Plus 2 Sill Finishing

[gerrym]

My plus 2 outer fibreglass sills have now been repaired and am now approaching the cosmetic stage. Does anyone have a recommendation for a good anti-chip paint that will be suitable for the flat body flange (sides of body beneath doors). I'm just intending to use the anti-chip paint for the 30mm or so wide flat section where the outer fastener heads show. For info, I'm using penny washers and button head screws for the fasteners that sandwhich through the outer skin, metal sill reinforcement and inner body.
Thanks Gerry

[tower of strength]

if you go to a proper automotive paint factor, you can by stone chip undercoat in aerosol form, factory finish was satin or matt black, I etch primed mine(zinc bolts) withUpol ACID8 primer (from halfords) and brushed cellulose satin black over the top

hope this helps

Mark

[JJDraper]

Have you used stainless bolts & washers? I had new sills a 3 or 4 years back and the continuous damp has caused the new (bright zinc finished)bolts & washers to corrode & rust. When the big refurb takes place (!) I intend using stainless..

Jeremy

[gerrym]

Jeremy, yes I will be using stainless steel because I want to be able to use the car in a British climate without consigning it to dry days only.
My sill members were replaced about 6 years ago with stainless steel but the fasteners used were standard zinc plated. In this time thay had managed to corrode (probably accelerated because they were in contact with the stainless) and the resulting rust product had weakened and rotted the GRP around the fastener holes and under the washers
Regards

Gerry

[tower of strength]

I used stainless washers but BZP bolts, I was advised against stainless as they aren't strong enough? This was from one of the Lotus specialists. He advised against stainless in any safety critical area on the car, pedal box to bulkhead, steering column to bulk head, seat belt sandwich plates and the sills(seat belts and jacking points)
Not sure if this is right but it made sense at the time!!

hope this helps

Mark