Darren Roberts Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 Hi All, Just wondering if anyone had any recommendations for getting the sills welded in Cambridge or surrounding areas. I've been waiting since mid September for my "Classic Car Specialist" and I'm fast running out of patience. I used this guy because one local specialist quoted my £1600 plus "extras" and another didn't even quote me at all (obviously didn't want the work). I can weld but being self employed I can't spare the time. Apologies for the rant but in the environment of economic doom and gloom you'd think people would want the work, and have the courtesy to get back to you or give a half decent quote. Admittedly a third specialist did come back to me and said he couldn't do it as he didn't have a four poster ramp. I'm happy to trailer the vehicle but I don't really want to go more that 30 - 40 miles to get it fixed. cheers Darren Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve b Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 Are you looking for restoration or repair? And do you have any pics showing the affected areas? cheers Steveb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren Roberts Posted February 13, 2012 Author Share Posted February 13, 2012 Hi Steve, Really more of a restoration than a repair. Unfortunately don't have any pictures but there's about six inches gone on the rear of the offside sill, both sills have gone at the front of the a pillars if I can remember correctly. I've got new sills (inner & outers) from paddocks and the A & B pillar repair panels from YRM, so really was looking to get the job done properly. Otherwise you just end up chasing the rust around year to year and really don't want to go there..... cheers Darren Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrRob Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 Have you considered buying a MIG welder from Machine Mart and having a go yourself? You'll learn a lot and save lots. Always comes in handy on a Classic too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren Roberts Posted February 13, 2012 Author Share Posted February 13, 2012 Hi Old Hand, Yes I already have a Mig, done a City and Guilds but time is a constraint for me. I spend roughly 20 hours a week on my commute alone and ran out of steam with my last rebuild, hence it got sold on as an unfinished project. A Dirty Harry once said, a good man knows his limitations! cheers Darren Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highway_Star Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 No need for a ramp of any sort, I did both sides of mine in a large single garage. Also get the body mounts, nuts, bolts & the rubbers. As well as P clips for brake/fuel pipes & wiring that runs down the sill. There's invariably some front footwell gone too. The brake pipes have a habit of disintegrating when disturbed, especially at the front on ABS vehicles, where they pass through the stiffener, a kind of wee bulkhead near the front body mount outrigger. Darren, from experience, you could do one sill in a good long day, so in a weekend you could replace the sill, and sort all the foibly bits that go with it. Just sayin' Hope you find someone to get it sorted, you could try asking around on http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/ too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren Roberts Posted February 13, 2012 Author Share Posted February 13, 2012 Thanks Highway Star, Just been down to the guy who has had it since mid September who assure me he will start it this week (end of Feb deadline). I've already re-iped the rear axle and done the front engine bay for the extended hoses (another job that people a) didn't want or b) quoted silly money for - another way of saying a) I guess?). Don't fancy having to bleed the brakes again but didn't have much trouble (touch wood*) as some other folks on here.... Good point re body mounts etc... I was assuming that a professional would charge about a weeks work which is what I've budgeted for. cheers for the advice... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve b Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 Time all depends on how much needs doing and what sort of finish is req'd - flushed repairs that are invisible for full restoration do take more time If the job stalls out again pm me , I could have a look at it for you , I'm about 35miles from you , mid Suffolk Cheers Steveb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren Roberts Posted February 13, 2012 Author Share Posted February 13, 2012 Hi Steve, Cheers for that. Will definitely bear you in mind. I take it that's your series coiler safari in your profile picture? If it is we briefly spoke a few years ago on the top of the hill at Bures... cheers Darren Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highway_Star Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 Replacing the sills themselves, both inner and outer, there is no need for flush/joggled type repairs, as you're removing the panels along a factory seam, which on earlier cars is actually bolted, only on later bodies is it spot welded. I forgot to add a decent spot weld cutter to the list above ( I prefer the ones that look a lot like milling cutters). Of course welding letting metal into the pillars, footwells etc is a different matter, you see so many awful botch repairs on those. I've seen a 'repair' job on this forum, they bloke must have spent longer cutting rot out of the sills and forming up patches than it would have taken to rip out and replace one sill! For someone that knows what they're doing, it really isn't a big job. Especially a classic car specialist, given the panels are available, and everything is big and accessible. Even things like the inevitable outer wheel arch panel is available, and the factory fitted rear selt belt anchor tin worm is a straightforward repair. Probably not a good time to tell you to look closely at the boot floor and it's surroundings, the fuel tank mounts on the rear crossmember, the seat belt anchors on the 2nd rear crossmember, the steel fuel pipes, the front inner wings......... Make sure it's properly sealed, painted and waxoyled. I put a lot of effort into rustproofing the sills after I replaced them, cut 20mm holes under the carpets so I could inject wax easily, then plugged the holes with electrical blanking grommets. Seven years on they still look like the day they I sprayed the stuff in there, same on the outside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve b Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 Yes, and yes Keep us all updated on your progress , RRC's are my favourite of the 'modern' LandRover designs cheers Steveb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrRob Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 Even things like the inevitable outer wheel arch panel is available, and the factory fitted rear selt belt anchor tin worm is a straightforward repair. Is that the rear one you are referring to? 2 or 4 door? I see 2 door ones on Paddocks but not 4. Any help much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren Roberts Posted February 14, 2012 Author Share Posted February 14, 2012 Highway_star, Cracking idea re the holes and grommets.... Steve B - will do.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reggie Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 I have found that people don't seem to want any work either, for the car or the house or whatever. I'm fed up chasing people all the time, especially when people are always complaining about having no money & the state of the economy etc etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren Roberts Posted February 16, 2012 Author Share Posted February 16, 2012 reggie - here! here! I totally agree. Like a mate of a mate who is a builder, who complained he should have got a job that his mate gave to someone else - perhaps it was because the builders work was carp and he was very un-relieable with his time keeping... not saying that all builders are carp... but there definitely seems to be a bit of a mentality of people "being owed work" at top end rates but not top end quality... It feels to me like it's becoming part of the British psyche... The company that quoted me £1600 once serviced my Disco 2. After it came back I noticed a long slight crease in the rear wing - couldn't prove anything but I'm sure it wasn't there before..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reggie Posted February 16, 2012 Share Posted February 16, 2012 reggie - here! here! I totally agree. Like a mate of a mate who is a builder, who complained he should have got a job that his mate gave to someone else - perhaps it was because the builders work was carp and he was very un-relieable with his time keeping... not saying that all builders are carp... but there definitely seems to be a bit of a mentality of people "being owed work" at top end rates but not top end quality... It feels to me like it's becoming part of the British psyche... The company that quoted me £1600 once serviced my Disco 2. After it came back I noticed a long slight crease in the rear wing - couldn't prove anything but I'm sure it wasn't there before..... All so true, hard to find reliable people these days that actually want the work, will do a good job & have pride in what they do. They are like gold dust, if you find one look after them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren Roberts Posted February 20, 2012 Author Share Posted February 20, 2012 Guys, Thanks for all our comments and advice. Just wanted to let you guys know (especially Steve B) that I popped in on Saturday and the Rangie was on the ramp and they had started drilling out all of the spot welds for the seats bases. Fingers crossed the job should now move along now (touch wood*****) I'll let you all know what happens either way... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve b Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 Excellent news I'm sure now its under way all will be fine cheers Steveb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.