rocker panel fixes

jameskilcer · 08-28-2009, 12:25:55 PM

when i get back from afganistan im fixing up the body and getting painting my 81 gotta either patch or replace the rockerpanels. they have no rust what so ever (i live in az now and the car lived in the cali desart all its life) but it looks like someone hit it with a sledgehammer on the back section of the rocker panes on both sides. you cant really tell unless your under the car but i gotta fix it...
who has replaced the panes b4 and how skilled of a welder do you gotta b.. never done body work and im not all that thrilld about starting but its gotta b done...
oh and picts allways help...

tims78camaro · 08-28-2009, 01:03:38 PM

you got to be a pretty skilled welder because you got to do plug welds and this site might help http://rockerpanel.home.comcast.net/~rockerpanel/

Philly · 08-28-2009, 06:02:07 PM

Thanks for the site!

tims78camaro · 08-28-2009, 07:09:49 PM

i couldnt fiqure what the site did is take the whole rocker off so i cut mine right before where the door jamb go over the rocker and cut my new rocker to fit if your goingto do do the whole thing i thing you have to have the front quarter off but im not sure

RD400HP · 08-29-2009, 12:22:46 AM

Hi Jim sounds like someone might have put it on a lift and didn't have the lift arms where they should have been.

Well its hard telling without seeing the rockers but if they are that solid you might give some consideration to pulling the dents out, that would be less trouble than changing your rockers , and most of all be safe over there.

Mark

buckeye79 · 08-29-2009, 08:29:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RD400HP

Well its hard telling without seeing the rockers but if they are that solid you might give some consideration to pulling the dents out, that would be less trouble than changing your rockers , and most of all be safe over there. Mark

That would be the best option. If you could get your hands on a good stud welder, you should be able to pull most of it out, even if it does look pretty bad you could be surprised with the results.

Twisted_Metal · 08-29-2009, 09:40:34 PM

Did someone back over a parking curb?

Dents and no rust.... Pull them as best you can and use a little filler.
Using some filler over solid metal for recontouring is what it's made for.

BusDriver · 08-31-2009, 09:06:30 AM

Pull it out++

If theres really no rust, and it's just 1 big dent, it's less work and trouble to pull it.

Rockers arent the easiest thing in the world to replace, so don't if you don't have to.

jameskilcer · 08-31-2009, 03:39:27 PM

how much dent can you pull out.. and these are some knarly dents. id post picts but im on the other side of the world right now... ill try to get someone else to take some.. and mark thats what i was thinkin.. the guy who had it b4 me got it from someone in his family and he was kinda an idiot and f'ed it up.. only 50k miles..