Quote
Matt Bobyn
So I need to replace some sheet metal - car is a `96 Golf. The rocker panels have separated from the floor plan, and the pans themselves have taken a beating. I've picked up some books on this, and can weld reasonably well, but are there any really good resources on this? Other than the obvious, how do I tell whats structural and what isn't? I have an entire parts car to cut sheet metal from...
The SILLS are the bearing members on unibody cars..The floor keeps the dirt out. The rear seat support stamping running east/west is REINFORCING part....
I can't recall whats inside a Golf sill...it may be a completely hollow box section.
But it may have an internal vertical element..
Xratties sill for example is like two D back to back like this and an extra I between
ᗡID
The vertical elements bear the load fir forces up ^ and down V, and thats a big deal...
You can see if the vertical plates have rotted cause the sill bottom has rotted, just covering the holes with a skin ain't returning car to stock strength...
Saab 96 on the other hand has a BOX section with much thicker wall than I've seen on any other unibody.. So have a look..Where floor joins the sill I like to wled in a L shaped strip off .0625/1.5mm /16g doubler just to stiffen it a bit cause the floors on all modern stuff is so thin.
John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA
Vive le Prole-le-ralliat
www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.