Spare tire area replace with Sheetmetal

[pnishr]

As the title implies, I'm considering cutting out the area where the spare goes, and replacing it with flat sheetmetal AL. I've looked over it, and I don't see any reason NOT to. I'll have to leave the rear-most part in order for the rear bumper cover to have something to bolt to. Apart from that, it doesn't appear that doing this will degrade the structural rigidity. If you look at my crappy drawing, that's what I was planning. Similar to the "project Goodwill." The dotted lines and the sideview show where I was considering running AL "angle-iron" in order to strenthen it a bit. I would think that this change would STRENGTHEN the original design, as not the stress on hard turns is being forced across a straight surface, rather than through the bends that already exist. Am I wrong?

I'm considering this for a number of reasons: weight (maybe), looks, and the ability to utilize the space under the panel for any number of things (would need more bracing for any substancial weight obviously) I just wanted to get some input on how everybody thinks this will effect the rigidity. I know cutting that rear brace is supposedly OK, so, I don't know why this wouldn't be. Tell me.

thanks all

 

[TRBOBLU]

I did it on mine. My trunk was rusted out and I needed a solid place to bolt my battery. Looks great if done right. From what I noticed, I doubt it added or took away any structural support. The best thing to make it out of is aluminum. The steel sheets I looked at were outrageously heavy even for very thin pieces. Mine is made out of aluminum and has one square support piece running the length of it. It is strong enough for me to stand on.

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[pnishr]

Awesome!

That does look really good. Did you use any bracing or support? What thickness metal, and is it AL or steel?

Thanks for the reply, I've been searching on here, but couldn't find any posts from people that have done it.

Hell, maybe I'll leave it cut out, that N1 exhaust looks good from that angle. .

 

[TRBOBLU]

Its 1/16" aluminum with one square support brace.
Pardon my crappy welding, this was my first time. This pic shows the one brace on the underside. And as stated before I can stand on it fine. I would stick with 1/16". The 1/8 was way to heavy and the 1/32 was like newspaper and would be impossible almost to weld unless you are pretty good.

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[TRBOBLU]

Here is the link:
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=220850&highlight=trunk+project

 

[pnishr]

wow, that's recent too... how the hell did I miss it... thanks for the info, now I've got to do it, no excuses.