just a question about what it is called

[dutch-van-driver]

Hi all,

This is the rust and hole I have on my car. It is of the structure of the car and needs repairing but I was especially wondering how this part of the car is called.

Marc

[Simon]

This area is the sill.

[dutch-van-driver]

Thanks,

Well that makes it a lot easier to talk about on this forum. I will be going to a workshop to let this be repaired tomorrow (today it is a bank holiday). I wonder how much this would cost to repair because I don't have the necessary skills to do this (and the tools).

Marc

[E_T_V]

It is a common rust spot on the van. I've just patched mine with a plate, which took a couple of hours. They also rust on the sill infront of the rear wheels. This is usually more serious and needs a big patch or a half or full sill section.

As for cost if you give it to someone who can weld then it'll take them about an hour to do. then you can re-paint it afterwards yourself to save a lot of cash.

[Alan the Vanner]

This bit of the van is an awful bit of engineering work if you ask me. The rear section of the sill for those who don't know is part of the whole back panel and there is an overlap with the front section of about 100 mm. which is an absolute rust magnet. (Hmm, not sure of that term, but it will do!)
What I did was to cut out the whole front and rear sill sections and replace them with car sills, extending them at the back with healthy parts of the old sills. (Believe me, there were some!)

[dutch-van-driver]

Hi,

Well a friend wanted to do the welding before he saw it. After seeing the construction he suggested that a professional should do the work. He wasn't to comfortable repairing that part of the car. I went to a workshop that does a lot of damaged (accidents) cars but they couldn't get an hold on standard plating (body work). All parts to repair it have to be manufactured by hand. I hope it keeps in reasonable prices.

Marc

[E_T_V]

Replacement sills are available for the van in the UK. If you can get a car one that will do to make good patches out of. To repair that part is fairly easy all you need is a plate about 9-12 inches long to weld over the top.

When the rear of the sill starts to go you usually can get away with just replacing the rear section of it rather than the whole lot. (The front half of the sill lasts much longer)

If you want some photos of my repairs I'm sure I can post some up tonight.

[dutch-van-driver]

Well,

I'm interrested in those pictures. I just brought the car away for the MOT and as it turns out... this isn't a MOT failure. I still have to repair it but I will get more time to do so if it manages to go through the MOT.

I had to get some stick-on reflectors because of a crack in the rear-reflector.

I just came home and found out that i forgot to install the windscreen sprayer tube...... Well I hope they can fix that for a nice financial compensation :)

Marc

[E_T_V]

Here are the pics of the plate I welded on the Right hand sill and the rear half of the left hand sill which I also replaced.