relocate gas tank and other parts
 

Not sure this is the right section to ask this
I have a body that has been chopped up for a race car so putting it completely back like it was is not an option.
My thought is to reinstall everything needed to get it inspected and passing emission test
We are thinking about cutting out the shield behind the seats and open it up all the way to the trunk .
The gas tank would have to be relocated for sure.
my thinking is laying a flat plate in the floor from the seats all the way back to the tail end. to haul items that normally would not fit under a closed trunk lid
Has anyone tried something like this or would it weaken the sides so much they would fall over .
Just trying to come up with an idea to use a good body and drive train that has been cut up and gutted on the inside
I have seen a lot of mods but not anything with all of the inside to trunk open
any ideas would be appreciated

The fuel tank hump is somewhat structural in these unibody cars. Every bend adds rigidity. But it is your car and you can do whatever you wish.

Easier to pick up an old truck.

Thanks for the replies
We have a full size pickup already
We were just trying to find something to do with this miata so that it is not a complete waste
I had hoped someone would pick it up for a few bucks and finish the race car project but that has not happened
Six appreciate the tip on hump and bends making it rigid and that was one reason I had
edged aganist cutting out. I was concerned that the sides would start leaning outward and then lay over
May hold off a while longer and see if someone comes along needing it

racecar is no wastecar ;)

flying-solo
I agree with you but so far I have not had any offers on it. I have not destroyed it yet just trying to come up with a use for it . Rather than wrecking yard it

I mean, if you have a race car, race the car!

Did you part it out or something and just have a fugly shell left?

I purchased the car for basically the motor the po had been racing or started to race it and either lost interest or something
The interior including wiring ,metal parts like hanging brackets ,dash,heater and anything that could be removed from the inside was taken out up to and including removing and relocating the fuse boxes
The shell itself is still in good shape,but too far gone for much more than the racing scene or try to restore it to a point of driveability with a different look.
I had hopes that someone young would pick it up and finish it out as a race/autocross car and have some fun.
I am past those days of racing so rather than turn it over to a salvage yard we thought of doing something with it and came up with the pickup idea.
Did not want to do a stretch like an el camino that has been done
If we built up the trunk and came right off the hump of the gas tank that would put it top heavy and way too high
Even thought of finding seats that would recline all the way back so you could lay back and sleep,
that is the reason for removing hump but sounds like that is not a great idea