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Inner arch repairs and centre sill section

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  • Inner arch repairs and centre sill section

    I need to repair the inner arches on my 16v.

    The outers were done back in 1999 and are still very sound.
    The outer sills were also done and are still very sound.

    I have cut out the rotten metal and have cut an inner repair panel to fit the section needed, drivers side only needs front half repair as rear half was patched before. Passenger side needs full inner replacement, however as the car is currently lying on it's side I have started on the drivers side.

    I have noticed that inside the sill section the inner centre section on the sills has rotted, It needs to be repaired but I don't really want to cut a good outer sill to get at it (but if needs must).

    1. Could I repair it from the inside rear where the rear door card covers?

    2. The inner arch panel I have cut to fit but the lip does not sit flush with the outer arch lip, so I was thinking of drilling a series of holes through the outer lip to puddle weld the outer lip to inner before grinding the inner lip back to match the outer lip.

    Didn't have a camera handy and it was dark when I packed away so will try and get some pics tomorrow.

    I know many people on here would have done this before so any advise / help is greatly appreciated.

  • #2
    Re: Inner arch repairs and centre sill section

    Would be interested in seeing how you get on , having to do the same to my vans rear arches. Not looking forward to welding near the petrol tank though!!

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    • #3
      Re: Inner arch repairs and centre sill section

      1) unfortunately not as the "floor" in the rear of the astra is raised above sill level, you cant actually see the rear inner sill from inside the car.

      2) sounds bob on, this is how its constructed as standard (albeit electric spot welded)

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      • #4
        Re: Inner arch repairs and centre sill section

        Thanks Darren so I will have to cut the outer sill :-(

        Was thinking of plug welding the arches from inside to arch to keep the outer arch looking good.

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        • #5
          Re: Inner arch repairs and centre sill section

          for the same reasons as previous reply (rear seat bases raised) you can actually see the back of the inner sills from under the car, the rear 18 inches or so, depends how much needs replacing.

          just to confuse things there's also a third sill at the rear which is originally welded to the outter sill and the rear of the inner sill, its part of the C pillar which runs down and gets integrated (quite important structural bit of an astra but 9 times out of 10 is rusted away)

          all the bit painted grey is the inner sill, fuel tank is just above (joy!)



          the third skin from the C pillar you can see here, with the big swaged hole in it

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          • #6
            Re: Inner arch repairs and centre sill section

            Yes that bit with the hole is the bit I mean.

            Well I will have to cut the sill, but I suppose as I am investing a lot of time and money into the car it's got to be done properly.

            How far done the sill does it go is it as far as the B post or am I looking at the picture wrong.

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            • #7
              Re: Inner arch repairs and centre sill section

              yeah roughly the B pillar. on the cabriolet it runs the entire length of the car
              Last edited by DarrenH; 07-03-2015, 09:36 PM.

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              • #8
                some other inner sill stricture for future searching.

                red line is missing middle sill.



                two of tonys pictures showing the middle sill still intact.





                so basically it extends down, has a flange on the bottom which touches the outer sill and is spot welded to it.

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                • #9
                  Is it important to have that centre sill section replaced if is missing? I bought a J reg 1991 Mk2 a couple of months ago and someone has repair inner and outer sill and left the centre rotten sill piece just hanging with most of it missing. My rear arches have also been repaired by spot welding the new piece behind the old piece and filling over it.

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                  • #10
                    Just got the car back from the bodyshop after having both sills replaced, both centre and outer arches and various other holes around the car.
                    now in storage until the new year then off to paint shop.

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                    • #11
                      More pictures

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Seanp View Post
                        Is it important to have that centre sill section replaced if is missing? I bought a J reg 1991 Mk2 a couple of months ago and someone has repair inner and outer sill and left the centre rotten sill piece just hanging with most of it missing. My rear arches have also been repaired by spot welding the new piece behind the old piece and filling over it.
                        i'd say yes. for example that happened to my silver gte and when you jacked the car up on one corner the doors were misaligned (i.e no longer shut properly)

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