Tool storage area repair

[SteveZ]

Hello, I just bought what appears to be a 2A and the only area in need of repair is in the toolbox under the passenger seat. It is rotted and I can see wood bracing? What is the preferred method for repairing this? Cut it out and weld in a new patch panel or would I need to remove the entire Tub?

Thank you, I'm a complete noob to Jeeps and everyone here has been more than great helping me out.

[Oilleaker1]

The toolbox floor is the same sheet of metal that your feet in front sit upon. The wood showing is in the hat channel that supports the floor and sits on rubber pads where the frame mounts are. 99 % of all CJ's have rotted out hat channels because the wood holds moisture forever. The floor is sandwiched between the hat channels and the bottom of the toolbox sides and all is spotwelded together. You will open up Pandora's box if you try and replace the entire toolbox area. The best way to fix them is remove the tub and replace the floor and hatchannels . This is not a easy job. It requires drilling out all the spotwelds and then re-fitting it all and orienting all channels back to original locations in order to fit the frame elevations and mount hole locations. It's a rare thing to only need replacement in a small area, but that can be done. I had a 2x 4 area that I saw wood exposed and I simply cut out the rust and welded in a patch. It's a Jeep Thing!  John

[garage gnome]

See here: too rusty to save?

and here: forest service jeep

Both of these builds show what is involved with rust repair.

[SteveZ]

Thank you!