Rusty Kick Panels - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

1969 GMC · 03-25-2003, 04:50 AM

I haven't really seen this mentioned on here alot, but my GMC doesn't have any rust in the floorboards...its rusting through in both of the kickpanels. By where the oval openings for the fresh air vents are, to be exact. The passenger side is really bad...quite a bit of rust thru. The rust is only on the inside, there isn't any on the outside. When it rains this side leaks and gets my floorboards nice n wet (but they aren't rusty). The drivers side only has rust thru in a tiny (pencil tip sized dot), it doesn't leak. When I fully open both fresh air vents, there is a ton of leaves, maple helicopters, and these damned dried up berries inside. If I open these at speed, it's like someone threw a bag of confetti inside the cab.

My questions are:
1). How did this happen? Why don't I hear alot about these rusting?
2). How can I fix? Are there patch panels or do I have to cut up a parts truck?
3). How can I prevent future incidences of this, and perhaps save my drivers side?

thanks for your time

JimKshortstep4x4 · 03-25-2003, 07:53 AM

The drains must plug up and cause the rust to get severe. Even as rusty as the trucks get in Michigan, I have never seen what you are describing. I did cut some kick panels off and sent them to someone who was going to fix his truck because of the same problem you are describing. I suspect that you will have to cut up a truck to get the parts.

After cutting the kick panels off and seeing what an agonizing task it would be to weld the panels back in, my recommendation is to look for another cab.

Even as rusty as this cab is the kick panels were still good!

Pic attached.

Jim

PanelDeland · 03-25-2003, 10:03 AM

Take the cowl off and clean those vents.Make sure you get the drains open.I usually do this every spring but I'm going to put a vent screen on so I don't have to.I take the cowl off and pull the trash out by hand then go to the car wash and use the high pressure wash to force the vents clear.Make sure you have the vents closed at the carwash.The standing water from the trash in the drains is what caused this problem.
As far as fixing them I haven't ever done it.If they are structurally sound and you don't want to do stock looking kickpanels you might fill the area with metal and then use the kickpanel speaker enclosures to cover the area.You will have to patch the area to keep it from leaking and keep the vent clean to prevent further problems.

*Randy70C-10* · 03-25-2003, 10:54 AM

Jim, is that your fixer-upper?

JimKshortstep4x4 · 03-25-2003, 11:45 AM

Randy70c-10,

Thanks for the chuckle!

I am afraid that this cab went to the junk yard as there was not much left after cutting off the kick panels.

Jim

1969 GMC · 03-25-2003, 03:04 PM

Here is a pic of the carnage, as you can tell the p/o decided to attempt a patch, but it looks kinda sh!tty IMO.

pat · 03-25-2003, 05:23 PM

Your kickpanels look great compared to mine, I am in the same situation as you are with trash and rust, but I have much more rust and damage.

Where are the drain holes?
What If i just cut out the rust and patched over it(carpet will eventually cover it) and what if i even patched over the vents?
How necessary are the vents?

Earl Junior · 03-25-2003, 05:55 PM

I use my vents all the time. Poor man's A/C.

Steven Sellers · 03-25-2003, 06:52 PM

Doesnt some of the vendors on here sell replacement panels. Mine is rusted at the very bottom about 1/2 inch. Not one of my chief concerns but if its that hard to replace then it might become a concern. Here is a link to what I thought was the replacement panel from GMC PAULS

http://www.gmcpaulstruckparts.com/pictures/Pics/kick(cowl)panellower.jpg

72ChevyCheyenne · 03-25-2003, 09:31 PM

Ed at Mothertruckers has kick panel patch panels. I had to replace them on my cab. Mine were full of pine needles that had come through the cowl vents. I bought the stainless steel screen that LMC sells to fit under the cowl vent. The picture below shows how much I had to cut and replace.

sakohntr · 03-26-2003, 04:53 AM

I saw a guy who used aluminum diamond plate to cover up the nasty after he cleaned out the debris. You could make a template out of cardboard and then screw or rivot the plate over the top. Kinda the jeep look

MOTHERTRUCKERS · 03-26-2003, 08:27 AM

There is a picture of our kickpanel replacements in the patch panel section of our online catalog.

SWINGSAX68 · 03-26-2003, 01:26 PM

I have the same problem...but the I have like large holes along the bottom of my kick panels were the floor meets up with them....is that fixable????the rest of my cab is pretty straight except that I have aluminum Rockers from P/O which actually seem top have held up well. I will not be looking for a 'rust free cab', a body shop should be able to repair this correct????

