Captain Tuba
Member
- Messages
- 19
Hi folks - my project is to get a 17 yr old Fiat Panda back on the road.
(The car was already called "Graham" when we bought it.)
I could have bought a decent car but this was a fixer-upper and I wanted a challenge. I was persuaded by the theory that "better the devil you know".
The first on the list is the RHS sill:
I've been cleaning the sill up and I'm not sure how to approach welding it.
Most of the rot is in the lower part of the floor and inner sill.
There are patches of rot on each side of the jacking point.
The original floor & inner sill look as though they were spot welded together, then the outer sill welded to them.
Preparation
How do you cut out metal from awkward parts?
I have a 115mm angle grinder but it's too big.
Too thick for the dremel-like tool I have.
I think I need to visit the tool shop and see what there is.
The car is 1.2mm sheet - do I step up to 1.5mm?
Floor & Inside Sill
Since this is covered by carpet - this doesn't have to be beatiful.
I figure that I need to fabricate the inner sill and floor parts and jiggle them into place. I can get a weld onto both sides of floor lap joint, but can only do one side of the inner sill. I'm worried that this will be a moisture trap.
Where the outer sill needs reaplacing I should be able to get some under seal on it.
Outside Sill
How do I reproduce the drain holes in the outer sill?
Are they really nescessary?
Should I try and save them and cut & weld them into a new fabricated patch?
It it easier to use a sill skin and cut out the bits I need?
Finishing
Flap disc it flat - fill if nescessary.
Prime with high zinc undercoat, Seam seal, Paint
Waxoyl inside
Your advice & comments would be much appreciated.
Cheers C.T.
Clarke 135TE + Universal Argon
There is rust elsewhere - but I post another thread to cover it.
(The car was already called "Graham" when we bought it.)
I could have bought a decent car but this was a fixer-upper and I wanted a challenge. I was persuaded by the theory that "better the devil you know".
The first on the list is the RHS sill:
I've been cleaning the sill up and I'm not sure how to approach welding it.
Most of the rot is in the lower part of the floor and inner sill.
There are patches of rot on each side of the jacking point.
The original floor & inner sill look as though they were spot welded together, then the outer sill welded to them.
Preparation
How do you cut out metal from awkward parts?
I have a 115mm angle grinder but it's too big.
Too thick for the dremel-like tool I have.
I think I need to visit the tool shop and see what there is.
The car is 1.2mm sheet - do I step up to 1.5mm?
Floor & Inside Sill
Since this is covered by carpet - this doesn't have to be beatiful.
I figure that I need to fabricate the inner sill and floor parts and jiggle them into place. I can get a weld onto both sides of floor lap joint, but can only do one side of the inner sill. I'm worried that this will be a moisture trap.
Where the outer sill needs reaplacing I should be able to get some under seal on it.
Outside Sill
How do I reproduce the drain holes in the outer sill?
Are they really nescessary?
Should I try and save them and cut & weld them into a new fabricated patch?
It it easier to use a sill skin and cut out the bits I need?
Finishing
Flap disc it flat - fill if nescessary.
Prime with high zinc undercoat, Seam seal, Paint
Waxoyl inside
Your advice & comments would be much appreciated.
Cheers C.T.
Clarke 135TE + Universal Argon
There is rust elsewhere - but I post another thread to cover it.