7 replies to this topic

[Deathrow]

I have asked this in someones post before but I don't think it got enough attention for the reason it was someone elses post.

Anyway, before I waste my time fiddling about and fabricating these little bracket things I want to make sure that they are entirely neccesary:


Borrowed the image from a fellow forum member.

Basically, its a bracket that spots to the inner sill and outer sill with a nut in it that is accessible through the hole in a genuine outer sill. It seems to me that all the bracket is for is for tooling when the car was originally made. Some people have said that the bracket adds strengh to the sill but I can't really see how when it's located so close to the end of the sill (where it is of course, welded already), now if it were in the middle of the space between sill end and jacking point I could understand.

So my question is, do people put these back in or is the general idea to chop them out once rusty and leave them out? There is one at each end of each sill, by the flitch and by the heel board.

I hope someone can answer this question for me, or at least give me their previous experiences in their restorations.

Thanks,
Adam

[Paul Wiginton]

Its not on Mk1s so Id say its not neccessary on later cars

Paul

[Deathrow]

Its not on Mk1s so Id say its not neccessary on later cars

Paul

Thanks Paul, I don't think I'll waste my time fabricating them then. I'll just weld up the holes in the sill.

Unless anyone comes back with a contrasting argument, but I don't think they will.

Thanks again chap.

[jjojjas]

Unless specified as a "I want" then I removed them if rotten.
Jas

[Goopster]

Hi Adam,

Yep, you are correct -

They are retaining nut brackets for use in conjunction with the slinging shoes (the flat plate that you see on the corner of the floor pan) - These were used to support the body when it was moved around the factory, and the nut was used with a bolt as an extra way of securing the car down to the production line etc. There is indeed a retaining nut in the front and back of the sill. I think people who are going for complete originality will fit them again, but bear in mind that you might need Rover or Heritage original sills too, as I'm not sure if all aftermarket ones have the correct holes in them which line up visually - I might be wrong though. As you say, they are also supposed to reinforce the outer sill to the floor, but by how much, i'm not sure. I have actually bought them for my project but until I whip my sills off, i'm not sure if I will be fitting them. I can certainly imagine that they'd get you extra points for originality on a car that is entered into shows or competitions (although i'm not sure if you could even see them through the holes in the sill), so I guess it depends on personal preference - just how far you want to go with original touches on your car.

You can get them from Somerford Mini's. The fronts are not handed, and are £10.45 each, part number 14A9550. The rears are handed and are £4.03 each, part number 14A9552 & 14A9553.

Cheers

Edited by Goopster, 05 May 2009 - 09:45 AM.

[Deathrow]

Thanks for the detailed reply Goopster and for confirming my suspicions about them.

They're availiable from M-Machine for considerably less than that, the fronts are anyway. But even so, I didn't want to waste £20 on something thats never actually going to do anything.

My car would never have a chance at originality (flip front, engine swap, cooper s brakes, different wheels, mk1 bootlid, etc. haha) but yeah I'd imagine to someone going for originality they'd be the way to go.

Thanks again guys.

[adcyork]

As a side question; The bracket to the right of the one circled at the end of the cross member. Is this required?

I'm in the process of replacing my sills and i'm wondering if i need to fabricate some new ones or whether i can leave them out as mine are completely corroded.

Cheers

[1984mini25]

As a side question; The bracket to the right of the one circled at the end of the cross member. Is this required?

I'm in the process of replacing my sills and i'm wondering if i need to fabricate some new ones or whether i can leave them out as mine are completely corroded.

Cheers

Is handy if you ever chose to use the original jack and might help add some reinforcement to the end of the crossmember. They can be bought new, I know minispares and summerford do them if you chose it keep them.

On the 89 though I’ve left them out and just welded in a simple reinforcing bracket and welded up the jacking hole in the sill, which if left would be a mot failure.