1969 GMC · 03-26-2003, 02:02 PM

From what it seems to me, the patch would just be below the vent, but I need the entire vent area replaced. I'd like to keep the vents, they are nice to use once in a while. And getting a new cab would really be too much, the kick panel is really my only problem area, the only other rust I have is the rockers, cab corners, and a tiny spot of rust on the firewall above the air cleaner. The assembly line chalkmarks are still almost 100% readable above the engine, too. I guess I will have to find some kick panels out of a junk truck, or have someone get some for me.

MOTHERTRUCKERS · 03-26-2003, 08:12 PM

Get me a measurement and i'll cut a rustfree section out for you 40.00 + shipping.

*Gee_Emm* · 03-26-2003, 08:30 PM

The ONLY rust on my truck is in the kick panels. Damn things, the rust is or was only right at the bottom where it meets the floor. I can see the road

Hence the line in my signature.

gmc67swb · 03-26-2003, 09:01 PM

WHILE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE VENTS, I TOOK MY WIFE FOR A RIDE WHEN WE FIRST GOT TOGETHER. SHE COMPLAINED THAT SHE WAS HOT. I TOLD HER TO OPEN THE VENT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DASH. WELL WHEN SHE DID, MAN, SHE SCREAMED I SWERVED AND LEAVES AND ALL KINDS OF CRAP CAME FLYING INTO THE TRUCK. I GOT A GOOD LAUGH. NOW SHE WON'T OPEN THE VENT, THAT IS WHEN I CAN GET HER TO RIDE IN THE TRUCK WITH ME.

19mike69 · 03-26-2003, 09:40 PM

i had alot of leaves and dirt in mine too....but nobody really answered ,where is the drain and how do you flush these things out?

*Gee_Emm* · 03-26-2003, 11:45 PM

You can't actually see the drain if your truck is all together. It is in the side of the cab behind the front fender. To flush the vents out close the inner cab vents, take a garden hose and shoot water down the front cowl, flush out both sides. If you have water running out from the bottom of the truck at the sides then your drains are clear. If you don't you will have to pull the cowl off and fish out the crap thats in there.

Same goes for the doors and the front fenders, they all have drain holes that may be clogged, you have to get down on your hands and knees to see the holes. There are two in each door, take a dental pick or something to clear the drains out (they are slits about an inch long) In the front fenders I think there are only drains in the front part although I do recall something in the back area. The front area drains are under where the battery sits on the passenger side and the same area on the drivers side.

Overall what I do every year is take a garden hose and find any area on the truck at all that junk could collect and flush it out. Its a good habit to get into and you may be surprised at what comes out.

03-25-2003, 04:50 AM	#1
1969 GMC Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: The Rubber City Posts: 5,498	Rusty Kick Panels I haven't really seen this mentioned on here alot, but my GMC doesn't have any rust in the floorboards...its rusting through in both of the kickpanels. By where the oval openings for the fresh air vents are, to be exact. The passenger side is really bad...quite a bit of rust thru. The rust is only on the inside, there isn't any on the outside. When it rains this side leaks and gets my floorboards nice n wet (but they aren't rusty). The drivers side only has rust thru in a tiny (pencil tip sized dot), it doesn't leak. When I fully open both fresh air vents, there is a ton of leaves, maple helicopters, and these damned dried up berries inside. If I open these at speed, it's like someone threw a bag of confetti inside the cab. My questions are: 1). How did this happen? Why don't I hear alot about these rusting? 2). How can I fix? Are there patch panels or do I have to cut up a parts truck? 3). How can I prevent future incidences of this, and perhaps save my drivers side? thanks for your time __________________ 1969 GMC K2500 1996 Honda Accord 2007 Kawasaki KLR 650

03-25-2003, 07:53 AM	#2
JimKshortstep4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Muskegon,MI,USA Posts: 6,026	The drains must plug up and cause the rust to get severe. Even as rusty as the trucks get in Michigan, I have never seen what you are describing. I did cut some kick panels off and sent them to someone who was going to fix his truck because of the same problem you are describing. I suspect that you will have to cut up a truck to get the parts. After cutting the kick panels off and seeing what an agonizing task it would be to weld the panels back in, my recommendation is to look for another cab. Even as rusty as this cab is the kick panels were still good! Pic attached. Jim Attached Images

03-25-2003, 10:03 AM	#3
PanelDeland I am a Referee of life. Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Greensboro N.C. Posts: 13,993	Take the cowl off and clean those vents.Make sure you get the drains open.I usually do this every spring but I'm going to put a vent screen on so I don't have to.I take the cowl off and pull the trash out by hand then go to the car wash and use the high pressure wash to force the vents clear.Make sure you have the vents closed at the carwash.The standing water from the trash in the drains is what caused this problem. As far as fixing them I haven't ever done it.If they are structurally sound and you don't want to do stock looking kickpanels you might fill the area with metal and then use the kickpanel speaker enclosures to cover the area.You will have to patch the area to keep it from leaking and keep the vent clean to prevent further problems. __________________ The 47-present Chevrolet and GMC Truck Message Board Network,it's owners,moderators,members,and associates of any type should not be held responsible for my opinion. You can't fix stupid,not even with duct tape. "My appearance is due to the fact that "GOD" does punish you for having too much fun!" Barrett-Jackson has perfected alchemy,they make rust into gold! "You can lead a horse to water but you can't saddle a duck" "Cleverly disguised as a 'Responsible Adult' "Sometimes your Knight in shining armor is just a retard in tinfoil"

