Question about Interior Panels

[DiscoDean]

Hi everyone,

Im in the midst of a total frame off resto of a 79 6.7m Minuet. The frame has been done and the new floor sheeting is down and the body lowered and fastened back on. So very happy with how it went.

Note: on the plywood. We used a 3/4 inch Concrete forming plywood as it has a laminated plastic side and is meant to be submerged in water multiple times. Plastic down and top has been coated waterproof. Should be good.

My question: The frame to frame measurement of the interior panels is 145.5 inches which is 1.5 inches beyond the standard 12 foot length of the 6061 T6 panels. Im having trouble finding those sheets in anything longer than the 144 inch lengths.

> Do you change the layout of the sheets? split the sheets into two sections? etc. What do you suggest?

Thanks!

[InsideOut]

I'm not clear where you are taking the "frame to frame" measurement from...'floor over the ceiling and back to the floor' or 'lengthwise down the trailer'.

Regardless, when we did our trailer (see posts starting about #207) we used 2024-T3 and bought it by the foot in a continuous coil from Airparts Inc.. As I recall, we ordered about 30'. If you want bigger than the 4'x12' sheets that the 6061-T6 comes in - you will need to go with the 2024-T3 which comes in 'up to 60" wide' x 'length by the foot'.



For comparison sake:

• 4'x12' sheet of 6061-T6 would cost $161.75 or $13.479 per lineal foot vs
• 4'x12' sheet of 2024-T3 cut from a coil would cost $16.75 per lineal foot or $201.00 per sheet

So 2024-T3 is more expensive - you just have to decide if you want 'one single sheet' or have a seam.

The exterior panels we replaced are polished (three trailers) so we wanted 2024-T3, so the cost difference didn't matter for us there. We used the same on the the interior - even though we painted it with Zolatone - to get the longer length in a continuous sheet.

Shari

[DiscoDean]

Perfect thanks for that. I suspected as much. Ill check out the 2024. It is quite a bit nicer.