'70 Rocker Panel Replacement - How Tough???

[Hunter]

My truck is an AZ truck, been here all its life, but STILL has a rusty rocker on the passenger side. Not too bad, but there's a hole. Cab corners are solid, as is the driver's rocker. Driver's floor has some rust. From leaky windshield I hear....
HOW TOUGH is it to put this truck on a rack and put in an aftermarket passenger side rocker? Whose sheetmetal parts do we like???
THANX Gents, Hunter

[djracer]

is the inner rocker good?

[Hunter]

Inner seems pretty solid, but the outer has a half dollar sized hole and a bad crease... H.

[Palf70Step]

It's not too bad if you can weld. My $.02 is keep the door on so your alignment is easier. While your there clean up everything and coat it with something like eastwood or POR. It'll help in those areas you can't see or get access to down the road. Be prepared though. OEM, repop, or anywhere in-between you may have to tweak them a bit to get them to fit. I don't remember the brand for mine, but I got it from WES at Classic Heartbeat and it went on without a hitch. BTW, I was learning to weld then, so if I can do it, anyone can.

[djracer]

I'd buy a spot weld cutter and use an air drill and pull the existing rocker! Survey the inner clean it up and test fit the new outer it shouldn't be too bad if the inner is good!

[Hunter]

Saw the customized drill bit spot weld cutter. THANK YOU guys for the input. Good winter short project. H.

[BraveDave]

Heck, I'd be better off trying to transplant my own liver.

[mrein3]

I bought the aftermarket rockers from GMC Pauls. He talked me out of spending big money on the NOS panels that are still out there. The repops look just as good and fit well.

I believe I read here that you want your door installed when you do this as the person who tried it did it without the door on. When he installed the door it wouldn't close as the new panel was welded in too high.

I've posted these photos before. I used a spot weld cutter for all the spot welds except for the 9 million welds across the bottom lip. (Actually it was approximately 25 welds across the bottom). There I used a drill bit and drilled through both panels.

I was lucky. The inner panel was clean enough to reuse.

When welding in the new piece you need to drill a few holes in the new piece. Save the old rocker and drill new holes in all locations the factory spot welded the original EXCEPT THAT BOTTOM LIP.

Back on the truck cab, clean all the places that you will be welding (all the spots under the holes you just drilled.) Then use a can of weld through primer and prime the areas you just cleaned. REMEMBER: if you try to weld rusty metal or painted metal you'll just make a bigger mess so cut all rotten stuff out and sand/grind off any paint so you don't have any more problems.

Tack in the new piece and check for alignment with your door. Adjust if necessary.

Then fill all the holes you made with your MIG welder.

After you fill all those holes get under the truck and fill all the holes from the inside out across that bottom lip.

After I was done with all that I used body seam sealer on the outside of all the seams.

[Hunter]

Man that looks WAAAAAAY better!! Thanks for the reply and the inspiration. H.

[pat]

IT SUCKS!!!


.....just make sure you do it with your door on...........

[StingRay]

Fairly easy. Drill all of the spot welds you can access with the door and fender on. Use a cut off wheel to cut the rocker close to the front fender. I find slitting the lower flange from the rocker easiest then removing the aft part of the rocker. Remove the left over lower flange and the front part of the rocker with an air chisel by breaking the welds (with the lower just what's left of them after drilling). Clean all of the flanges and inner areas that are now exposed and repair any rust that was hidden. Protect any exposed metal as necessary. If all is as should be you will probably be able to drop a new rocker in and have a near perfect fit. If not tweak, trim, slit and weld as necessary til it slips in place. At this point you spot weld or glue the new one in place. While fitting use a few tech screws (self drilling) and vise grips to hold the rocker temporarily in place.