HOdbleFman
Enthusiast
How difficult is it to remove the side sills? What tools are needed? Where are the fasteners located that need to be removed? Can anyone post pics of how to remove them?
Removing side sills
- Thread starter HOdbleFman
- Start date
SapphireGTS
Enthusiast
I think the 98GTS is the same. Someone correct me if I am wrong.
Just pop those little circular tabs on the top sill out and use a small socket to get to the screws. It helps if you have one of those little magnetic picker-uppers too. Then just pull the sill towards you.
Simple as that.
Just pop those little circular tabs on the top sill out and use a small socket to get to the screws. It helps if you have one of those little magnetic picker-uppers too. Then just pull the sill towards you.
Simple as that.
I find removing sidesills are easy if I use an 8mm magnetic socket on a 3" flex drive with a 1/4" stubby ratchet (all found on a Snap-on truck or at Sears)...10 screws on each side (6 on top, 4 below)...easy off and easy on...WATCH the sharp edges on the insulation around the screw holes !!!
Hardest part is getting the black round plugs out without scratching the jambs, and getting them back on. I used two feeler guages with a sheet of paper under each one. Worked like a champ. There are the screws on the top, on the bottom and where the hood comes down onto the rocker area. Then just pull the sill straight off, might need a little rocking action to get a sticky one loose. One side on mine came off with the insulation in the sill and the other, when I pulled it, the insulation remained on the car. No big deal, it all went back together just fine (back on is harder that taking them off).
SapphireGTS
Enthusiast
Oh yeah. Ones on the bottom too. Its been a while. Do not use a flat head screwdriver to take off the tabs. I scratched mine that way. I have found using a pointy tool like a pick will work best.
Supercharged Vipermad
Enthusiast
What Joe said! MarkO drove down to RI when I lived there...just for lunch, and he removed mine with a credit card to show me how easy it is!!! Patience is the key word. 
Chuck 98 RT/10
Enthusiast
Very good advice.
luc
Enthusiast
Those plugs being very cheap, I just drill a small hole in the center,slide in a 90 degree pick and just pull straight up.
This way, there is absolutly no chance to damage/scratch the paint and total cost is like $5 per side.
Luc. 00GTS
This way, there is absolutly no chance to damage/scratch the paint and total cost is like $5 per side.
Luc. 00GTS
KenH
Enthusiast
There are some pics that might be helpful in the Corsa install writeup in the how-to section.
http://www.viperclub.org/menus/index_how_illup.htm
--- Ken
http://www.viperclub.org/menus/index_how_illup.htm
--- Ken
Use two credit cards, there are four arms at the bottom of each plug. Push the cards together and you'll squeeze the arms together and bingo, the plug will remove. No scratches and it pops out in 5 seconds.
Flatten out the screw holes after the sills are removed because they will certainly be stretched. Take time here with punch and hammer or even pliers in some cases. Use high temp/low strength sealant on screws when reinstalling and do not tighten with much strength or you'll watch the screw strip. You might want to test with sill off to get a feel for how much torque to apply before hole starts to strip, it's not much.
There are many posted fixes on this if it occurs.
Flatten out the screw holes after the sills are removed because they will certainly be stretched. Take time here with punch and hammer or even pliers in some cases. Use high temp/low strength sealant on screws when reinstalling and do not tighten with much strength or you'll watch the screw strip. You might want to test with sill off to get a feel for how much torque to apply before hole starts to strip, it's not much.
There are many posted fixes on this if it occurs.
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