[kz1911]

thanks I will try it today, my buddy is a welder, he works at a welding co. and we are going to use a stick welder, im not a pro at this so i will have him do the welding while i prep the spots, i was thinking the same...spot weld every few inches with periods of breaks so it cools off or just hop around the periphery, i want to leave the little gap because i cut off about 1" of material all way around and dont want floor to be pushed up by an inch, trying to keep it as original as possible