Technical can anybody help identify this bit?

[pooroldcodger]

Good morning all.
I have a 1994 Panda Colour which I have been gradually working on as my first project car . I have arrived at the front passenger side sill area .
I have done some research and realise that there are 3 layers, floor, inner sill and outer sill all coming together at the seam under the sill and originally spot welded together. However I have cut out a section of inner sill and come across this section which looks like an extra reinforcement piece. Should this section also continue down to the sill seam and be included in the "sandwich"?
Should it continue right up to the front end of the sill in to the wheel arch area or does it finish where mine does?
This vehicle has had various mot-type repairs before I owned it and at this stage I am looking to make it safe and road worthy, and if it proves to be mechanically ok (within reason for an old car!) I may decide in future to put new sill panels on (which I already acquired some time ago).
Any images that you have would be great, thank you.

 

[Sjvarley]

It look like the inner sill at the spring hanger box near the rear wheel or is it a the front foot well ? Yes it should be included
Theres an option. To weld the inner sill and floor pan together using mole grips to pull them weld up move Along the rusted area seaming together then grind straight adding a single connection of steel to the outer sill pretty easy for repairing
Finished section

 

[pooroldcodger]

Thanks a lot!
Yes it is the front passenger side. Here is a shot from a bit further away .
So the piece that you can see that is rotted through should continue down and join in the sill seam?

 

[kolza]

Yes , it should.

https://www.fiatforum.com/members-motors/340090-my-sisley-panda-4x4-division-north-17.html

 

[pooroldcodger]

Briiliant thank you!

 

[Sjvarley]

Briiliant thank you!

Ok if you can get acsess from
Under neath or put the car on its side would be best cut away the rot and gain acsess through the floor pan pretty simple then reweld. Otherwise cut of the whole sill repair front and rear stuffing panels this is where 4 sections m join check out kolza. &. panda1408 digger theads to see the full extent of the work required

 

[panda1408]

About the best photo I can find at the moment, you can see the piece you are talking about behind the A post stiffener.

It should go right down to the sill seam and as far as I am aware it is originally tied into the inner arch and A post stiffener at the front. On all the cars I have looked at or repaired in that area, it is always very rotten and hard to work out how exactly it went together.

Unless you are cutting off the outer sill its will be difficult to put it back exactly, if you can join it back to the main sill seam then that would suffice.

 

[pooroldcodger]

Thanks guys. As the top part seems to be very solid I am going to cut it back to solid metal and a straight edge and joint a new section in and finish it at the sill seam.

 

[pooroldcodger]

Thank you for that. Just one question - what are the "stuffing panels"?

 

[Sjvarley]

Typo stiffening as mentioned in Freddy's write up

 

[pandamaniac]

I would have thought that stuffing panels are where you are totally stuffed and out of options.
Too rotten, or in modern terms beyond economical repair.

Dave

 

[pooroldcodger]

Yes I have felt stuffed on many occasions!
Thanks for the help and encouragement guys.
One more question if I may.
On the passenger side under the wheel arch, having taken off the main liner I came across this plastic panel clipped to the seams at the join between the end of the sill and the bulkhead. Image attached. There isn't one on the driver's side. I am guessing there should be?