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(Message started by: QuentinG on Oct 25^th, 2018, 11:59pm)

Title: New Member
Post by QuentinG on Oct 25^th, 2018, 11:59pm

Hi, I hope I am posting in the right area of the forum to introduce myself and my Scorpio.
I bought the car, a Charcoal Green Ultima 2.3 saloon, from Essex over the August bank holiday.
It drives I think really well but has been a little neglected over the past year or two. It is MoTd until March.
I have been told by my company garage that it is 'rotten' and by the local MoT garage that it is 'not worth doing'.
Personally I think it needs sills and arches which arrived yesterday, and I am in the process of getting a quote to see who is right. So far I have one indicative quote of £1500-2000 from a local bodyshop and one bloke who failed to turn up as arranged. I understand I should be looking at about £800 for a pair of sills. Once I know the score, I can either sort out the mechanical jobs or reluctantly sell the car.

Title: Re: New Member
Post by Torbayboy on Oct 26^th, 2018, 8:41am

Welcome and hope your association with Scorpios is a long one.

Much advice on here for all problems.

As for rotten sills and arches it depends on how far gone they are. Outer sills are not a big problem as replacements are available, wheelarches do not count for MOT unless they have sharp edges due to rust, in which case gaffer tape them befor the MOT they cant fail on them as they are not structure same as the rear crossmember behind the back bumper (unless a tow bar is fitted).

I am sure members will help you to get through this shop around for prices and always seek advice try to find members close to you.
Happy Scorpio-ing if you need help JUST ASK
Roy

Title: Re: New Member
Post by OldTuckUnder on Oct 26^th, 2018, 7:39pm

Re Sills, when I bought my estate there were a couple of holes in the outer sills, although the bottom edges were solid, I half expected to find it horrible and rotten inside. First of all I took a grinding wheel and removed the paint along the bottom 2-3 " which is where the holes were, and was surprised how good the metal was apart from the holes. Looking at the sills and the replacements it was fairly obvious that using the complete replacement sill was going entail removing doors and cutting back up into the tread plates etc, which is a major job. So I pondered if it might be possible to fit half sills. If you look at the sill about 2" below the doors there is a neat crease/bend line in the sills, so I thought this might make a good control line. So with a cutting disc I just cut about 3/4" below that line for the full length, I cut down the front of the sill about 1/2" from the end, and at the rear carefully around into the rear wheel arch. Then along the bottom of the sill you will find that it is only spot welded every few inches and is just easy to peel off using a small chisel and hammer.

When I got mine off I was delighted to discover absolutely no rot inside at all, all was in its original paint and underseal, the outer holes were next to two strengthening braces on the inner sill, where I think water could sit.
With these strips off you can see that actually the outer sill shouldn't even be regarded as a structural member as the inner sill is like a huge braced girder section, but it is regarded so for MOT so ho hum.

We then cut the new sills off just a smidgen below the crease line, then slid them in under the old sill, clamped and tacked in place and then stitch welded them on, and then ran a thin fillet of filler down from the original crease line over the new sill to flare them in.
I cut out the old sections and then got a local welder in to cut, tack and weld the new sills in. He charged me £250 for doing that, which I thought fair for the about 5 hours it took him.

Didn't have much Rot in the rear wheel arches, just a few blisters that I cut out and we then plated. NB get the inner plastic arches out when doing this as it makes it way easier to cut,clean and rustproof the inner metal lip.
Alan

Title: Re: New Member
Post by QuentinG on Oct 27^th, 2018, 3:28pm

Thank you for the advice. That is interesting re. the half sills, I will take that with me when I get my estimate. The first chap I spoke to mentioned about the tread plates.

I took it for a 30 mile round trip yesterday, A and B roads on the outer leg, peak time dual carriageway on the return, it really does go well with no causes for concern that I can see.
It does ground on its front mudflaps quite a lot so I might just take them off.

Title: Re: New Member
Post by Torbayboy on Oct 27^th, 2018, 5:36pm

Hi they all ground their mudflaps and the lower skirt under the front bumper, but the mudflaps keep a lot of muck off the underside, so I live with it personally.

Re the sills if you dont come right up with full sills you dont have to split all the welds by the kickplates in the door aperatures, had one done recently and if you step the old sill back the new 1/2 can sit flush on top then you only have to blend and fill in a straight line not interfering with rubber seals and door gaps etc, make sure the guys who do it understand this and the job should be a lot cheaper.

Title: Re: New Member
Post by QuentinG on Oct 27^th, 2018, 8:26pm

Thanks very much, I'll refer to that Friday week. Makes sense and perhaps explains why the first guy was thinking £1500-2000 (which did include paint)

Title: Re: New Member
Post by QuentinG on Nov 10^th, 2018, 8:36pm

Now waiting for a quote for sorting out the sills, it went up on the lift yesterday and the verdict was quite encouraging; apart from the sills the underside looks OK and they can do the job. Fingers crossed.

Title: Re: New Member
Post by Torbayboy on Nov 12^th, 2018, 2:01pm

Looks like another one is going to live on then, get them to tack weld then join the welds inbetween as this keeps the temperature down so the metal doesn't distort too much, the bottom of the sill (where it joins the inner sill) doesnt need to be chain welded as the original structure was spot welded so this can be replicated, make sure they leave drain holes clear also.

Good luck with it all, hopefully I will have some news of another saved soon.
Roy