I've never seen this before or Rubber block in Fulvia Gt Sill.

[fay66]

I've just had a request for information regarding replacing the sills on his Fulvia GT Berlina from a Lancisti in australia.
As far as that goes, no problem as I can supply him with information, however what did intrigue me was his comment shown below

"I have noticed a rubber block within the sill channel. Obviously included to stop water running the full length of the sill, as there are no drain holes at the rear end of the sill."[/color
]
Now I've never seen this item before or seen in discussed by anyone. have a look at the photos, any comments would be welcome.

Brian
8227

[St Volumex]

It most probably keeps water IN the sill. 

Rather, it was probably used to position the sill on assembly.  Where was the car built?

Brian, you gotta stop using these cryptic thread titles.  My curiousity gets the better of me every time, and then I find out it wasn't what I expected.  I was hoping this one was going to feature a picture of Kristin Scott-Thomas' derriere.  I haven't seen it before either, but I'd sure like to! 

[chriswgawne]

Brian,
I am sure I remember seeing the same sort of thing in our 1965 2C when I resotred it back in the 70's.
Chris

[fay66]

It most probably keeps water IN the sill.  

Rather, it was probably used to position the sill on assembly.  Where was the car built?

Brian, you gotta stop using these cryptic thread titles.  My curiousity gets the better of me every time, and then I find out it wasn't what I expected.  I was hoping this one was going to feature a picture of Kristin Scott-Thomas' derriere.  I haven't seen it before either, but I'd sure like to!  

Sorry Guy I'll have to stop using Cryptic Headers
I'll check with the owner where it was built, did they build Berlina's in SA?
From what he's said it certainly worked as the rear end of the sill is still pretty solid whereas the front is where he has the rust?
I'd be surprised if it was use during manufacture as even back in the early sixties when I first started at Vauxhall Motors, bare metal body components would have been held in a jig during manufacture.

Brian
8227

[fay66]

Brian,
I am sure I remember seeing the same sort of thing in our 1965 2C when I resotred it back in the 70's.
Chris

Thank you Chris,
I have had a look at the Tivoli but I can find no mention of the rubber block, but going by the preformed shape it was a manufactured item designed for a specific task rather than just a block of unformed rubber.
Many years ago I thought of filling a box member with expanding foam, working on the assumption that if the section was full of foam and with no space for water then perhaps the section wouldn't rot away, I thought at the time that something wasn't quite right with that theory, so it never happened, any thoughts of what might have been the results

Brian
8227

[ncundy]

I've some experience of this when we have tried it on trains. Not very successful, as unless you can guarantee complete coverage you get pockets where water gathers and the metal then rusts. You also get condensation so the idea that no water will ever get in is a non-starter (unles you vacuum evacuate every void!). Then you find that the foam only lasts a few years before it starts to degrade and crumble. In large scale use it also introduces a lot of weight and of course you have all the health and safety issues with flamability, toxicity etc to deal with. We ditched it after trialing it for a few years.

The time proven solution of treat the metal, provide a drain hole and give it a dose of waxoil every few years is still IMO the best.

[fay66]

Thank you Neil,
I think that at the time I must have had thoughts along the same line, bearing in mind your comments about the foam breaking down, I wonder what is now the state of the foam cavity wall insulation that I had pumped into the cavity walls of two of my previous homes While it was great as far as insulation was concerned, the most immediate unforseen effect on my bungalow with a baxi underfloor draught fire, was a disaster, as the airbricks where filled with the stuff!

Brian
8227

[thecolonel]

They have the sense to tube vents now
Some of ours were blocked but they
installed new ones at the same time.

I used instant foam on a beta years ago
I don't think it helped at all.

[ben]

I have come across foam in sections of an Alfa-Sud in the front wheel-arch/engine bay region. It certainly had not stopped the rust and made it very hazardous to weld!
 (I assumed it was there from when the car was built but I suppose that was not neccessarily the case.)

[St Volumex]

Brian, don't take me SO seriously please. 

[rogerelias]

My sills on the HF are coming off soon , will see if i have the imfamous block

[fay66]

My sills on the HF are coming off soon , will see if i have the imfamous block

Roger will it be the first time they've ever been changed? I await the results with interest.
hope everything goes well with their replacement.

Brian
8227