Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

Hi all,

First post here since recently buying a 944. I was just wondering if any of you guys would let me know how bad you think the sills might be? I knew they would need some work but hoping it isnt going to be too drastic as it was well looked after for a long time!

The passenger side sill has a hole at the bottom near where the sill meets the rear quarter but wasn't an advisory last mot. It is also slightly scabby all along the bottom of the sill. The driver side looks completely solid from the outside but has a bit of surface rust inside the door vent and some recent welding in there as you can see to get it through the last mot.

Do you think they both need doing asap? I have been quoted 500 a side to replace outer sill with repair panels and respray etc - assuming inner sill doesn't need any work....is that a decent price? Labour is £40 per hour.

I was planning to do passenger side before mot (due in few months) but leave driver side until next year. Any opinions would be good so I know if a bodyshop isn't screwing me over!
Driver side


Passenger side


Thanks

It's starting to look a bit serious TBH ...

In the second picture it looks like the inner might need a little work.

Looks like the old rust was most likely left. With the paths place over from the inside.. This can be a issue, if you want the metal let in properly. That rear corner can be time consuming work. 500 seems very fair. But off course prices vary greatly and so will the quality.

I would suggest that you expect the worse. Don't want to give the go a head have the car cut open to find you can transport it else where and are at the mercy off the body shop. Or unable to find the money for the add costs

WOW !

This is my 1981 924, its a UK car.

Thanks guys. Just a little bit depressing! Looks like I bought a dodgy one then - a bad first experience with 944s for me it is then. Bought from a longish standing pcgb member so was slightly too trusting I think - rest of the car is mint though! Obviously entirely my own fault so now have to decide whether to cut my losses or attempt to sort it all out

When you say expect the worst, do you mean it could be too far gone? Do you think the top picture will pass an mot?I can really only afford to tackle one side at the moment as I feel it will be well over 500 by the time it is cut open.

Well most will say a proper job is 1500 a side. Now just cause some quotes you that don't mean your get a proper job. And just like some one quoting 500 may well go above and beyond there expect frustrating thoughts and still charge 500. Expect the worse is to prepare yourself for a bigger bill.

If you can't afford to have both sides done then I would probably say this isn't the right car for you. Not meaning anything rude, or insulting but these car will often ask for big drops off cash that are more then cars worth. People get in a position where they put so much in they can't let go and these cars can really catch you out.

Really its worth having both done at the same time so both are painted with the same mix off paint. Car will be away from you much less.

If you don't mind a less then perfect job within a bugger that suits you then you may well be okay. However without knowing what's been left inside a good solid outside can let the inside county one to rust un noticed. How's your jack points? Can you hack the car from them? You should really but it's a clear test.

I end up scrapping my S due to rusty sills that was much like yours however there was zero sign off rust from the outside just a few bilsters In the 3/4 month old respray. Car was cut up and put in a skip and the sills where worse on the inside.

The issue is they rust at the bottom and spread left and right or inside and out. By the time you see them . on the outside the inside can be just as bad. That's the time for action. Now if something done which mearly masks the situation then you have a few choices

use and and expect it to be scrapped at some point so don't get carried away spending here and there

Or sort it, then after that big expense something else could go wrong.

It would seem like the older cars are much more well built or plated.

the other area to check is the rear suspension mountings on the inside of the sill.Use a sharp pointed metal rod and poke about around and in the centre of the mounting as well.If there is serious corrosion then a big job to sort out and likely parts of the inner rear whell arches will need sorting as well .
Take it to a body shop who know 944's and they will soon assess.
Sometimes the outer sill needs opening up at the rear to see the full corrosion damage.
Unfortunately not a cheap repair what ever the damage is.

Nick

That doesn't look good, here's mine cut open and the rot wasn't as far up the inners as yours looks.



Have a good dig about around the suspension mount on both sides, if it's not got as far as there and the car is a keeper it's saveable, £500 a side all in would be cheap for the amount of work involved!

just an option for anyone out there with a rusty shell! or anyone looking for a shell to build a race car etc.

i will be taking delivery of a 944s2 rolling shell next week which has had all the rust sorted so new sills.inners.rear lower 1/4s etc. this will be available for sale for sensible money to shift quickly, less than what it would cost to have the work carried out.

will post further details when the shell arrives.

sorry for hijacking thread, but thought it was a possible option for the op if his shell is not viable for repair due to costs etc.

thanks
nick