355 door sill

Discussion in '348/355' started by eyboro, Sep 28, 2010.

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  1. eyboro

    eyboro Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    May 30, 2004
    989
    Chicago
    Full Name:
    Eitan
    So I removed the screws holding the door sills, now it looks like the sills are glued down, what's the best way to remove without bending or destoying as I'm trying to refurbish.
     
  2. TopElement

    TopElement Formula 3

    May 14, 2005
    1,540
    OC & Vegas
    Full Name:
    A Montoya
    Slowly lift the sills, and using a sharp blade, cut the adhesive while being careful not to scratch the body.
     
  3. Miner_31

    Miner_31 Formula Junior

    Jun 27, 2008
    376
    Summerfield, NC
    Full Name:
    Mike
    Yikes. I know this feeling.

    I was changing mine out to carbon ones. I realized quickly they were going to be hard to remove without damage. I was able to get one of mine off without damage but my other one was on there so strong there would have been no way to get it off without destroying it.

    I would say sometimes these are near impossible to remove without bending their shape a bit. For most people its not a big deal since they are replacing them anyway. Both of mine were so bad they went straight to the trash can.
     
  4. 285ferrari

    285ferrari Two Time F1 World Champ
    Sponsor

    Sep 11, 2004
    20,950
    MD and NE
    Full Name:
    Robbie
    Wide putty knife may help
     
  5. yronZFF

    yronZFF Formula Junior
    Owner

    Dec 21, 2009
    749
    FIVE-O
    Full Name:
    Ron
    I changed mine to carbon fiber and I was able to remove both of my metal ones without bending ... but I was lucky. The adhesive was not adhered that well and the sill popped off when I used a stiff 1" and 3" putty knife to pry it off. You're not going to be able to cut the old adhesive while the sill is on because the adhesive was hard like hard plastic (on my '97 anyway).
    Good luck!
     
  6. BrandSB

    BrandSB Karting

    Jun 11, 2008
    236
    Canton, Michigan
    Full Name:
    Steve
    I removed and powdercoated mine and they look great. Used a putty knife with the base taped with masking tape to protect the paint. The trick was applying heat to the top of the sill with a hairdryer to soften the adhesive and make it easier for the putty knife to cut through the glue. Very tedious but doable.
     
  7. El Peligroso

    El Peligroso Rookie

    May 28, 2008
    40
    Planet Earth
    Throw away those door sills and replace with Carbon Fibre! I did, looks great, and will NEVER rust again.

    If you really MUST keeo the original part, take some fishing line, run under the sill in the corner and then use a saw action on either side to cut the "glue".

    Good luck.
     
  8. Monteman

    Monteman Formula 3
    Rossa Subscribed

    Feb 9, 2006
    2,342
    Santa Barbara, CA
    Full Name:
    Monte
    Great method!
     
  9. ClydeM

    ClydeM F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Nov 4, 2003
    11,639
    Wayne, NJ
    Full Name:
    Clyde E. McMurdy
    Mine are rusting too.
    Does anybody have a paint co. and color code to match them?

    Also, where are the screws holding them down? Under the rubber mat?
     
  10. gus355

    gus355 Formula Junior

    Aug 3, 2011
    569
    B.C. and WA
    Are the 348 and 355 sills identical?
     
  11. angelis

    angelis F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Jun 18, 2004
    6,400
    London, England
    Full Name:
    Sy
    No. The 348 ones wrap around on the outer edge so they are visible from the outside. The 355 ones are flat.
     
  12. gus355

    gus355 Formula Junior

    Aug 3, 2011
    569
    B.C. and WA
    Yes I see that but I wonder if it is not the side skirt that is different, the only reason I ask is that I did see a site that listed 355/348 sills as the same...
     
  13. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 29, 2001
    18,031
    USA
    +1. Go to a paint store and get ones several inches wide and long enough to get all the way to the far side...less risk of bending or damaging them that way.
     
  14. sevminasyan

    sevminasyan Formula 3

    Jun 24, 2008
    1,156
    Glendale, CA
    Full Name:
    Steve
    You need a heat gun. I just removed mine today. Take the rubber strip off first, then warm up the end of it with the heat gun. Get it really hot. Use a towel to raise the edge so you have something to grab on. This job ca not be rushed. Slowly warm up the seal as you are moving forward. No matter what, you will have bent marks on it but when you put it back on, apply good amount of rubber seal underneath, put the part down and tighten the screws to the rocker panel. Then tape the seal to the rocker panel air intake in numerous places to hold it down. It will straighten itself but may need to tap it in couple places with a rubber mallet to make it flush
     

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