Dented arch and badly jacked sill

[pfnsht]

Hi,

I've picked up a mk4 Golf GT TDI 130 as a project car - I enjoy the journey on making things nice again and realise I could just buy another one for not a lot and save by self the bother. I've always had a soft spot for the mk4 and VWs in general (but not into the whole stance scene).

The car drives really nicely, has almost full history and a tidy MOT sheet. It has a few interior (windows/door locks), stinks of dog and a few mechanical bits and pieces to sort but most items required for repair were included in the sale.

The floor pans are solid, the factory jacking points are rust free and straight and there is no rust on the front arches! A shame then this happened to it:

Arch damage and the bit circled is where the sill has been pushed up from jacking:



Jacking damage under neath:



I can do a pretty good job with rattle cans, sand paper, DA polisher and I think that is suitable for a car of this value imo. I was thinking the best approach was to find a bodyshop with a jig to pull it out and get it to paint stage?

Unless I am missing something I don't think pulling out the dents is a DIY job - i've only ever pulled out a door dent.

Thoughts appreciated and any recommendations of reasonable panel beaters worth a try in Hertfordshire/North London would be great.

Edited by pfnsht on Tuesday 24th March 17:00

Edited by pfnsht on Tuesday 24th March 17:00

[pfnsht]

Sorted, getting a new sill put in and arch re-shaped - circa 400 quid.

[Chris32345]

This is why I cringe when I see so many people jacking cars up and putting axle stand on the cars sill

[pfnsht]

It would have been okay if they had used the jacking point but this was jacked in the middle of the sill!

I jack it using the subframe mount myself though.

[mercedeslimos]

On these, the part of the sill where the widow-maker jack goes into (denoted by the arrow on the sill) is strengthened. I have one of those rubber cutouts for my trolley jack to avoid damaging it, and the axle stands go onto the subframe or chassis leg usually

[pfnsht]

Yes I have the same component for the sill backing points to stop them getting crushed, but this has been jacked in the middle of the sill away from the factory points!

I actually jack it from the subframe mount and avoid the sill points.

[MC Bodge]

I made a wooden insert for my trolley jack shaped to fit the sill jacking point and sill to spread the load.

I then use axle stands and blocks to support the car.

[Chris32345]

mercedeslimos said:

On these, the part of the sill where the widow-maker jack goes into (denoted by the arrow on the sill) is strengthened. I have one of those rubber cutouts for my trolley jack to avoid damaging it, and the axle stands go onto the subframe or chassis leg usually

Depends on the car
Many sit on the pinch weld between the will and the floor pan
So there is no strength what soever in the sill area

Seen many fiat 500s and panda's with damaged sill from trolley jacks being used there