Bodyshell Bracing?

[Caledonian]

Hi All

After 7 months laid up with a bad back, I'm on the mend and starting to think about my little project again. I've got an '88 MR2 Mk1 that I'm going to rebuild/restore.
After scouring the site, I think I've got a plan for a chassis rotator worked out but I'm going to have to brace the shell when it's on there. The T-Bar is not gonna have much strength suspended from each end with no doors.
Here come the questions
What should I use for the bracing? box section? what size? 25x25x2?
Can I make use of existing hinge, lock and seatbelt mounts? or should it be welded in?
How many and where? 2 horizontal to replace each door and a diagonal was what I was thinking. Should it be more?

TIA for any input

Jack

 

[Chickenjohn]

Yes, 25x25x2mm will be plenty as that is a thicker box than anything on the car!

If you are replacing the sills and part of the floor then remove the dash and all interior trim and brace between the A pillar (or metal part of dash) and B post top and bottom to stop door gaps closing up. Also brace across the width of the car between the two B pillars. Just a few tack welds will be sufficient to hold the braces on. Try and weld the braces in such that you can still get the doors back on for a trial fit once the sills are tacked in place. Make sure these tacks are in places you can get a cutting wheel in easily afterwards to cut the tacks.

post some pics of the rust!

 

[Caledonian]

Thanks CJ

It's actually not too bad underneath Needs a few patches as far as I remember, still can't get down to have a good look yet. I really just want to get it blasted back, patch what's needed and give it a good paint.
I'll get some pics up as soon as I get started. At the moment doing all the planning as the back is still restricting what I can get done. I thought if I worked out what was going to be needed at least I could get the materials ordered,

Thanks again

Jack

 

[rkde]

I have used 25*25*2 for my roof chop too, so far everything is still aligned and in place.
I welded my frame into the pillars or should I say I bridged the areas I was sure would flex when I made the chop. I would say weld it in rather than bolting to your belt mounting points.

Have a look at what you are planning to cut out and think which way the car could bend then support it in that direction

 

[Caledonian]

There's nothing major to be cut out. The sills are pretty solid. Just the fact it's gonna be on a spit for a major tidy up, rust removal and painting, I was afraid that being the T-Bar it may fold in the middle once the doors are off lol

Jack