Belly pan material

[SILVER BEE]

I have a 31 foot 1976 A/S that I am ready to install a new belly pan on a new 2x6 steel tube frame.
. Some Questions I have are;

1- original alloy and thickness used or better suggestions ?

2- since I seem to be only able to find 48" wide material in my area of central Ohio. How have others done connections or the joints .?

3. This may not be the best forum for this question but any suggestion on new tank hangers for black and gray tanks?

I am doing a shell off rebuild and the forums have been a great source of information. Thanks in advance for any help you can give. Would like to post pictures but yet to figure out how.

[DDickey]

Are you putting the belly pan upside down or are you going to flip the frame? I flipped the frame and used 5052 H32 for my '57 Custom and it worked nicely.

[TheGreatleys]

I used 3003H14 .025 for the belly pan. No need to use .032, but you can if you want. Allclad is kind of a waste on the belly because you're never going to see it.

48" wide strips hit every other crossmember if you install them side to side. I worked my way back to front so the seam faced the rear. The large flange rivets from VTS did a great job.

Support requirements depend on the tanks you buy. I used the gray tanks from VTS, which are required to be fully supported from the bottom, not just strapped. I used steel angle welded/bolted to the frame and 1/2" plywood to support the gray tanks. I used 3/4" plywood for the fresh tank because it had to span a larger area. Lots of detail and photos on the blog in my signature.

[SILVER BEE]

Originally Posted by DDickey

Are you putting the belly pan upside down or are you going to flip the frame? I flipped the frame and used 5052 H32 for my '57 Custom and it worked nicely.

I have the frame rotated to do the belly work and then plan to upright to install shell.

[SILVER BEE]

Originally Posted by TheGreatleys

I used 3003H14 .025 for the belly pan. No need to use .032, but you can if you want. Allclad is kind of a waste on the belly because you're never going to see it.

48" wide strips hit every other crossmember if you install them side to side. I worked my way back to front so the seam faced the rear. The large flange rivets from VTS did a great job.

Support requirements depend on the tanks you buy. I used the gray tanks from VTS, which are required to be fully supported from the bottom, not just strapped. I used steel angle welded/bolted to the frame and 1/2" plywood to support the gray tanks. I used 3/4" plywood for the fresh tank because it had to span a larger area. Lots of detail and photos on the blog in my signature.

my tanks are black and have a level angle shaped shelf to support the tank from Inca plastics not sure if I need to support the bottom?

[Dingo Girl]

I just finished my belly pan install. Used 5052 H32. 025 thick. 48" x12 foot long sheets. Then a smaller piece for the back. I did mine the way the original was done.