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Dynorog V4 Fanatic
United Kingdom 249 Posts | Posted - 20 Feb 2021 : 08:46:19
| When new sills are fitted is it OK for MOT purposes, to plug weld instead of the original spot welds or is it necessary to weld all along the seam as you have to for a patch repair? Cheers
Dynorog |
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UK_Sub V4 Guru
United Kingdom 2555 Posts | Posted - 21 Feb 2021 : 18:00:40
| I plug welded my sills, and seam welded the ends. Apparently the MOT man likes them to look original, rather than welded along all 4 edges. Less likely to distort too. | |
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UK_Sub V4 Guru
United Kingdom 2555 Posts | Posted - 21 Feb 2021 : 18:05:17
| And make sure the holes you drill in the sills are at least 8mm wide (and a similar distance apart as the spot welds, approx 40mm) - to give the weld a chance to latch on to the inner and outer sill.
I was told one way to keep the new sill tight to the inner sill (during welding), was to use self tapping screws through the holes you drilled, removing a screw at a time, plug welding the hole and moving on to the next... | |
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Dirtbiker V4 Guru
United Kingdom 1060 Posts | Posted - 21 Feb 2021 : 19:23:10
| Hi Roger, Just my opinion so might be worth checking the mot testers handbook but I plug welded mine and they look original. Every time I take it for an mot they all stop what they are doing and have an admiring look. This could be because they were expecting a crusty pile of rust based on seeing the bodywork... I will try and update the photos on my thread for the 96 as I showed what I did step by step. Cheers | Edited by - Dirtbiker on 21 Feb 2021 19:23:54 | |
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Dynorog V4 Fanatic
United Kingdom 249 Posts | Posted - 23 Feb 2021 : 16:02:59
| Thanks Simon and Gareth for your responses, much appreciated. So I will plug weld and seam the ends. I had better practice doing the plugs first though. The ones I've done in the past come out a bit sort of half baked... bit like me really. I have a look at your project as well Gareth. Thanks again. Cheers
Dynorog | Edited by - Dynorog on 23 Feb 2021 16:04:36 | |
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Dynorog V4 Fanatic
United Kingdom 249 Posts | Posted - 23 Feb 2021 : 18:52:50
| Just looked at you 72 project Gareth - Photobucket are real Bar stewards aren’t they!
Dynorog | Edited by - Dynorog on 24 Feb 2021 08:13:34 | |
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Dirtbiker V4 Guru
United Kingdom 1060 Posts | Posted - 23 Feb 2021 : 19:31:03
| I’ve got the photos on Flickr now which we pay £50 ish a year for. Seems alright really when you think how much it used to cost to develop a roll of film. I have started changing the links, I’ll try and do the ones for the sill for you. Cheers | |
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Dynorog V4 Fanatic
United Kingdom 249 Posts | Posted - 24 Feb 2021 : 08:15:01
| Thanks for the updated photos on 72 project Gareth. Cheers
Dynorog | |
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Dirtbiker V4 Guru
United Kingdom 1060 Posts | Posted - 24 Feb 2021 : 22:40:56
| I have just added a few more showing the sill being welded in. Thought I best get them done or you would have your sills fitted before I got round to it!
Next time I wouldn't plug weld the jacking points. They should be seam welded but not all the way around and I think that would be nicer. Having said that I would be tempted to leave them off and I probably wouldn't bother with the small mudflap bracket at the rear of the sill. Not only is it a rust trap but in eight years or so since making the bracket I have never attached an actual mudflap...
Cheers | |
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Dynorog V4 Fanatic
United Kingdom 249 Posts | Posted - 02 Mar 2021 : 14:49:05
| Thanks Gareth. Not fitted the sill yet. I got a bit out of sync and was doing bits here there and everywhere. There is so much to do but I get bored doing the same thing day after day. Despite this I decided to concentrate on cleaning up the whole of the underside of the car before proceeding with the sill. So then my 29yrs old heat gun packed up and I ran out of white spirit.Back on it again tomorrow though. Cheers
Dynorog | |
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Dynorog V4 Fanatic
United Kingdom 249 Posts | Posted - 13 Mar 2021 : 14:57:25
| Nearside sill now on. See Dennis Project Cheers
Dynorog | |
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andydeans3 V4 Guru
United Kingdom 1994 Posts | Posted - 14 Mar 2021 : 11:38:01
| quote: Originally posted by UK_Sub I plug welded my sills, and seam welded the ends. Apparently the MOT man likes them to look original, rather than welded along all 4 edges. Less likely to distort too.
I had a pair of galvanised Malbrad sills fitted a couple of years ago, and the welder plug welded the outer edge, but also seam welded them all the way round, to try and seal them to help prevent moisture getting into the cavities. He used weld through zinc primer. When it was all done, I sprayed POR 15 into the cavity sections, using a long lance. Tons of it, followed by tons of Bilt Hamber cavity wax. I replenish the wax at least once a year. I also did not refit jacking points. They're just moisture traps. I shaped the sill profile out of a block of wood for jacking. Never had any issues with the MOT. Passed 1st time again this year, with only a couple of silly wee advisories.
Andy
1978 LHD SAAB 96 1978 MGB Roadster 2008 LHD "Classic" Renault Twingo 1991 Nissan Figaro | Edited by - andydeans3 on 14 Mar 2021 11:39:03 | |
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