Front Plate

[ericp755]

I am doing a floor replacement on my 56 Overlander. I have removed the inside skins and removed the bolts holding the floor and channel to the frame. I cut 5 bolts in the front that hold the floor to the front plate and into the frame.
Was the front plate originally welded to the frame? It is not now, only bolts hold it to the frame. I don't know how this part of the trailer was built. It seems like there was some kind of repair done here. Any insight would be helpful. Some pictures are posted in the registry but there are no close up photos of this area.

Thanks
Eric

[Frank's Trailer Works]

The plate is there to keep the shell from sliding forward. It should be welded to the frame and the shell rivets to it. If you have it all torn apart, I suggest a thin barrier between the steel and aluminum. I use phenolic sheet to keep the two metals from touching.

[markdoane]

I don't think the plate was originally welded to the frame. Not that it isn't a good idea.

The front plate on my '59 was pretty rusted out. I replaced both the frame crossmember and the plate. The plate was 12 gauge. It's not easy to find someone who can bend the bottom leg that sits directly on top of the frame crossmember. I painted the plate with silver POR. I think the bolts are 1/2".

I added a 1 1/2" steel strip on top of the floor to serve as backing plate.

Here's the before/after.

[ericp755]

Thank You for the reply.
Ok, then the plate has broken away from the frame, because the shell was off with the plate attached to the shell. The plate is still riveted to the shell. The rivets that were drilled out to remove the shell were the rivets holding the belly pan and the c channel.
Were there always 3/8" or5/16" bolts through the floor, front plate and the frame cross member or was that a repair to fix the broken plate weld. If so, is that a viable solution

[markdoane]

Originally Posted by ericp755

Thank You for the reply.
Ok, then the plate has broken away from the frame, because the shell was off with the plate attached to the shell. The plate is still riveted to the shell. The rivets that were drilled out to remove the shell were the rivets holding the belly pan and the c channel.
Were there always 3/8" or5/16" bolts through the floor, front plate and the frame cross member or was that a repair to fix the broken plate weld. If so, is that a viable solution

They are original. The plate was not welded from the factory, you can use bolts. I would use at least Grade 5, or Grade 8.

You're right, the bolts are probably 3/8", not 1/2".