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MG MGB Technical - Rocker/Sill Covers?

Good Day All,

Has anybody used the exterior rocker/sill covers for sale by victoria british? I have a 1980 MGB with moderate to bad rust on the drivers side, and some on the passenger side. Other than that, the paint isn't in that bad of shape other than some minor rust bubbles. The cost of a correct fix is not an option right now; maybe in a few years.

Your thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Chris
CRH Hoebel

Before covering up your rockers, probe inside them and from inside the car. By the time the outer rockers rust, the inside structure is also in bad shape, if it is, it really should be repaired.
John H

CHR:

Can you post some pics? You are in the rust belt, so it is hard to tell just how bad the rust is. The MGB rockers were over-designed, so they will tolerate some rust. Your car is a late model, so time is in your favour. Most people drove these cars until there was evidence of weakening, such as door sag. Most of the people o this board are of the restore it or park it school of thought ( apologies to the rest) so our main concern is to keep you safe. Pictures would be a great help.

Having said that, replacint the rockers on an MGB gives a sense of acomplishemnt that goes beyond the cost. You learn skills (or not, as a downside to this) that go well beyond the price of the parts and tools.

Pete
Pete

Don't mess with the exterior rocker "patch" panels. That's just more stuff to undo when you do get around to the correct repair. In the meantime, if the doors still shut without evidence of sagging, either leave it as is or buy one of those chrome (or stainless) "cover-up" kits. Sill (rocker) panels are a structural part of an admittedly, incredibly overbuilt lld onocoque system. But nothing detracts from a car's potential resale value more than an incorrect repair. If you sell the car, knowing that the rockers have been repaired in the manner you're considering, are you prepared to lie about how the car has been repaired, knowing that a future owner's safety may rest on your representation? I don't think so. Either do it right, or don't do it. Any repair costs money. If it's done right, it adds to the value; if it's done wrong, it detracts.

Years ago, I bought these cosmetic repair panels for a '73 B I was having repaired. The shop doing the repairs was run by a a guy unfamiliar with MGBs, but he could see and understand the structure of the car. He called me one day and, in effect, said to either get him the correct full-length sill panels or take the car somewhere else.

It is true that MGBs were way overbuilt, and you probably can get by with rusted sills for years. But don't make repairs that misrepresent the car to a potential buyer if you have any idea that you may be selling the car later on.

I don't want to dump this all in the lap of Vicky Brit. These cosmetic repair panels are available from numerous unscrupulous wholesalers. I can't believe that suppliers like VB or Moss want to take a chance on these things, but they do. Do you want these things to disintigrate while your children or grandchildren are riding with you?

Allen
Allen Bachelder

The corollary is, don't *buy* a car with those sill covers fitted unless the seller is prepared to remove them for you.
Paul Hunt 2

beat me to it Paul, when you see a car with these fitted it just says rusty sills.
Stan Best

Thanks for all your input. The doors have not started "sagging" yet. To be honest, I'd prefer to get it fixed properly. I'm just not sure how much it'll cost. I was inquiring about this as a temporary fix, and certainly not to mislead a future buyer
CRH Hoebel

The sooner the sills are repaired the better, but as a temporary cover-up I'd paint on a thick coat of Waxoyl black underseal below door level, from front to rear wheel arch. While you're at it, try and squirt some thin Waxoyl inside the sills to slow down the rusting. I agree with previous comments that oversills are a no-no.
Brian Shaw

I have a '76 B with a similar problem, however after removing a portion of the front left wing, i find the front end of the outide "sill" is corroded, worse at the front wheel arch and progressivly more structurally sound just at the leading edge of the door. the middle support the same, the inner sill and floor boards appear to have no rust at all, but the castle seems to be corroded almost back to just forward of the rear wheel. I would like to fix it properly as well. Parts only to replace the inner, middle, outside sills and the castle along with a 1/2 wing repair panel and a rear repair panel, in an all-inclusive kit, are ~ 420 from Brit-tek in New Hampshire. Moss also of course has the parts, but i didn't break down the piece part price. for this fall, I am just repairing the wings with 12" repair panels, I don't have the resources to do it right this year, but I will soon.
Dave Brissette

Over here Dave, your car would fail it's annual test with that much corrosion and you would have to take it off the road until it was fixed properly.
Mike Howlett

Guys

I can't believe what I have read in this thread. Paul, Stan and Mike are absolutely correct in what they say. I wouldn't get in an MGB/C, or in a midget for that matter, that showed signs of rust to the level that Chris says is apparent on his car.

The whole strength of the car relies on the continued strength of the sill components both from a head-on collision and a side impact. My life depends on this structure and covering up with stainless shiny bits will not add to the inevitable - an accident waiting to happen.

For heavens sake, Chris, take the sensible step and replace the sill with new and you will live longer.

Robert
R Lynex

I'm with Robert and Mike on this - Bite the bullet Chris and get it done properly. I repaired my sills with the help of a friend - the parts (outer sills, middle membrane, castle section etc)were mininmal cost but it took us several weekends to get the old rusty ones off and weld the new panels back on - which is why garages charge £500 a side to do it.As John says - by the time there is some rust bubbling thro' on the outer sill the rest is dust inside. Don't go down the route of trying to hide it - cheers Cam
Cam Cunningham

This thread was discussed between 07/08/2006 and 17/08/2006

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