OEM Rockers vs Aftermarket Rockers

[Yullose]

We had pretty much the same results when we used Chinese junk replacement sheetmetal on a 70 Camaro restoration. It was supposedly "Goodmark" stuff too.

We replaced every body panel on the car and every single part was a mess. Seams didn't line-up, bolt holes in the wrong place, etc...

The only way to get decent fitting sheetmetal is to cut it off a donor vehicle or buy genuine GM stamped parts.

[2wd73blazer]

x2

[GSFMECH]

I bought a set from LMC and they did not fit well but I was also unhappy with the cab corner fit which also came from LMC. HuggerCST gave me a NOS cab rear panel and I cut the cab corners out and bought NOS rockers from the chevy dealer. It took him less than a week to get them. I cut out the after market stuff and used all the factory parts and it fit like a glove. Anyway I thought I would post up the photos in case anyone wanted to see how they fit. I also have a pic of the cab panel after I cut out the cab corners. There are more pics in my build page thread as well. I have seen some good aftermarket rockers I think it just depends on the brand you get and I have nothing against them. I was just so frustrated at the time I went with the factory stuff.

[Classic Heartbeat]

Here is one that is off from the factory. WES

[jb4short]

Originally Posted by Classic Heartbeat

Here is one that is off from the factory. WES

Blasphemer

[my67chevytruck]

Originally Posted by Classic Heartbeat

Here is one that is off from the factory. WES

I thought that is how they are suppose to look, the trucks i have had in my possession all look like that. no tight gap tolerances ....

[GMCPaul]

Captainfab just noticed this thread and I saw where you modified the rocker at the back where it met the cab corner so that they would meet flush on outer edge. I would know immediately upon seeing this truck when done that the rockers were replaced, as this is not correct for a factory installed rocker, every factory installed original rocker panel if you run your hand down the outside of it when you meet the cab corner you will come to a stop because every factory installed rocker we have ever seen was sunken in approx. 1/8" more than the outer cab corner edge and were never a flush fit.
Your re-working the parts to make them better than the factory originally did it. These were work trucks not factory show vehicles. GM's tolerances were + or - 1/8", which gives a 1/4" total that a body line or gap could be off from top to bottom or side to side. I know that well over 50%-60% ( I'd say it closer to 90% or more actually but by saying 50-60% I know I'm safe )of these trucks have the door frame at front top edge rubbing on the cab door opening at the miter in door top edge from the factory, which is a zero tolerance but they were still produced this way.
Take a closer look at that 67 thats untouched ( if its actually never been worked on ) and you will see similar discrepancies. As you said very well and sums it up greatly GM opinion was
"" these were just trucks in their eyes ""
Your trying to make something perfect that wasn't perfect to begin with and doing so will require modifications to NOS or Reproduction parts.
Just my humble opinion.
Your doing a great job of perfecting it though!!!!!
GMCPaul

[stllookn]

Your (sic) re-working the parts to make them better than the factory originally did it. These were work trucks not factory show vehicles. GM's tolerances were + or - 1/8", which gives a 1/4" total that a body line or gap could be off from top to bottom or side to side.

Could not have been said better. LIVRAT has an OEM cab with the rocker off-set approximately 1/2"!!!! Wes's pic is not uncommon at all. These trucks were built when GM was heading south on quality...sorry to say...or shall we say built to be work vehicles not for show.

A popular member on here EBFABMAN produced videos on DIY body panel replacement where he used two rockers cut and pieced together to make one good one!