rust prevention - removing rubber seals on sills

[felsmand]

Hi

I'm wanting to spray some rust proofing inside the sill panels underneath the doors on boths sides of my NP.
I can see a series of small rubber seals/grometts and am wondering how easily these can be removed and replaced.

Also, I don't have side steps so the bottom of the sills are heavily stone chipped and I'm wondering how I can treat these to stop them from getting surface rust. Is it a case of sanding back, adding rust preventers then priming and repainting?

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks

[felsmand]

Oh well obviously my post was not the most relevant topic for people.
I'll work out how to get the door sill grommetts off myself. Just thought I might save some time asking the forum.

As for the other part of my post I have decided to buy a roll of 3M Ventureshield paint protection film from these guys - http://www.ozishield.com.au/categories.asp?cat=26

For about $150 I can protect some panels from stone chips and also where paint is being rubbed off inside the doors where dirt is trapped between panels and doors seals. etc. Just thought I would share it.

Thanks

Daza

[Aussie_Dan]

Gday Daza.
Sorry, I missed your post from the other day.....
I had exactly the same issue with my NP when I bought it. The sills were sandblasted back to bare metal.
You can get the black plastic plugs out of the sills with a flat blade screwdriver. They are in there pretty tight but they do come out with some persistence. They just simply clip back in.
I had my sills repainted. Cost me $400 or $500 from what I remember but it was the only way to protect them properly from rust.
I then squirted a heap of anti-corrosion fluid up through the holes that those bungs came out of and then put the bungs back in.
Straight after doing all this I installed a set of Bushskinz slider steps and now it is absolutely impossible for stones getting kicked up from the front wheels to damage the sills. The Bushskinz steps give 100% protection in this regard.
We did the Mereenie Loop and the whole length of the Oodnadatta last year (Marla to Maree) and still don't have a single chip on the sills
Cheers, Dan.

[felsmand]

Cheers Dan, appreciate the info regarding the sill plugs, I'll pull them out and spray some Tectyl or similar up in there.
Yes I agree side steps or sliders are a good way to go for ultimate protection.

Much appreciated.
Daza