Hi all. Hi All. I have been poking around under the van ( mistake i know), to find that the RH side belly pan needs replacing on my bay. My question is. Are they really necessary as i have seen so many buses that dont have them. I do have a pop to though. It is a 1/3 length poptop. Also how much disruption to the body does having the sills replaced cause, Thinking about paint. Cheers __________________
Ah, this old question ;D I've seen threads on other forums where people get quite heated arguing if they are or are not needed ;D I chopped mine off to do my sills, but I'm making them bolt on 8) Some think they were put on to add strength for pop top openings, I dont think your bus will fall apart with out them though! theres plenty of strength in the chassis, A, B, C posts, sill and the roof supports with out the need for belly pans IMHO. I do think they are a mixed blessing though. I found they proteced my underside pretty well - apart from where the traped moisture next to the sills and rotted them out depending on how bad your sills are you might be able to patch them up, if the middle sill is rusted through it might be worth changing the outer too as access will be very difficult other wise....but then you'll have to get them re painted. is it slider or non slider side?? if your sills need replacing then chances are so will some of the out riggers and lower B post, possibly top hat sections............ .....then you end up in the static motion group ;D
mine have them and came from the states and has a sun roof,i read the other day why they put them on ill see if i can find it
they were there to add strenght on factory weak'nd vans ie sunroof vans, twin sliders etc were metal has been removed or on van or where supplied to the better motor home converters to have the roof cutout for a poptop the exception to this was the 1.2 ton payload van which had them aswell but with all the metal intact. i would refit them by welding once you have repaired the inner sill bolting them on is pointless fitting a innersill is tricky with the outer and middle still on. you need to pull the pan to check the inner sill
I can't see how there is any strength in them. Westfalia had one of the biggest holes cut in the roof and as Rickyrooo says Stateside buses didn't have them. As far as I am aware they were used to protect the floor from mud but they do trap moisture and mainly found in European bound buses. It's up to you really but if you do keep them off, fit mud flaps to protect mud being thrown up in the chassis.
Chop the outer, welded ones off and unbolt the centre one. You won't like what you find underneath... Fine to run without the outer ones.
