So I took the cill covers off the 3.2.....

[Doctor Gollum]

It's only quicker as it's now lighter

[TheBoy]

It's only quicker as it's now lighter

Thats why my beloved Silver Bullet was the best Omega I've driven to date, even if not quite as quick as Imber's 2.6

[tunnie]

It's only quicker as it's now lighter

Thats why my beloved Silver Bullet was the best Omega I've driven to date, even if not quite as quick as Imber's 2.6

Because it was always rusting and loosing weight? 

Using 3.2 again today for work, felt much better to drive. Convinced the autobox behaves different in way in behaves.

[Doctor Gollum]

Not surprisingly given that a) they're adaptive, and b) cold air is more dense, thereby producing a better bang in the cylinders 

[Mutha Jugs n Speed]

I took my Elite to Speedweld at Farley Hill, Berkshire,he's not cheap,but he's a fabricator and does ground up restoration work,he likes all the lower interior fittings removed including all carpets.He did a really thorough job including removing the seats....as I say total cost £1500,so not cheap, the other 3.2 is booked in for the new year with only a minor repair to do,looks like I'm keeping them

[Doctor Gollum]

I took my Elite to Speedweld at Farley Hill, Berkshire,he's not cheap,but he's a fabricator and does ground up restoration work,he likes all the lower interior fittings removed including all carpets.He did a really thorough job including removing the seats....as I say total cost £1500,so not cheap, the other 3.2 is booked in for the new year with only a minor repair to do,looks like I'm keeping them

Keeping them was surely a given...

[terry paget]

I keep a set of new sills about, because one day TBE will need some, and supply can be hit and miss (thanks terry paget for getting a replacement set to me).

I too would suggest trying DLK or Serek to get it fixed if you think the car is still a keeper.

An 8yr old Jag probably won't be rust free underneath, and the XF didn't become all ali until 2015.

My thanks to TB for lending me his spare set of sills, enabling me to have a friend repair my sills while I watched, and  get my daughter's Omega through its MOT. I am now practising my MIG welding for the next time.

[Mutha Jugs n Speed]

Correct Dr G.....BUT! my head has been turned towards the Holden Senator, of which I spied the two that Elite Motors have in stock at their Christmas meet today. Rob's supercharged 5.7 MV6 estate  created a lot of interest amongst all the Monaros and VXR8's.....this one's going to kick some serious arse

[TheBoy]

Convinced the autobox behaves different in way in behaves.

Its adaptive, so does learn. Quickly, though, not over a period.  I believe its adaptions are based on something like the last 10km.

[tunnie]

Convinced the autobox behaves different in way in behaves.

Its adaptive, so does learn. Quickly, though, not over a period.  I believe its adaptions are based on something like the last 10km.

Feels like it holds first gear longer, it used to change up quite quickly. But off line it feels like it picks up better. 

Holds that initial pull before changing, perhaps it's just me being more aggressive on the throttle. I stamp on it more now it's just me and car share buddy on board.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Sounds like your having a new kind of driving experience. 

[TheBoy]

Sounds like your having a new kind of driving experience. 

Like an epiphany moment, he's realised how to drive normally

[aaronjb]

Bloody kids, driving everywhere like lunatics..

[tunnie]

Back on topic, I just took the 3.2 to local garage for quick quote. The 'Vauxhall' specialist won't do welding, but indie service/MOT next door would. After I showed them how to remove the sills, as they were not sure 

Their approach would be welding plates, to cover the offending area. Now that I did disturb the area, he confirmed it would fail an MOT as hole/corrosion is now visible.   

Cost would be £70-ish +vat for each side for a plate welded in, he said it could be more if they had to go further along. Sooo, maybe around £100 there about each side. They would not do the whole sill, they said that would be a body shop only job.

Been dropping Serek a few PM's, to discuss options here as well.

I'm now wondering if I should have a bash at welding myself, from what the garage described it did not sound difficult compared to service work I already do. But, given it's badly corroded area I'm not picking a good task to cut my teeth on?

But something like this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sealey-MIGHTYMIG90-Professional-No-Gas-Welder/dp/B06XWGG6ST/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1513075532&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=Mig+welder&psc=1

Is half the cost (potentially) of the bill from a garage.

Thoughts?

[aaronjb]

Spend about £50 more and pick up a Clarke TurboMIG 135TE (or very similar) model; much more capable and has provision for shielding gas so you don't have to use 'gasless' wire (which is harder to use, IIRC, and produces less pleasant welds)

Practice on metal of a similar thickness for a while or get someone to show you how to get going and a job like that (hidden behind sill covers) is a good place to start out.

The first 'real' thing I ever welded back together was the fuel tank cradle for a friends Porsche 928 as you can no longer buy the '78 model cradle and he'd have had to update the entire fuel system to the '79 on (at a cost of £500+) to replace it after one of the straps 'fell off' due to rust. It was not a pleasant job but we got there in the end (and it hasn't dropped off again yet..) - I got quite adept at filling holes that I'd blown in the <1mm thick metal

A pair of sills, by contrast, should be a doddle as long as you cut back far enough that you're clear of the crusty metal and into 'good' full thickness steel; just get someone who knows what they're doing to come round when you start (Kevin etc).