FE-FC Holden Discussion Forum

We approved the samples of the FE - EK sill panels today they are as per original price will be around $195.00 each expected delivery mid November

Hi Les,
Do you have any pictures of the test install on Mike Fiddes car?

Trevor_B

This is a later test

Whats wrong with the repo's from CraigVayne,they fit ok?

The Rares ones I saw are very much like the original factory ones with correct ends and the raised section for the B pillar.

Defiantly would be the ones I would use considering the amount of effort required to install.

Trevor_B

Craig Vanes, are dead straight with no ends, need to form a bend to follow the curve in the car.

Sounds like the ones Les is talking about are a new Rares model.

Is this correct Les?

Yes they are new with the ends and curve

Ahah !You get what you pay for ! ;D

(http://www.rarespares.net.au/zforles/Img_1649.jpg)

Here is a picture.

Les

Looks good.
Regards
Alex

They look very good, so much better than the current Rare Spares effort. I hope they are made from a thicker gauge metal than the current panels as well.

We do not make any at the moment and have not for 3 years so I am at a lose to know what you mean by our current sill panel .

I think what Ole means Les is that there is still some old stock of the sills that you used to produce around and are still labelled as rare spare sills and sold through rares agents.
These new ones look the part so I think that they will be good sellers  :)

Cheers Stewy   8)

G'day Les,
Are the new sills the same gauge as the original sills?
ACE  8)

Perhaps I re-phrase that to your previous panels. I had a pair of Rare Spares sill panels that I couldn't use because the pressing was very distorted and the profile was poor. I don't mean to cause offence, this was just my experience.
Regards Ole.

Um, am i missing something?
The old sill pressings were poor - we all know that.
These are the new pressings which are a huge improvement.
Rare Spares approached the Vic club for a volunteer to provide a car for a pair of the new sills to be professionally fitted - no charge.
I have seen the photos of the finished job and they look very impressive and our club member is very pleased with the job.
I don't know whether the material is the same thickness as the originals, I don't even know whether the supplier has the same size press as Holden used originally. The Holden press was huge with a massive capacity. Later model Holdens used thinner material, yes to save money, but also because die tooling was very expensive to replace because of the high wear rate on thicker material.

Dragging up old issues is irellevant, move on.

Ken

Well said Ken, and well done (Les) Rare Spares for continuing to aid us in the restoration of our great Holden heritage.

Cheers Stewy   8)

This is the problem with forums. Some people take offence or read more into a post than was intended. As I said, I like the new sills and I also appreciate the effort of Les and Rare Spares for continuing to provide quality products for restorers and modifiers alike. I am not privy to Rare Spares stock list or manufacturing schedule and I did not realise that it was such a sensitive matter. I apologise if I upset anyone as it was not my intention. I will think twice next time before I pass comment or offer my opinion in future.
Ole

Ole, as you previously posted,the sills were poor quality and would not fit.Why were they sold in the first place then? I know Ken try's he's hardest to get things ''rite'' with Rares but I think sometimes the main man has to be held accountable for situations like this .
I think your the one who deserves the apology!

When we first made these sill panels they were a fairly good fit maybe not quite as good as genuine but then again we did not have the luxury of being able to amortise the cost over 4 (FE – EK) model runs but they did fit and were the only ones on the market with pressed ends. When the tooling showed signs of wear and we tried to repair it. That is when they became a lot lesser quality and we removed them from the market some three years ago. So from our point of view they are in the past and let’s move on with these new ones. The main concern appears to be are they the same thickness as the original well no they are not, the originals were in imperial and the new ones are in metric gauge material and are marginally thicker although you would not notice.
Les

Sounds great Les, Keep up the good work  :)

Cheers Stewy   8)

Hope it doesnt de value my NOS sets i have  ;D

Good Job.

If they are painted black it would be hard to tell the difference.

Thanks for the reply Les,
The sill panels look great and
i'll be purchasing 2 pairs when
they become available ;)
Regards ACE  8)

Just read this post, and I can talk from experience. I have just put a pair of the old pressed sills on my rebuild. I found them to be a little out, with the left one being slightly longer than the right. I also found the profile was not quite the same as the original as I left the bottom of the "B" pillar in place as a guide for refitting. So for Rares to pull them from sale  when they found them not be  the proper shape was a great move, as it shows they put the customer before sales. With the test fitting and release of the new sills it shows the commitment to making sure things are right is foremost and should be congratulated. I am at the stage in my rebuild, where I can rehang the doors and guards to check the gaps and fit. I feel I may have a problem with the bottom step in the sill so rather than rework them, it may be a better option to replace them with the new sills. To this end I would like to be kept informed as to the availability of stock ex Sydney.
Thanks again for your efforts,
Jim

I have just been informed that the price I quoted for these sills was incorrect they will be $247.50 each sorry about the mistake

Les the price is still good if they are as good as they look there was a guy here in WA that had NOS sills he wanted $1200 for them and apparently he was going to sell them to somebody in Queensland for $800.

Any idea when Rares are going to start manufacturing?

Regards
Neil H

The sill panels have arrived the will be they will be in stock next week

Hi picked up a pair of sills from rarespares yesterday $225 each ,they look good
Gordon

just replaced a danaged early rares sill with the new style and was very happy with the overall shape and fit,steel appears a bit heavier and the profile is waaaay better

(http://s3.postimg.org/yge7u2a8f/IMG_3519.jpg) ($2)

Hi Guy's

I'll try to post some pictures of my wagon which has the new sills fitted.

Cheers
Mike

(http://s29.postimg.org/57f454us3/IMG_3383.jpg) ($2)

(http://s30.postimg.org/jht9ud0il/IMG_3516.jpg) ($2)

(http://s29.postimg.org/z79groo9f/IMG_3296.jpg) ($2)

(http://s17.postimg.org/gse1no4xn/image.jpg) ($2)

Finally got it finished!!  A day before leaving for Tassie.
A big thankyou to Rare Spares for using my car as the trial for the new sills I couldn't be happier.

Mike