my sills after taking skirts off.

[stainesy]

ok took my side skirts and arches off today to have a real good look for rot. and the sills seem solid apart from where they meet the rear arch.
what i want to no is how structural is the bit where i have rot?
i am on a very tight budget and can not afford to have welding done. is it safe to drive as it is till i get the cash to have it sorted?
tomorrow i am going to sand it back and put rust converter on it to stop the rot.
the sills all the way down the side are fine its just a hole at the end inside the rear arches.

a mechanic mate of mine said to just treat it, fill it will expanding foam, trim foam to the shape them fibreglass it but i aint doing that if its structural 

[CJA321]

It will fail an MOT for structure put it that way as its 30cm from a jack point.. Dont fill it with expanding foam, will make it a total ball ache when you actaully go to weld it.

As to say how safe it is to drive, tbh... The state MK3's are anyway i wouldnt think it would make much differance, but i wouldnt like to say especially with kids involved

[Luke1981]

If the jacking points are solid I would just treat it as you have stated. Prob won't get picked up on an MOT if the rust is treated and cleared up properly.I bet your arse was twitching when removing the trim?  

[daz veedub]

oh dear thought u said u checked everywhere before buying 

[CJA321]

If the jacking points are solid I would just treat it as you have stated. Prob won't get picked up on an MOT if the rust is treated and cleared up properly.I bet your arse was twitching when removing the trim?  

Tester would have to pritty blind to miss a hole in the inner wheel arch  

[stainesy]

yep i removed that bit first and thought oh fcuk. but luckily its just the rear ends of the sills and the rest is solid.
the rear jacking point on one side was bent up but i have hammered it back into place and is fine now.
been over the hole car now and these are the only bits of rust.
so how stuctual are they? i mean what could actully happen if these bits are treated and not welded with new bits whats could actully happen
will the car fold in half?  

[Gavv8]

It could be a lot worse but i'd try and get it all welded up asap as i can't see it passing the mot like that as that rot at the back is very close to a main structural load point, considering how bad some mk3's can get it's far from a catastrophe.

[CJA321]

yep i removed that bit first and thought oh fcuk. but luckily its just the rear ends of the sills and the rest is solid.
the rear jacking point on one side was bent up but i have hammered it back into place and is fine now.
been over the hole car now and these are the only bits of rust.
so how stuctual are they? i mean what could actully happen if these bits are treated and not welded with new bits whats could actully happen
will the car fold in half?  

Not really... You could do a pritty good job of hiding it tbh... But i personally I use a magnet along the sills of older cars to check if they have been botched or look suspicious for an MOT.

wont fold in half   Rot might get worse thou, Id just get it welded instead of doing a botch job though. Your mechanic friend must know a welder in his line of work? then get it done on a casher  

[Luke1981]

If the jacking points are solid I would just treat it as you have stated. Prob won't get picked up on an MOT if the rust is treated and cleared up properly.I bet your arse was twitching when removing the trim?  

Tester would have to pritty blind to miss a hole in the inner wheel arch  

That will teach me to look at the photos instead of just the text  :embarassed:

[stainesy]

Yeah I will be getting it welded and mot isn't for a long time yet.
But is it safe to drive is the question?