What gauge sheet metal for patching?

[05Nissan350z]

Hey guys. I'm going to be cutting out rusty areas on my talon sunday and welding in new sheet metal. What gauge should I get? 16 or 18?

 

[SaulHudson]

.040" , .050" or .063" tempered steel.
If you can bend it by hand it's not tempered.

 

[99gst_racer]

If you can bend it by hand it's not tempered.

Huh? Tempering leads to a reduction of hardness and brittleness and an increase in ductility. You seem to be implying the exact opposite.

 

[05Nissan350z]

Not sure what you're saying.. . I just need to know if 16 and or 18 gauge is okay to use?

 

[bastarddsm]

16ga for structural things. 18ga for outer body stuff. You'll play hell trying to form 16ga.

 

[buhay6]

Ya its 18ga. I just went through body work last year at this time it really doesnt take long to burn through it. Try to keep the heat down as much as possible when welding the panels in, it takes very little to warp body steel that thin

 

[KGB Pilot125]

I would assume 16 gauge or 18 gauge for floor work and 18 gauge or maybe even 20 gauge if you are good with a welder for non structural patches. 18 gauge would be easier to work with for bending and shaping and still give you some strength.

Old school american cars use a 19 gauge for sheet metal from all the info I have gathered. But it was stamped with "beads" in for strength in the floor. Modern day cars use really thin sheet metal and it is of different quality.

All of this info is stuff I have been compiling and searching for for the floor rebuild on my 1961 econoline, hope it helps.

 

[05Nissan350z]

We used 20g. 22 would of been from factory that we decided on.

Here's a few before/ after and finished pics