B3rtie

Hello
Post #1 then...

Starting with something which has been bugging me for a bit and possibly more for the RS / XR thread - recently after an MOT fail the repair garage welded some small patches over some holes in the centres of each sill (not the drain holes on the join with the floor) by cutting them out because they were 'corroded' (that is another story). I intend to restore the car over the next few years and want everything on it to be returned to original A1 and, the holes have to go back - the patches look like they have been done by a neanderthal in any case so there is work to do regardless to reinstate to something like show condition.

Having owned the car for a long time I thought all Mk3 sills had these holes but after searching about the web for a while find that all Mk3s I have seen so far do not and sill repair panels available also do not seem to have them either.

A friend in my car club has an almost identical car to mine, my car being on a 'Y' and his is on an 'A' - probably six months split them in build and his does not have these holes.

Can anyone help with this? What were these hole for - sunroof drain? Maybe post a picture of your car if at all possible?

Thanks,
Robert

B3rtie

I thought that might be a duster.
Does anyone have any sill pics?

B3rtie

Please see final pictures taken today at the end of this album
https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resi...FIqRl2zlB3onI4

I would surmise that all shells with two bolt strut top mountings have these and all later shells (mk3 phase 2) 1983 onwards do not. Holes are roughly placed at the centre of the sills between the wheel arches.

kidsRS

iTrader: (6)

never seen that sort of hole in any mk3 or 4 sills b4, looks like someone has put them there

B3rtie

Many thanks for responding to my query.

Currently looking into this in more detail.

My car and one pictured are pre-facelift Mk3s (German built Ghia and XR3) and I can confirm these holes are not on post-facelift Mk3s (i.e. revised shells made post 1983 with the single-bolt front shock mounts).

Further the holes in my view are too tidy to be non-factory and possibly would have required a very accurate press (but I am quite happy if someone has other evidence and pictures).

I am only talking about Mk3s because the Mk4 shell had many (some more obvious) revisions and I know they are not found on Mk4 shells.

retroadder

hi b3rtie I have a mk3 a plate ghia and mine as these holes eitha side my b reg ghia what I hadalso had them mate I have a early 3 door ghia and this doesn't!!I always thought they was drainage for sun roof?

B3rtie

Interesting.
thanks for your response, very helpful.
were any of your cars ziebated?
I think the sunroof drains into others at the front of the sills - were any of yours non-sunroof cars?

retroadder

hi mate yes both the a reg and the b plate ghias were both zieabarted and both had sunroofs mate I definetly think the holes were done at the factory in my opinion the holes aren't flat to the sill like raised a bit I will try and get you a picture mate am not brilliant with computers does your sills have that indentation line just under the back door on outer face mate?

B3rtie

Yes a vertical indentation line is there.

retroadder

thanks for your reply back.that line I keep waffling on about isn't their on a replacement 4 door sill but it is on the 3 door new sill!anybody shed any lite on this?