N400 Sills - Before and After.

[Mr Noble]

Always thought the Vantage is probably the prettiest car ever built, but have always thought they look a lot more aggressive and poised with the N400 sills.

Had some fitted last week. Very happy with the results


Before.







After.

[Ice27]

Agreed
Very nice! And good pictures too!

[V8 Animal]

I do like them there on my list

[X7LDA]

Good mod!

I have to say though, the ride height on your car looks unusually high....

[burntout]

X7LDA said:

Good mod!

I have to say though, the ride height on your car looks unusually high....

+ 1

Sills look nice though.....

[Slarti]

Well, the 'after' shots would look better if you've also cleaned up the car! :-). Just kidding, I agree. Makes a big difference.

[Mr Noble]

I've always thought my car looked a little high. I've also wondered if there is something up with my suspension as it's unusually firm. Dealer did give it a 140 point check when I bought it and also went out for a drive with me and said "they all do that, Sir"

I wonder if there are any companies who make an aftermarket spring/damper set up for the 4.7's. Something a little softer than what I have and maybe 1 way adjustable so it can be firmed up if required.........

[krisdelta]

Could be the handbrake raising the rear? Although the front looks a little high too.

Where did you get the sills done Mr Noble? Looks very nice.

[mikey k]

Mr Noble said:

I've always thought my car looked a little high. I've also wondered if there is something up with my suspension as it's unusually firm. Dealer did give it a 140 point check when I bought it and also went out for a drive with me and said "they all do that, Sir"

I wonder if there are any companies who make an aftermarket spring/damper set up for the 4.7's. Something a little softer than what I have and maybe 1 way adjustable so it can be firmed up if required.........

First things first get the geometry checked and try it again as that can transform the handling.
Lowering it and going softer cannot be done with springs alone as you are reducing the damper travel, which means you need a stiffer spring to accomdate the lower travel.
Only really way is to replace the dampers and specify softer springs.
Nitron do a good set up for the Vantage but it is going to get costly going that route.

[Mr Noble]

I have a very handy friend who runs a bodyshop in Cambs and I got the sills from HWM Aston who are very competitive with their parts.

It's quite puzzling about the ride height and firmness. Not sure what to do really - having had the dealer look at them and say they're "normal"...........

[X7LDA]

Don't let the ride height bug you, it could be perfectly normal and just the way they are sitting in the pictures above.

One thing that would be worth doing however is sittin the car on a flat surface, turn the front wheel out slightly and then measure between the wheel and the lip of the arch - then get somewhere with the same 4.7 wheel set up to do the same - then compare.

[MarkZ4MC]

Mr Noble said:

I have a very handy friend who runs a bodyshop in Cambs and I got the sills from HWM Aston who are very competitive with their parts.

Are the sills a DIY fit? Do you need any other parts (clips, etc.) or can the originals be re-used?

Buying the sills, having them sprayed locally and then fitting oneself would then be a fair saving I would imagine.

[X7LDA]

MarkZ4MC said:

Mr Noble said:

I have a very handy friend who runs a bodyshop in Cambs and I got the sills from HWM Aston who are very competitive with their parts.

Are the sills a DIY fit? Do you need any other parts (clips, etc.) or can the originals be re-used?

Buying the sills, having them sprayed locally and then fitting oneself would then be a fair saving I would imagine.

You need to replace the door seals as well - around £30 per side IIRC. Sills on e-bay for £650 so that's early £700's before you paint. As for fitting, walk in the park, just bolted into place.

[MarkZ4MC]

X7LDA said:

You need to replace the door seals as well - around £30 per side IIRC. Sills on e-bay for £650 so that's early £700's before you paint. As for fitting, walk in the park, just bolted into place.

Hmmm, you're right. Add, say, £100 per sill for painting and you're already over £900.

I believe dealers offer the service for £1,200 from what I recall reading and that option would be significantly less hassle...

[V8 Animal]

MarkZ4MC said:

Hmmm, you're right. Add, say, £100 per sill for painting and you're already over £900.

I believe dealers offer the service for £1,200 from what I recall reading and that option would be significantly less hassle...

Not as cheap as the zed was to do

[stevewushu]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread.

Changing the sills from standard to N400 is fairly straight forward I assume?
Anyone here done it themselves?
And what/where are the rubber door seals that also need replacing?

[KarlFranz]

stevewushu said:

Sorry to resurrect an old thread.

Changing the sills from standard to N400 is fairly straight forward I assume?
Anyone here done it themselves?
And what/where are the rubber door seals that also need replacing?

I've done it and it's not too difficult if you're handy and take your time.

The door seal does not need to be replaced. If you are careful as you slowly peel it off the sill, you can remove it intact without tearing it and then reattach it to the new sill using double-sided 1/4 in. 3M tape.

[Jon39]

Mr Noble said:

I've also wondered if there is something up with my suspension as it's unusually firm.

Judging by your wheels, I would assume that your car has Sports Pack ie. the harder suspension.

I like your number plate change.
Car now looks brand new - just great.

[stevewushu]

Cheers for that KarlFranz.
I'll give it a shot myself then!

[erics]

Greg, we really do have a few things in common..