Lower door frame Question

[1972 Banana]

I just recently repaired the door openings on my blazer, It has had a soft top since I purchased it 5+ years ago. found it had been hap hazardly repaired by the PO. I cut the old lower door frame out and found the torque boxes to be in great shape just the front pillar and back pillar were gone as well as part of the floor. The PO had used Bondo to fill in the floor and even covered the cab bolt. I cut all That out and replaced the cab front support and pillar. I also obtained a top and bolted it on before I stared to weld the floor back in.

here is the problem, when I went to weld in the lower outside rocker/door sill. I found this part to be 1/4 inch too short. There is a gap at each end. Is this normal for this piece to be too short? should I split it and add in a patch in the middle. I cant see where my dash moved fwd 1/4 inch. I am sure I can make it work, just know that there will be no stock door sills in my future!

[-Greg72]

I can't tell from that photo: Are you trying to do that repair with the outer rocker panel still attached???

The floor patch is supposed to connect to the inner rocker (vertical piece) then the outer rocker attaches to top of that to form the flange that holds the weatherstrip seal for the door.


-G

[hemi43]

Reinstall your door before you start welding anything. If the door still fits, then stabilize the windshield header so that it can't while you weld. If you don't do it this way and rely on luck, you may have a can of worms on your hands.

[tjsblazer]

Originally Posted by hemi43

Reinstall your door before you start welding anything. If the door still fits, then stabilize the windshield header so that it can't while you weld. If you don't do it this way and rely on luck, you may have a can of worms on your hands.

I'm not a body guy but I agree with this. I think you need your Doors on as a reference to see what is going on.

[jaros44sr]

You're picks are a little to close, could you pull back some

[Walter White]

Originally Posted by 1972 Banana

I just recently repaired the door openings on my blazer, It has had a soft top since I purchased it 5+ years ago. found it had been hap hazardly repaired by the PO. I cut the old lower door frame out and found the torque boxes to be in great shape just the front pillar and back pillar were gone as well as part of the floor. The PO had used Bondo to fill in the floor and even covered the cab bolt. I cut all That out and replaced the cab front support and pillar. I also obtained a top and bolted it on before I stared to weld the floor back in.

here is the problem, when I went to weld in the lower outside rocker/door sill. I found this part to be 1/4 inch too short. There is a gap at each end. Is this normal for this piece to be too short? should I split it and add in a patch in the middle. I cant see where my dash moved fwd 1/4 inch. I am sure I can make it work, just know that there will be no stock door sills in my future!

i bought a 72 from a guy in your neck of the woods(walterboro) last year that has similar issues. he did the work on it himself and didn't properly brace things i suppose. i have a 1/2" gap between hardtop and top of bedside and panels not gapped right.
at his asking price i had to buy it but when i get around to repairing my 70, I'm going to be very particular about that. good luck with it--awesome truck

[1972 Banana]

Walter I did that as well as installed a hard top. I will make it work. Tried to attach some pics but wanted my URL! WTH, could not paste either.

[1972 Banana]

Here are the pics of the end gaps, just do not know how the door openings ended up that big. I did not use a cab stretcher I swear!