Is this a concern - floor sill rust/delamination?

[Condi]

Been looking at a 1966 Mustang as it's been a dream for years, and found something which is a bit of a resto-mod, cheaper than normal as it's non standard with some replacement parts on. The seller has sent some photos of the underside which is generally in quite good condition, but I noticed this on one photo which looks either like delamination or rust, on the floor sill. Would anyone be able to advise if this is an issue?

[aeropilot]

Run away.....

[Dog Biscuit]

looks like a gaping hole to me

[cliffords]

The actual condition of the underside is always much worse in real life than the pictures.

[sidewinder500]

....and found something which is a bit of a resto-mod,cheaper than normal as it's non standard with some replacement parts on...

This is your answer.
If it is like this there's a reason

[XR]

The actual sill and its joint with the floor looks ok to me, I think the bit thats flapping is the bottom of the front wing, it looks like an easy repair, I would fabricate a new wing bottom and join it behind the trim piece.

[I-am-the-reverend]

It's not terrible. The car is clean underneath and I suspect there has been an idiot/trolley jack interface.

It's not a rotten pig.

[vpr]

Yeah looks to me like it’s been clumped on the sill area or jacked up.

Check it against the other side

[//j17]

XR said:

The actual sill and its joint with the floor looks ok to me, I think the bit thats flapping is the bottom of the front wing, it looks like an easy repair, I would fabricate a new wing bottom and join it behind the trim piece.

Have to say I look at the picture with a much more cynical eye. To me the inside of the sill wasn't rustproofed, water's got inside and into the welded seam and rusted through from the inside. The bottom of the front wing's already parted ways and what you can see on the outside will be much worse inside.

A lot really depends how much cheaper it is than normal. If it's enough to cover a complete sill replacement (you could just to local patch repairs but they don't last as well and why would you use the cheapest option when haggling over price ) then it might still be worth considering. I'd say it's still worth checking over in the flesh, just make sure you get behind the carpets to get the best view you can from the inside and have a good poke around to see what sounds solid or not/have a friedge magnet to see how much of the car's metal vs. filler.

[steveo3002]

needs a proper look round , its not been caked with underseal so its all honest/nothing hidden

if thats the only issue on a 1966 car then crack on , not bad at all ten year old cars can be worse, if theres dozens of spots like it then rethink it

how many cars like this or much worse get sold on with a fresh coat of underseal and the new owner is ignorant to it all

[Skyedriver]

XR said:

The actual sill and its joint with the floor looks ok to me, I think the bit thats flapping is the bottom of the front wing, it looks like an easy repair, I would fabricate a new wing bottom and join it behind the trim piece.

Sort of my take on it too. There's a join back from the loose bit, behind which is the sill. The loose bit is the front wing?
It does look like someone has been here before with welding kit as that seam looks like it's been "repaired" previously.

[gt40steve]

Don't forget to check the bulkhead / scuttle panel. Look under the dashboard. The bodge repair is sticking in plastic or rubber 'top hats' when the rain comes inside. Sometimes you'll see an early Mustang with a plastic cover over the scuttle panel grille.....
Picture above shows one with the outer scuttle panel removed. A screen out, wings off, job to remove the (welded on) outer scuttle and to repair what lurks beneath.

Edited by gt40steve on Thursday 17th October 22:05

[uk66fastback]

gt40steve said:

Don't forget to check the bulkhead / scuttle panel. Look under the dashboard. The bodge repair is sticking in plastic or rubber 'top hats' when the rain comes inside. Sometimes you'll see an early Mustang with a plastic cover over the scuttle panel grille.....
Picture above shows one with the outer scuttle panel removed. A screen out, wings off, job to remove the (welded on) outer scuttle and to repair what lurks beneath.

Edited by gt40steve on Thursday 17th October 22:05

I’ll take issue with the idea of the top hats being a ‘bodge repair’. It depends on whether there is a leak there. If there is, you’ve got to get rid of the 200 spot welds to get into the scuttle area - that’s not for everyone. It’s possible to not have a leak and put the top hats in for a degree of ‘leak insurance’ should it get worse. One Mustang I had, had one of the clear acrylic scuttle covers on it when I imported it from the US.

[Athlon]

Condi said:

Been looking at a 1966 Mustang as it's been a dream for years, and found something which is a bit of a resto-mod, cheaper than normal as it's non standard with some replacement parts on. The seller has sent some photos of the underside which is generally in quite good condition, but I noticed this on one photo which looks either like delamination or rust, on the floor sill. Would anyone be able to advise if this is an issue?

The gap is the front fender, it looks ok, in fact it looks pretty good compared to some. The sills were galvanised on these from memory so rarely corrode.
As said above, the scuttle is a problem area on these more than where you are looking. Also pull the carpets and check the floors as the leak mentioned as the scuttle leak wets the hessian under the carpets and rots them out.