10 replies to this topic

[#1Spike]

I'm doing a total restore on a 1973 Mini Saloon.  I'm looking for advice whether to use the four inch wide genuine outer sill panels, Mini Spares part # 14A9534 & 35, or the 6 inch wide outer sill panels, Mini Spares part # MS55R/L.  Any help would be appreciated.

[minbin 69]

use Mini Spares part # 14A9534 & 35 never put oversills on the trap water and rot your car!!!!!!

[lrostoke]

genuine or pattern don't use oversills

[ruckus1969]

I know it's a bit cheeky but i'm replacing my sills as well.  Should i plug weld lower sill to floor seam or seam weld it?

 

Thanks

 

Fred

[nordicmini]

just my 5p worth how dose water get into the sills ? (I fit over sills with 2 plug drain holes and spray motorbike chain oil inside.Take the drain plugs out every now and then no water comes out

[lrostoke]

I think oversills got there bad name because in the past and probably still the've been used as a quick bodge and welded over rotten sills.

 

I would imagine if old sill removed and oversill fitted and filled with waxoil rot isn't the biggest issue. But apparently the oversill doesn't create the correct box profile a genuine sill would so leads to strength issues.

 

I just fit proper sills cause they look better

[minbin 69]

just my 5p worth how dose water get into the sills ? (I fit over sills with 2 plug drain holes and spray motorbike chain oil inside.Take the drain plugs out every now and then no water comes out

condensastion..guessing the drain plugs and oil you have put in help

[sonikk4]

I know it's a bit cheeky but i'm replacing my sills as well.  Should i plug weld lower sill to floor seam or seam weld it?

 

Thanks

 

Fred

 

They are originally spot welded in place so plug weld them.

[Shifty]

When you take an oversill off it looks like this..

 

 

Note how the sill is rustier where it sits under the floor, water gets trapped here and has no where to go.  In that picture you can see that its actually still damp.

 

Its this that kills the car when you fit oversills, the rust then spreads to the floor and just carries on.

 

No amount of drain holes will fix this, matter of fact they can make it worse.  Once water is in the sandwich of sill and floor, it stays there

[#1Spike]

Thanks for the replies, I think I'll stick with the original sills rather than the oversills.

[tiger99]

As to the fitting, I would seam weld at the ends, to the front inner wing and heelboard, but if I was wanting to save effort, and did not have the car on a spit, I would drill right through the old spot welds, where accessible, and do most of the plug welding, on the side seam and through the floor, from the top. You can't do that at the back, under the rear bin, so in that area, and below the seat crossmember, you have to drill the new sill, and plug weld from below.

 

It should also be plug welded to the jacking point stiffner and the two slinging brackets, which can only be done from below.