03-25-2003, 03:04 PM	#6
1969 GMC Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: The Rubber City Posts: 5,498	Here is a pic of the carnage, as you can tell the p/o decided to attempt a patch, but it looks kinda sh!tty IMO. Attached Images __________________ 1969 GMC K2500 1996 Honda Accord 2007 Kawasaki KLR 650

03-25-2003, 05:23 PM	#7
pat Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Lindsay, TX Posts: 1,245	Your kickpanels look great compared to mine, I am in the same situation as you are with trash and rust, but I have much more rust and damage. Where are the drain holes? What If i just cut out the rust and patched over it(carpet will eventually cover it) and what if i even patched over the vents? How necessary are the vents? __________________ 68 Chevy 383/350 w/shift kit, 380hp/425ft-lbs, 4.5/5 drop, 17" TT2s 64 Cadillac Sedan DeVille

03-25-2003, 10:54 AM	#4
Randy70C-10 Account Suspended Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Virginia Beach, Va. U.S.A. Posts: 15,320	Jim, is that your fixer-upper?

03-25-2003, 11:45 AM	#5
JimKshortstep4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Muskegon,MI,USA Posts: 6,026	Randy70c-10, Thanks for the chuckle! I am afraid that this cab went to the junk yard as there was not much left after cutting off the kick panels. Jim

03-25-2003, 05:55 PM	#8
Earl Junior Cadillac power Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: North Idaho Posts: 296	I use my vents all the time. Poor man's A/C. __________________ Just for the record, if I'm down to my last potato, I'm not sharing it with a guy who wants to kill me so he can get a better supply of virgins in paradise. That lesson is a little thing I call Economics 101, infidel style. --Scott Adams author of Dilbert

03-25-2003, 06:52 PM	#9
Steven Sellers Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: North Carolina Posts: 692	Patch Panels Doesnt some of the vendors on here sell replacement panels. Mine is rusted at the very bottom about 1/2 inch. Not one of my chief concerns but if its that hard to replace then it might become a concern. Here is a link to what I thought was the replacement panel from GMC PAULS http://www.gmcpaulstruckparts.com/pictures/Pics/kick(cowl)panellower.jpg __________________ 2008 Buick Enclave(wifes new non wrecked) 1996 Jeep Cherokee 2002 2500HD 6.0L (traded) 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee(wifes/wrecked) 1977 DJ5 postal jeep(mmm lots of fun) 1988 Toyota 2wd p/u(DD, blewup 199,000) 1991 Toyota 2ed p/u (sry just cant break these things) 1997 XR70 Honda 1991 Z50(FOR SALE) 1972 Z50 Honda 1970 SWB 350/knucklebuster "The adventure begins and I am confident that there will be no end".

03-25-2003, 09:31 PM	#10
72ChevyCheyenne Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Woodstock, GA USA Posts: 300	Ed at Mothertruckers has kick panel patch panels. I had to replace them on my cab. Mine were full of pine needles that had come through the cowl vents. I bought the stainless steel screen that LMC sells to fit under the cowl vent. The picture below shows how much I had to cut and replace. Attached Images __________________ Bill Durham http://home.attbi.com/~bulldurham 72 Cheyenne Restoration in progress Currently: frame sand blasted and powdercoated, Inline Tube brake and fuel lines, Blazer tank in rear, Holley Red electronic fuel pump, Eaton posi with 3.42 gears, 2 1/2" drop front spindles, 4" drop rear springs with adjustable panhard bar, KYB shocks, ZZ 502/502 GM Performance crate engine, Zoops brackets and pulleys, Vintage Air, dual electric fans, Ram Air II hood and late model sport side bed.

03-26-2003, 04:53 AM	#11
sakohntr Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Floodwood Minnesota Posts: 1,057	alternative I saw a guy who used aluminum diamond plate to cover up the nasty after he cleaned out the debris. You could make a template out of cardboard and then screw or rivot the plate over the top. Kinda the jeep look __________________ 1967 K30 Napco 292/SM420 original paint 30k miles 1968 K60 Napco 396/5spd. dbl frame 52" michelins 1969 K10 SWB GMC 454/4spd 6" 35's posi,hooks 1972 C30 longhorn,BB/AT,A/C,Tilt,Toolbox,lokr 1987 K20 Chevrolet Suburban. 6" lift. 5.7L/TH400 1979 K60 GMC Coleman 4x4, 427/Allison.

