RAW1969 Posted February 25, 2019 Report Share Posted February 25, 2019 Hi 1967 vitesse cv. I was taking out the interior with a view to putting some rattle insulation under the carpets and found a couple of holes. Pics attached. The holes are along the joint of floor and door pillar. So you have to be in the front footwell looking backwards to see them. Hence the photos aren’t vey good. Similar state offside and near side. Maybe not one for the purists but....Would a cosmetic patch be ok/ safe here or does it need something more substantial? (This isn’t a concourse car ). Your thoughts much appreciated. Thanks Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted February 25, 2019 Report Share Posted February 25, 2019 it needs a serious patch, does it run into the rearward sill outrigger body mounts. ??? Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hugh Posted February 25, 2019 Report Share Posted February 25, 2019 It will Pete 😦 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bordfunker Posted February 25, 2019 Report Share Posted February 25, 2019 If that’s within 30cm of a body mounting point that will proper repair to ensure the structural integrity of the bulkhead or tub. If it’s anthing like mine the rot will extend further than you first think or hope. Karl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RogerH Posted February 25, 2019 Report Share Posted February 25, 2019 2 hours ago, Bordfunker said: If it’s anthing like mine the rot will extend further than you first think or hope. Karl Paint strip and clean an area for 6 inches or so around the rust so you are back to good metal. You will be surprised/shocked at what you have. Repair it properly. Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAW1969 Posted February 25, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2019 This is the near side. A matching pair! The floor panels on both sides looks ok. The fresh air bit is at the bottom of the vertical. Think the pictures look dramatic as they’re close up. Holes are about 3-4 inches long. Still a hole though. On closer inspection the offside has 2 nearby patches already. So is the remedy to cut the rotten bit off the bottom of the A post bit and get a repair piece welded in then? Thanks Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppyman Posted February 25, 2019 Report Share Posted February 25, 2019 I agree with above, it will be a hell of lot worse when the grinder has been in there, sorry Richard Tony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted February 26, 2019 Report Share Posted February 26, 2019 I am struggling to work out where this is. A couple of pics from further away would help (me at least) But having just fitted a front floorpan to a vitesse, I can be pretty certain that is more complex than just covering the holes up. It is close to the body mounts on top of the siderails. I would be taking the sill covers off, and having a very good poke around the body mounts and the surrounding panels. You need to work out how much work is needed, and that requires aggressive poking and not shying away. Sounds bad news, and unless a decent repair is done, it will come back to haunt you. It is a structural area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Faulds Posted February 26, 2019 Report Share Posted February 26, 2019 looks like a sill has been put on some time ago over rusty inners, and your right clive the sill will need to come off and access the area in there. should be able to do a decent job though. good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted February 26, 2019 Report Share Posted February 26, 2019 8 minutes ago, Ian Faulds said: looks like a sill has been put on some time ago over rusty inners, and your right clive the sill will need to come off and access the area in there. should be able to do a decent job though. good luck. Ian, this is a Vitesse. As such the sills are attached with screws (and often pop rivets or other assorted fasteners) They are not at all structural, but just cover the siderails and the body mounts etc. So easy to remove (I said that quickly!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Faulds Posted February 26, 2019 Report Share Posted February 26, 2019 like the old p6 rovers clive they weren't structural either youd be surprised (maybe not) that garages used to fail the cars mot cause sills not welded, sometimes had to take workshop manual in to prove the sills were screwed on. one mot tester said to me once , "I know but I don't think its safe" digressing though, its easy to screw a sill on to cover up the rust inside , im not saying this is the case here, but as you said needs taking off and a good look in there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted February 26, 2019 Report Share Posted February 26, 2019 Yes general shot would aid , you say about door pillar and A post , the pics are a bit unclear as where Chic doig do a Sill / Apost body mount repair section with the two front mounts on . Rot in the A post base can get extensive and you start looking at floor pans and much more in that area Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAW1969 Posted February 26, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2019 Thanks for your assessments/ advice. Another pic of the near side. Colour coded by POs. Floor is black. A post side is red. A post front is maroon. Pale blue is side of skuttle. All tucked away behind the map holder in the passengers foot well. Looks well beyond my limited capabilities. Will get it off to the garage. Cheers Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted February 26, 2019 Report Share Posted February 26, 2019 Yes get help, there are two body mounts under the sill its likey they are beyond repair and there is likley a hole in the base understructure of the A post its sill and more Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted February 26, 2019 Report Share Posted February 26, 2019 Yes, that makes sense now. There are 2, very structural body mounts under that section. When the rot sets in, the bulkhead will start to tilt backwards making the doors difficult to open/shut. Pete beat me to it...again! Chic Doig makes a repair for the bodymounts https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HERALD-VITESSE-FRONT-BULKHEAD-BODY-MOUNTING-A-POST-FLOOR-ASSEMBLY-CHIC-DOIG/371166198802?hash=item566b3abc12:g:1wIAAMXQiNdRdPx4:rk:37:pf:0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bordfunker Posted February 26, 2019 Report Share Posted February 26, 2019 Having used the Chic Doig repair section for this area on my Herald, I would thoroughly recommend them, and I’ll be going back for another for the driver’s side on mine as well. This is the sort of rot you might find when you start to dig around the footwell area. Karl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted February 26, 2019 Report Share Posted February 26, 2019 you may have seen my jigsaw repairs before i new about the repair section availability lots of cut and chop new pans etc , more welding than reality but .....next time ...if ever Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrapman Posted February 26, 2019 Report Share Posted February 26, 2019 If you were nearer to East Anglia I could recommend a man to sort it all for you at a reasonable price. cheers Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAW1969 Posted February 13, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2020 Bringing this thread back from the depths just to pass on thanks once again for sharing the wisdom..... Once the sills were off the holes were epic when viewed from below. The body mounts pretty much levitating! So took the tip to get the Chic Doug repair sections & packed it off to a friendly local welder. Lost the summer but the car came home all patched up just needing some paint and sills refitting. Obviously being a 52 year old triumph that’s not the end of the challenge though. Having stood quietly in the garage for a few weeks it just will not start. So time for a new thread and more things to learn. So just to say - the wealth of knowledge, experience and guidance shared here with no expectation of receiving anything in return is totally priceless. thankyou Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteH Posted February 17, 2020 Report Share Posted February 17, 2020 Deja Vue?. I am currently working at this too the section at the bottom of both "A" post are virtually non existent!. Fabricating all but the floor pans from scratch!. Using self-tap screws to trial fit. then separate the tubs to finish the welding. Marathon "Weldathon" coming up soon. Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted February 18, 2020 Report Share Posted February 18, 2020 my first Herald was a 8 yr old 1959 948 rust bucket it had no A post bases , body mounts and rotten side rails ,,,,nothing changes but 50 years on its still happening Ha pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave.vitesse Posted February 18, 2020 Report Share Posted February 18, 2020 All cars rusted back then. I am amazed how some cars have survived. Which questions are any original or have they had many rebuilds. Trigs Broom. Lots of repaired were not rust proved and rotted out twice as fast as the original. At least they are still around that's the main thing. Dav Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted February 18, 2020 Report Share Posted February 18, 2020 like the FA vauxhall victors used to rust on the drive and only made down the road Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteH Posted February 18, 2020 Report Share Posted February 18, 2020 4 hours ago, Pete Lewis said: like the FA Vauxhall victors used to rust on the drive and only made down the road Pete As in knee capping ones self, on the lower corner of the windscreen getting in and out!.! Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppyman Posted February 18, 2020 Report Share Posted February 18, 2020 42 minutes ago, PeteH said: As in knee capping ones self, on the lower corner of the windscreen getting in and out!.! Pete PA Cresta's were the same...... Tony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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