Rear boot pan modification. ???Legal???

[frank_dont_care]

I have an ra28 im currently fixing up an its comint together nicely, i am an experienced welder and have acces to a metal worshop. I was wondering if anyone would mind sharing their knowledge of modifying floor pannels and the laws/regulations governing these mods. I am currently considering bracing and just welding sheet metal over the wheel hole and side indents and removing any under metal that has rusted?
What would this require law wise and do i have an alternative? (the floor has rusted out completely over exhaust)

Cheers

[Spectre]

If it effects the structural integrity of the car, then you have to have it checked off.

[frank_dont_care]

Well the way we have looked at it, me, a boilermaker/fabricator and a structural engineer (no car experience for him unfortunatly) the structural bits are the raised bit that are still intact, the lower bits are just there to hold stuff, tools, tyre etc. So if we braced the drops with square tube and welded plate over the top would it be yellow stickered strait up or do you think if it was neat id get away with it? Mind you it will have p plates on it and the muffler is incredibly loud.

[Spectre]

If you carpet it, no one is ever going to know the difference...

[Shifty]

I can't see it being a problem, but yes technically those changes should be engineer approved.

[thechuckster]

So if we braced the drops with square tube and welded plate over the top would it be yellow stickered strait up or do you think if it was neat id get away with it? Mind you it will have p plates on it and the muffler is incredibly loud.

If your replacement sheets have the same factory style of pressed shaped then most (if not all) workshops wouldn't care. If it looks factory, then even better. Same would apply for any visible re-enforcements under the car.

Having no spare wheel bin may be an issue for new registration (all cars should have a spare wheel on board).

Personally, I'd be attending to (and quietening) the loud muffler as it plus a P-plate will be a cop magnet.

[frank_dont_care]

well the idea atm for the spare wheel is to have the wheel well sunken about 10 mm into original drop, weld in a spare hub on the middle and bolt the wheel in the middle of the boot space and cover with a 4x4 wheel cover and keep it looking factory. i have just finished replacing a section of the back sub frame and it looks completely factory... amazing seeing as it was scrap metal i scabbed for free and a $300 welder

[frank_dont_care]

oh and its registered so i guess its just keeping it away from the pits that im worried about

[Spectre]

Even if it goes over the pits, they will have a look int he boot, check that it has a spare wheel, and move on.... They will look under the car, so just make sure it doesn't stick out like duck nuts and you'll be fine.

[frank_dont_care]

this is the piece i have fabricated so far and you can see the bootpan behind it, would that be good enough quality for pits not to notice?