03-26-2003, 08:27 AM	#12
MOTHERTRUCKERS Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: BRADENTON FLA Posts: 3,269	There is a picture of our kickpanel replacements in the patch panel section of our online catalog. __________________ Rest in Peace Ed. Thanks for all the good times.

03-26-2003, 01:26 PM	#13
SWINGSAX68 Now the others dig........ Join Date: May 2002 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 1,520	I have the same problem...but the I have like large holes along the bottom of my kick panels were the floor meets up with them....is that fixable????the rest of my cab is pretty straight except that I have aluminum Rockers from P/O which actually seem top have held up well. I will not be looking for a 'rust free cab', a body shop should be able to repair this correct???? __________________ 68 Chevy C10 Stepside Black Primer 78 GMC Longbed White 09 Chevy Silverado Shortbed Granite Blue *LOOKING FOR A 67 4 DOOR IMPALA!!!Just like Sam and Dean Winchester!! 'Cause Mustangs are for p^#$ and you can fit a body in the trunk of a 67 Impala* MEMBER OF THE DRUM BRAKE CLUB Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies Texas State University-San Marcos, TX Certified Music Educator I hope Mom is up there watching and being my Guardian Angel "I've got a fever.....and the only prescription.....IS MORE COW BELL" -The Legendary: Bruce Dickenson "F#$@ 'em up!!!!!!" -The Legendary: Rogelio Escobar TRUCKY LINKS** http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=457750 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=461184 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=472848 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=417541 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=477788

03-26-2003, 02:02 PM	#14
1969 GMC Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: The Rubber City Posts: 5,498	From what it seems to me, the patch would just be below the vent, but I need the entire vent area replaced. I'd like to keep the vents, they are nice to use once in a while. And getting a new cab would really be too much, the kick panel is really my only problem area, the only other rust I have is the rockers, cab corners, and a tiny spot of rust on the firewall above the air cleaner. The assembly line chalkmarks are still almost 100% readable above the engine, too. I guess I will have to find some kick panels out of a junk truck, or have someone get some for me. __________________ 1969 GMC K2500 1996 Honda Accord 2007 Kawasaki KLR 650

03-26-2003, 08:12 PM	#15
MOTHERTRUCKERS Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: BRADENTON FLA Posts: 3,269	Get me a measurement and i'll cut a rustfree section out for you 40.00 + shipping. __________________ Rest in Peace Ed. Thanks for all the good times.



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03-26-2003, 08:30 PM	#16
Gee_Emm Account Suspended Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 4,002	The ONLY rust on my truck is in the kick panels. Damn things, the rust is or was only right at the bottom where it meets the floor. I can see the road Hence the line in my signature.

03-26-2003, 09:01 PM	#17
gmc67swb Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Mesquite, Tx Posts: 396	WHILE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE VENTS, I TOOK MY WIFE FOR A RIDE WHEN WE FIRST GOT TOGETHER. SHE COMPLAINED THAT SHE WAS HOT. I TOLD HER TO OPEN THE VENT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DASH. WELL WHEN SHE DID, MAN, SHE SCREAMED I SWERVED AND LEAVES AND ALL KINDS OF CRAP CAME FLYING INTO THE TRUCK. I GOT A GOOD LAUGH. NOW SHE WON'T OPEN THE VENT, THAT IS WHEN I CAN GET HER TO RIDE IN THE TRUCK WITH ME. __________________ GM 330HP/350, Magnuson 122HH, Tremec TKO 5spd

03-26-2003, 09:40 PM	#18
19mike69 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: pottsboro,tx Posts: 513	i had alot of leaves and dirt in mine too....but nobody really answered ,where is the drain and how do you flush these things out?

03-26-2003, 11:45 PM	#19
Gee_Emm Account Suspended Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 4,002	You can't actually see the drain if your truck is all together. It is in the side of the cab behind the front fender. To flush the vents out close the inner cab vents, take a garden hose and shoot water down the front cowl, flush out both sides. If you have water running out from the bottom of the truck at the sides then your drains are clear. If you don't you will have to pull the cowl off and fish out the crap thats in there. Same goes for the doors and the front fenders, they all have drain holes that may be clogged, you have to get down on your hands and knees to see the holes. There are two in each door, take a dental pick or something to clear the drains out (they are slits about an inch long) In the front fenders I think there are only drains in the front part although I do recall something in the back area. The front area drains are under where the battery sits on the passenger side and the same area on the drivers side. Overall what I do every year is take a garden hose and find any area on the truck at all that junk could collect and flush it out. Its a good habit to get into and you may be surprised at what comes out.

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