Welding in a new lower C pillar

Post by **youngun** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 1:08 pm

Has anyone got any tips/must do's for welding in a new C pillar repair section on a 4 door?

Thanks,
YG

Post by **chickenjohn** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 7:12 pm

I've never done one myself, but would think its a good idea to temporarily fir the rear door and wing to ensure the bottom of the C pillar section fits in the right place.

How did you get on with the sill?? Bike resto looks really good, BTW one of our East Kent members restored a simmilar vintage of bike.

Post by **youngun** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 12:23 pm

Ive moved the sill inwards so its flush with the boxing panel, but its just tacked until the outer sill and rear inner sill are in, then its jiggery pokery time to make sure it all lines up with doors, cover plates, sill rails etc!

Post by **rupert** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 5:36 pm

its a pain! i've done both on my car and the repair panels I got weren't quite the right shape. The important things to get right are the depth of the pillar (i.e how far it sticks out from the sill) and the height (up/down). The forward/back postition can be taken up a little by the wing flex and it kinda falls in the right position from the rest of the arch/C pillar. You really have to have the door on and in the correct position (there isn't much room for adjustment on the back!) and keep shutting the door to check. If the door is already off, then it needs to be replaced with and the vertical and angle position sorted.

Another (minor!) problem is the little (2mm) moulding all the way up the arch. All the arch flange panels are for a 2 door and don't have it, so I spent ages making bits of steel to shape it around, a bit of piano wire welded to some angle iron did it in the end. Its still a mess though!

I hope that makes sense and is usefull, if you need more info, feel free to message me.

Rupert

Post by **alex_holden** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 6:01 pm

rupert wrote:the repair panels I got weren't quite the right shape.

Are they ever?

Post by **rupert** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 6:03 pm

true... to be honest though, the C Pillar is quite complicated, so anything is a good start!

Post by **youngun** » Sat Aug 18, 2007 6:32 pm

Well ive spot welded the thing in place, it was'nt exactly a good fit.....just like all the repair panels

But it lines up with the rear wing ok. It will probably need some fine adjustment with a hammer, but at least now i have a solid C pillar!