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MG MGB Technical - Garage recommendation - Southampton, UK

Hi

Is there a good way to determine if the sill needs replacing? The car is a 76 and the outer sill looks like its had some work done on it before but I can't see inside! I ask because the lower rear wing behind the sill is rusting away on the drivers side so I'm thinking of going ahead and getting the whole sill done. The other side seems ok from the outside but am I right in thinking I should get both done anyway?

My wish to get this sorted has become more pressing as I managed to get the car to fall off an axle stand at the weekend which went through the floor next to the jack point. This has left a hole looking into what I assume is the sill interior. This was sobering proof you need to be careful under a car - car on flat ground, axle stands under both jack points and a trolley jack holding the rear axle, the trolley slipped and the jarring of the axle dropping was enough for the car to nudge forward and slip off the stands.

So anyway, can anyone recommend a garage in the Southampton area? (I won't go to AMV3000) and some idea of a good price for full sill replacement including front and rear quarter panels? The parts look quite reasonable at MGBHive so I presume I'll be better off supplying the parts myself (espaecially if not an MGB specialist garage)

cheers
Darren

D Lewis

Hi Darren,

I've had the sills done on my 1976 roadster:

First time round (passenger side) the quote was £500 and ended up being £1000. However this did include a new front wing and some other bits and peices.

Second time round (drivers side) it was about £1000

Altogether an expensive few years. Both these jobs were carried out by MG garages in the Plymouth area. The first took a lot longer than prediced as well (like 4 times as long). I lived in Soton for a will but never found a decent MG garage.

However, I did find Andy Jennings, who has a huge collection of second hand bits. His number is 01489 790611.

Regards,
George
G Kerr

Darren,

I had my BGT completley rebuild by a chap called Sean Watson who runs the Old Coach Works in Middle Wallop. He is really good and quite a perfectionist.
His number is 01264782900
He will probably want to see the car before giving you any figures.

I don't think Middle Wallop is too far from Southampton especially not via the lovely country roads!

Hope this helps TJ
T J Nicolson

Darren

Without doubt The MG Barn (Abingdon Sports Cars Limited) which deals only with MGs and is at:-

Culverlands Corner
Shedfield
Southampton SO32 2JF

Telephone 01329 835393

Speak to Martin Cawte who is the owner and who organises the local MGCC "Natter" held at The Prince of Wales, Shirrell Heath on the 2nd Tuesday of each month.

Martin has looked after my B GT V8 ever since he set up his business, and my MGA 1600 Roadster & RV8 ever since I bought them.

An excellent business which mainlines in MGAs & MGBs, but also earlier MGs.

E-Mail me if you want to talk; there are others locally whom you should avoid.
Nigel J S Steward

Thanks for the pointers - I've emailed you Nigel. I'm glad to hear The MG Barn is open. I've only been over there once (about a year ago) and for some reason it looked like it had been closed for some time so I assumed they had closed down.
Darren
D Lewis

Darren,

I was recently quoted about £700 for full sills replacement, including patching floor and trumpet sections etc. Including quarter sections, painting etc. That was in North West at an mg specialist I trust. Haven't had the work done yet as I had a patch put on to get throughthe MOT while I save up! I found the problem by sticking a screw driver through one of the drain holes. I wiggled it about a bit and out came all the rust!!!! Have a look: http://homepages.tesco.net/~rachel.cameron/Sills+HRW.htm

Good luck
Iain
I D Cameron

Mossop are still advertising sill replacement at £385 per side - that doesn't include prep and paint.
Chris at Octarine Services

Darren,

The price will be heavily effected by what work needs to be done. Some sill jobs will only need the outer sill, diaphram, castle, jacking reinforment and patchs for the front and rear wings with you being left to do the paint and waxoyle. In other cases the edge of the floor, and rear inner wheel arch may need patching along with the front bulkhead, trumpet and splash panel. Hence there can be a wide spread of prices.

I did my own 20 years ago and they were in the latter catagory.
David Witham

Darren

Lot's of good advice above.

An inexpensive price for "replacing the sills"; may turn out to be very much more expensive when all the other work which needs to be done is added in.

Sill replacement is expensive; so it's worth doing well the first time. I had the cills on my BGT V8 replaced some years ago by a local cowboy; only to have to get the MG Barn to do the work properly a few years later!





Nigel J S Steward

I went to Roger Mossop about five years ago. He did a good solid job at a very reasonable price. Of course it was more than the initial price Chris mentioned - but not a lot more and still good for the work involved. He advertises in "Enjoying MG" and his phone number is 01243 536793. He also does a video if you want to see how to do it yourself.
Miles Banister

This thread was discussed between 29/03/2005 and 03/04/2005

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