Welding just finished...am i expecting too much...?

[Si W]

Bit of advice needed please. I got the car back from the body shop in the week, and upon first look i was really happy, although the passenger side skirt was bowed out a little. I pointed this out and they said some of the popper clips looked broken, but it wasn't a problem, if i got replacements they would take the car back in and sort things out.

I was already going to buy some bolt headed screws to get rid of the old rusty ones, so yesterday i had a proper look underneath to see how many i needed. To my surprise, i found that in one area where they had had to cut the most rot out, they hadn't kept the rubber blocks that the screws go into, and so they had just drilled holes and screwed straight into the metal. Now i'm no bodywork specialist, but i'm pretty sure that wont last five minutes! Not to mention that one of the screws is falling out because the holes too big! Its pretty clear that it's this causing the bowed skirt, as the poppers look ok from what i can see.

Now i'm hoping that i can get the rubber blocks so that i can ask them to do it right, like they should have in the first place in my eyes...but am i expecting too much? Do other people worry about things being put back that specifically when they replace the sills? Is there an alternative method other than trying to find the rubber blocks? Either way i'm not happy with the screws straight into the metal...i just dont think thats going to last.

[skyshack]

If you wanted it restored to stock you would have had to spend a lot more. Starting with a full genuine Nissan sill that has all the right holes in it. Or a classic car restoration firm that would take the time to make a replica panel and not a body shop that just welds a bit of sheet in.

[dow]

Don't say that.. my brake and fuel lines are all held on with plastic p clips I've screwed into metal... But I didn't drill my holes too big. I would have thought the plastic blocks trap more moisture, but do have the advantage that you will still be able to remove them whenever you need to.

[NickS13]

i work in a body shop and it sounds like they rushed putting the car back together. i cant say how they could have done it because ive never seen how an s14 skirt mounts. ( i have an s13)

but there is no problem with relying on self tappers to hold things in place. but as youve said they have drilled the hole too big then yes it will not hold forever.

Firstly i would take the car back and explain to the boss its not correct and that your not happy with it thats if you paid full price as to speak.

[Alex B]

Whats been done sounds technically fine, though the correct size hole and located in a position that allows the sideskirt to fit correctly can be expected. Provided thats the standard of work you paid for, if you specifically paid for it to go back to original then you need to have a word.

Alex B

[Alex.j]

Agreed with above, but as a materials engineer, i question whether a self taper into the new replacement metal sills is a great idea, it will be a concentration point for more oxidisation. Specially as they will be 2 dissimilar metals.

My recommendation would be to under-seal or sealant around the drilled whole so when the screw goes it, its protected to some degree.

Regards using the wrong screw/ too bigger hole drilled, i would take it back and get that sorted, obviously, only thing to do is use a big screw now..

[VIDAL BABBOON]

Sounds like standard practice for a garage, I would at least request that riv nuts were used and all holes drilled in the car are filled with underseal.

[Si W]

Thanks for your replies. I definitely paid top dollar for the job, and specified that i wanted the job done as near to original as possible. The place does restorations...in fact they currently have a classic mini flatbed thats being done from the ground up, and it looks superb, but their bread and butter work is Insurance repairs for Audi/BMW/Range Rover etc etc...their yard is always full of top marques.

Anyhoo...i spoke to my guy today, and even he sounded surprised at what i was describing, so i think it may have been a bit of a quality control issue. So i explained that i'm not 100% happy and they are going to look at it tomorrow.

I like the idea of those rivet nuts...i will ask if they might work as an alternative to the standard nylon/rubber block type thingies, as i dont even know if i can get them from Nissan yet anyway.

[Daz]

Si, out of interest, what bodyshop was it that you used?

[gaswizards]

rivet nuts are great! i used them all over my car and work well! look real professional to! i wud recomend u use those

[Si W]

So, little update.

When i went in to the garage they couldnt have been more apologetic...apart from the welder, who was sheepish to say the least.

It basically turns out that the guy who did all the welding is supposed to do just that and only that, as they work on an assembly line sort of basis, so he shouldnt have been putting the car back together in the first place. They confessed that it wasn't up to their normal standard, and said that had it gone back to the guy who does the stripping and rebuilding, he would have used rivet nuts, and that was before i even mentioned them.

They took full responsibility on account of not quality controlling the job before i picked it up, so they have taken it back in today and will replace all the broken clips and swap the self tapper nonsense for some proper rivet nuts, and obviously at no cost to me.

i reserve my final judgement for when i get the car back...but fingers crossed it comes back how i hope it will.

[Mark]

Good news Si. Good to see a company take some responsibility for once

[Daz]

Good to hear the outcome Si.

It's understandable that mistakes happen in companies but what shows a good company is how quickly the resolve those issues.

Keep us updated .

[Quail]

Refreshing to see a company taking responsibility for their mistakes

[MEL]

Good result si, name drop so someone else looking for a safe PR of hands to weld thier car knows where to go

[muddle84]

Glad you got sorted and they looked after you. But, somebody correct me if I'm wrong here, the self tappers should be fine if they're put in right as long as a good cavity wax is used on the inside of the sill and is re-applied every year they shouldn't give you any bother.

Have they applied a cavity wax inside the re-worked sill??

[Si W]

correct me if I'm wrong here, the self tappers should be fine if they're put in right

That's the problem...there is absolutely no way to ensure that the screw hasn't damaged the paint as it goes in. And being in such a vulnerable place, it'd rust faster than you can say Jack Robinson! Plus the screws they used weren't even zinc coated or anything, so it was just disaterously bad.

Have they applied a cavity wax inside the re-worked sill??

They did flood the cavities, so it's all good on that score.

[Si W]

Just to sign off on this...i've got the car back finally, after some apparent problems with the ordering of clips. It's now been finished off to the standard it should have been in the first place...which, to be fair, is excellent.

It's a real shame though, because thanks to all the crap i've been through and them stalling and not getting called back when promised etc, i just can't recommend them..."them" being Boars Tye Garage in Silver end near Witham, Essex.

However...all that said, if anyone takes a chance on them, the work is good, albeit a bit slow, and they are very reasonable with their costs. But if the wheels fall off, bear in mind that it may end up a painful experience.

My car is back though, and i'm happy with the job...so that is at least a word in their favour.

[Clint]

Sounds like a fair review to me mate. Glad it's been sorted all the same