff up a little bit, and it comes right up fairly easily. I'll have the rest done and the pan clean with about 3 more hours work tomorrow

[SirAndy]

nope, we take them out on all the race cars to mount the seats to the floor. all it does is holding the seat adjustment ratchet for the stock seats. if you plan on putting the stock seats back in, replace it with a good one, otherwise, cut it out ...

Andy

[Brad Roberts]

The piece is more for side impact protection than anything else.

Your cant properly mount FIA approved seat/seat brackets without cutting this out.

As soon as you cut it one time in any place.. you will see how worthless it is. The only strength is where the seat adjuster is.

B

[Matt914MI]

Thanks guys. I figured it wasn't too important since it is pretty much rusted through at the passenger side long. Chopping it out will make it easier to put in the new pan. I'll post lots of pics next week after it's all cleaned up when I start welding.

[Curvie Roadlover]

MAtt,
Where in MI are you located?

[Lawrence]

If you're going to cut it out, make sure you mark carefully where it lined up. When I replaced that section, I was slightly off, and it made seat adjusting a real bitch.

A BFH fixed my problem... but I could have been more careful.

Live and learn,
Rusty

[brant]

Brad,

I had this piece cut out on my club racer for the same purpose... to mount the seat on the floor.

Allen Johnsen, was concerned... said that the brace helped with torsional rigidity.... convinced me to weld back a square brace a foot forward of the seat....

now I'm confused due to the fact that I place a lot of value to your thoughts as well as AJ's....

Care to offer any insight into how you came to your conclusions... The neither my old or new race car will be allowed to have the cage tied into the suspension if this factors in.

TIA
brant

[Matt914MI]

Well, it's cut out now, along with most of the existing floorpan down to shiny metal. Tomorrow morning I'm going to finish cleaning it all up, and hopefully I'll be welding by Wednesday. I won't be needing a replacement, since I won't be using factory seats. Thanks for the advice guys.

Curvie,

I'm way over on the west side of the state, in the Holland/Grand Rapids area. Hopefully I'll be able to make some of the SMOG meets this summer.