Replacing the Sill Plates

Finally got round to replacing the rusted sill plates on my 355 with the carbon fibre ones from Pro Sport which cost less for a pair than the single cost of the Ferrari original. You re-use the rubber Ferrari insert and the sealing strip along the back edge.

The originals are held on with 3 screws along the inside edge and rubber sealant along the outside edge and the only way to remove them is with a sharp chisel which will lever them off and cut through the sealant at the same time. You end up with something which looks like the lid off a sardine tin.

Once off, you can use "silicone sealant remover" to remove the remaining sealent. This is a gel available from B&Q which you apply, leave for 2 - 3 hours after which you can remove the sealant with a paint scraper or the type used to tidy paint around a painted window - with a Stanley knife blade fitted. You can then clean up with meths to remove any residue.

Before you fit the new sill panel, tighten the screws holding on the side skirt if they are loose, hopefully this will be the last time you get to see them. I had to do some very minor shaping of the back edge of one side, probably Ferrari's tolerances as much as Pro Sport's especially as I crunched that side of the car, the less said about that the better.

I used bathroom sealant instead of the rubber sealant which doesn't set quite as hard and hopefully will allow them to be removed in one piece if I ever need to.

I'm pleased with the results, much better looking than the unsightly bubbling black paint of the originals. One of those jobs where a couple of afternoons spent improve your car and save you money.

 

Here's a couple of pictures...
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Yes, mine are from prosport too:

http://www.prosport-ferrari.com/AfterMarket.aspx

My car is regular rosso/crema with red carpets, but you can see I have an early car - pre-airbag wheel. This picture is a couple of years old, before the sills went bad.
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