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Re: Save our Sills!

Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2016 10:06 pm
by White Exec
Is that an area that can be got at from the door stay bolt holes?

Re: Save our Sills!

Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2016 3:28 am
by xantia_v6
White Exec wrote:Is that an area that can be got at from the door stay bolt holes?
I don't think so, but I was in a mad rush to get the scrap shell out of the garasge at the time, so the details areca bit hazy.

Re: Save our Sills!

Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2016 7:43 am
by White Exec
It would be really useful to have some photos or drawings posted of the sill structure, especially around the front jacking points. That would be a major contribution to preserving the cars.

Re: Save our Sills!

Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2016 11:26 am
by Dean
...............I may well be able to help with that in the next couple of weeks.

Re: Save our Sills!

Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2016 11:40 am
by White Exec
Sounds good, Dean. Know what you'll need for Christmas - a box of 1mm cutting discs :P

Re: Save our Sills!

Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2016 12:17 pm
by MTXM
Here are some photos of the sills taken off Dave's car, although the sills are complete so unfortunately no cross sections as such. It was a good point by Russ about the inner cavity with very limited access and there is no access at all to the front section below the door pillar unless a hole is formed! The general view confirms the access points that are available inside and as will be noted these are only at really at the centre. The last photo shows the rubber plug mentioned by Will that can be used for full-length treatment. In my experience is is mainly on the outside and to the front and rear that corrosion occurs ends unless there is major damage at the jacking points which causes bigger issues! Regards, Matthew T.

Re: Save our Sills!

Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2016 1:25 pm
by russ92xmsed
Ahh, that's where it is. I shall go and find it on mine.

Good pics there Matthew, you can see what I mean by the amount of little pockets which are created.
I will up load a photo or two of my crossection I have.

Re: Save our Sills!

Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2016 2:53 pm
by xmexclusive
My experience suggests many XM sills are far worse than they look from the outside.
It is not just lifting point damage the bottom centre section can rust right out leaving the outer skins looking perfect.
Often too late to treat unless repaired first.
No point in filling up with highly flammable material something that will need to be welded for next MOT.
The thing I would poke through those holes first is a tiny illuminated camera to check the real state.

John

Re: Save our Sills!

Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2016 4:46 pm
by russ92xmsed
Here is my sill section. You can see what John is talking about. The centre section where all the panels are welded together is the bit to watch. And it is harder to get any rust proofing material on the inside cavity. I think the idea of an endoscope is a good one, if not slightly frightening as to what lurks within!

Image

A post from above. Complex.

Image

Inside. You can see trim screw holes and other little access points. Could drill a hole and bung it of course.
I did find a handy screw hole in the passenger foot well of my car and got a load of oil in there. That leads directly to the inner cavity.

Image

Cross section of the sill. You can see the panels all joining to that main seem. You might be able to make outa large stamped out hole in the middle panel. If you take out the puddle light switch, you can poke a tube through that and there is one of these holes right behind it to get to that inner cavity.

It certainly is tricky keeping any corrosion at bay.

Re: Save our Sills!

Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2016 5:03 pm
by White Exec
That's a really helpful combined set of photos, Dean and Russ. Explains a lot.
Think I might go back and look again at what I did a year or so ago.

I do have a USB video endoscope with lighting, and recently installed its software on the Lexia tablet. Didn't have it unfortunately when I did the wax injection. Nothing better than shoving a lens into brown waxy stuff!

Thanks again for the excellent photos.