Stainless steel rocker panels

[Gromit]

I like this stuff - believe it is a mixture of a paraffin or wax based substance and a solvent - so it flows into any crevices and blocks off the oxygen to help stop the rust from continuing or getting worse anyway

Available at Home Depot so that helps...

And it has a straw on the aerosol so you can spray it into tight spaces

Probably need to renew it once a year or so

I'm with the guys above who mention galvanic corrosion as being the major issue - after all we know that with a more noble metal like stainless fastened to a less noble metal like carbon steel - the problem is at the interface (weld or rivet)..

But Also as we know from plumbing pipes - if you make the connection gradual, for example by going from stainless to brass and THEN to carbon steel; the galvanic potential is less at each transition and will be less of a problem - though whether or not this is sufficient is beyond my skills to say.

Good idea though; and it is nice to see people willing to contribute ideas to start the discussion. I also like the ideas above of concentrating on eliminating any blind cavities in areas of steel panels exposed to salt spray.. that might alone just be enough with proper maintenance to turn a five year problem into a fifteen year problem..

[cleszkie]

How about a repop rocker panel that is made from the correct heavy gauge steel and not the thin crap? Or better yet, made from a heavier than OEM gauge steel. I think that is much more feasible than a stainless rocker panel, and would stand the test of time if installed and treated properly.

[unclesalty]

I bet aluminum would be easier to fab than stainless, some of the modern panel adhesives would probly hold them on fine. I just did both of mine and por-15ed the insides. I haven't put the inners on yet, I guess I will hopefully before the snow. It would be nice to have, aluminum body panels, but the cost would be scary. I would do the cab corners and rockers if they were available- why not? Sounds like a great idea to me!

[special-K]

Chevy was looking at this year's 1500 truck sales. When they come out with their aluminum truck they would like you to forget that ad that proved people are stupid if they dump cinder blocks into any truck bed made from any metal without first providing some protection...such as a $15 sheet of plywood (with 2' cut off so it will fit a cute little short bed)

This issue here with rockers, cab corners, and supports is drainage. These are at the bottom and they hold accumulated road grime and dust. It holds moisture against the metal. Add salt to that crud and it really attacks the metal. With better drain holes it is also easier to get a good flush of water up in there and better to drain out. I think holes with plugs in the back side so you can squirt rust prevention of your choice in would be a good not visible thing to do, along with opening up bigger drain holes on the seam

[Dave K.]

Who's driving these trucks in road salt? That's the only time I see it relevant. Otherwise install stock steel and prep it well and take care of the truck..... SS is overkill in this application...

[davepl]

Every time my dad did an oil change he used the old oil to spray into the wheel wells, and sometimes he'd paint it on to the undercarriage.

Cab corners still rusted out! But everything else lasted 30 years...