Sills

[pistnbroke]

Hi - does anyone have a pic of the sill area from above with the kickplate removed.
Mine is very solid and 'professionally' welded but would appear to be nothing like the diagrams in both the Moss parts catalogue or on the BM website
Thanks

[chickenjohn]

I don't know what type of Minor you have but here is a pic from the site of a well known restorer showing freshly restored and painted sills on a four door with the sill covers removed.

[pistnbroke]

Thanks John.
The bit with the holes is a solid thick plate on mine and the bit outside it (undersill I think) is basicallly U shaped with the open side of the U upwards where as on all of the diagrams the open side of the U is downwards.
Regards
Don

[chickenjohn]

Sounds like someone has repaired the boxing panel with a sheet of steel and possibly either made their own (incorrect) panel for the sill underside or even the car still has the dreaded old "sill cover panel".

If I were you I would budget/ save for having the sil replaced on that side as it seems as though it has not bee repaired correctly in the past.

please post a few pics.

[bmcecosse]

The large holes with folded edges are intended to stiffen the panel - a flat sheet will be doing little - although better than nothing I suppose. You have to wonder what horrors may lurk behind............ However -if it's all solid enough and the welding looks reasonable I would probably leave it be. Maybe cut a couple of access holes in the flat panel with a hole cutter so you can look inside - and spray in rustproofer. These will also allow the cavity to breathe - but check drain holes are clear anyway.

[pistnbroke]

I have just done as BMC suggested and drilled and enlarged a couple of holes in 2mm steel plate. Inside is clean as a whistle covered in what looks to be Hammerite and slobered in a waxy goo which I suppose is some form of rust preventative. Im impressed by the workmanship but have to wonder if it would have been easier to fit the proper parts

[chickenjohn]

The repair may have been done at a time when parts were in short availabillity???

Either way, if the sills are not rusting away and are sound and protected with paint and wax, and there is no movement in the car- i.e. the doors fit and the gaps are OK, then you might be better off to leave well alone! The only other suggestion I might make is to see if there are any drain holes in the sill, if not then consider drilling some (paint the bare metal afterwards!) at the lowest points of the sill.

[bmcecosse]

Excellent! If it's 2mm steel it will be fine. Just rustproof the edges of the holes you made - and leave it all well alone.